All articles by julian turner
Painful realisation: diagnosis of the causes of pain
Identifying the root cause of pain in patients can often prove to be an arduous task for medical professionals. Chris Godfrey speaks to Stanford University radiologist Sandip Biswal, who recently published research into new imaging technology methods that could revolutionise diagnosis of the causes of pain.
Cracking the code: the switch to ICD-10
It’s been dubbed the biggest challenge to hit US healthcare in nearly 50 years, but what does the imminent arrival of the ICD-10 coding system mean for radiologists? Ross Davies meets Geraldine McGinty and Diane Hayek from the American College of Radiology to find out how its members are preparing for the switchover.
Sharpshooter: the potential of translational bioinformatics
Researchers at London’s Imperial College have made a breakthrough that could transform the way in which cancer is diagnosed. Using a new translational bioinformatics platform to interpret mass spectrometry images, the group is able to analyse tumours in more detail than ever before. Dr Kirill A Veselkov, co-author of the study, tells Jack Wittels about the workings behind this new technology, and its potential to provide a novel approach to cancer identification and treatment.
Screen test: improving ovarian cancer prognosis
Despite efforts to improve chemotherapy and surgery, ovarian cancer prognosis is still poor because diagnosis often occurs too late for treatment to be effective. Natalie Healey talks to Ian Jacobs, principal investigator of the UK’s Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS) about the pros and cons of developing a national screening programme for the disease.
Selective screening: eliminating unnecessary imaging
Estimates suggest that 30–50% of imaging exams are medically unnecessary, with troubling repercussions for patients and providers alike. However, as cuts continue to bite, consideration of the appropriateness of tests performed may soon be a legal requirement for US physicians. In this special report, Abi Millar talks to Dr Nehmat Houssami and Cindy Moran about the issues at stake and explores the efforts under way to eliminate unnecessary imaging.
All in moderation: diagnostic ultrasound imaging
As global disease incidence rises, diagnostic ultrasound imaging is expected to play a major role in early detection. GlobalData profiles the diagnostic ultrasound imaging market up to 2019, and discusses how this segment is expected to experience moderate growth in the face of rapid technological advancements.
Rapid detection for eye diseases
Scanning the patient’s retina in seconds, a new ophthalmic-screening instrument could assist physicians in the diagnosis of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
US task force highlights benefits of BRCA testing
The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has published a statement indicating that breast cancer antigen (BRCA) testing is beneficial for high-risk women.
Reducing radiation dose for paediatric CT
Radiation dose, always a concern in CT, is particularly risky for children. Luckily, there is a new way to reduce the dose without adversely affecting image quality, according to a study published online in Radiology.
New MRI scan for blood cancer
A new type of MRI scan could present hope for myeloma sufferers, a recent study has found.