CHICAGOUsing diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the effects of soccer 'heading,' researchers have found that players who head the ball with high frequency have brain abnormalities similar to those found in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Results of the study were presented on Nov. 30 at the 97th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Fundamental differences between diagnostic imaging and other areas of medicine drive the need for an individual framework for the assessment of the value of diagnostic tests, according to a commentary authored by the Working Group on Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) for Imaging and published in the December issue of Radiology.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is sponsoring two upcoming webinars featuring hot topics for practice management professionals.  

Speakers provide background information and updates on multiple major cardiac CT and cardiac imaging trials, including the CORE 320 trial, ACRIN PA 4005 trial: Acute Chest Pain, ROMICAT II and PROMISE trials and RESCUE trial.

This mini-course emphasizes technical and practical aspects of CT dose reduction and also reviews regulations and policies related to CT dose reduction. Other topics to be addressed include CT protocols, software tracking and FDA activities supporting dose reduction.

An expert panel discusses the basics of CT angiography, MR and CT perfusion imaging and recent advances in MR angiography. Clinical indications for and limitations of each study are presented.

Speakers discuss how to communicate dose, risk and benefit of medical imaging procedures to patients, public and physicians and review the impacts of the Image Gently and Image Wisely campaigns.

An expert panel delves into the results and implications of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), examines dual-energy CT applications in the thorax and reviews integrative cardiothoracic CT imaging.