Dr. Melany B. Atkins

[email protected]

Advances in imaging, AI make cardiac MRI more accessible

Cardiac MRI is often a last resort in imaging modalities, for reasons including difficulty of image acquisition, cost, and hardware availability. Dr. Melany B. Atkins discusses the advantages that technologies such as 4D flow and artificial intelligence (AI) bring to cardiac MRI and how their use can benefit both patients and providers.

July 9, 2019

2019 06 11 22 35 5932 Heart Pulmonary Trunk 400

Page 1 of 1

Representative cardiac MRI strain images and analysis. Images in the two-, four-, and three-chamber views for strain analysis (left) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (eGLSR) curves (right) are shown. (A) Example images and GLS and eGLSR curves in a 37-year-old male participant with diabetes mellitus (DM) without events during follow-up after cardiac MRI. (B) Example images and GLS and eGLSR curves in a 45-year-old male participant with DM who had heart failure hospitalization during follow-up after cardiac MRI. In the left images, blue represents higher myocardial strain (higher absolute values of negative strain), whereas red represents reduced strain. In the curves, blue represents GLS, whereas orange represents eGLSR. The left y-axis denotes GLS (%), the right y-axis represents eGLSR (per second), and the x-axis denotes time (milliseconds). For these strain parameters, a lower absolute value indicates more severe myocardial functional impairment; accordingly, GLS and eGLSR were more impaired in participants with events compared with those without events.

MRI may help predict heart disease risk in patients with diabetes

The SCAN-MRI risk score outperformed established risk models.

Snmmi

SNMMI issues analysis of 2027 HOPPS proposed rule

Pancreas Cancerous Area 3 D Rendering Adobe Anton

Ablative RT shows promise in treating pancreatic cancer

Bar graphs show comparison of volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) (A) achievable doses (50th percentile) and (B) diagnostic reference levels (75th percentile) between 2014 (see reference 4 by Kanal et al) and 2025 (present study) for 10 common CT examination types performed without contrast (w/o) and with contrast (w/). Across all 10 adult CT examination categories, CTDIvol achievable doses and diagnostic reference levels generally decreased from 2014 to 2025, with the largest reductions for torso examinations (chest; abdomen-pelvis; and combined chest, abdomen, and pelvis), intermediate reductions for neck and cervical spine, and minimal change for head examinations.

CT radiation doses have fallen sharply over past decade

Images in a 70-year-old asymptomatic woman with a prior excisional biopsy in the left breast yielding lobular carcinoma in situ 3 years earlier. Screening contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) was performed, which was considered a prevalence screen as the woman had no prior breast MRI in the past 3 years and no prior CEM. (A) Low-energy (26–30 kVp) mediolateral oblique (MLO) and (B) craniocaudal (CC) views show surgical clips but no abnormality. (C) Recombined MLO and (D) CC images show an enhancing mass in the medial left breast (arrows). Biopsy revealed invasive lobular carcinoma. Size was 0.2 cm; tumor grade II/III; negative lymph nodes; and estrogen receptor–positive, progesterone receptor–positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative.

CEM finds breast cancer at baseline, incidence screening

MRI may help predict heart disease risk in patients with diabetes

By Amerigo Allegretto

The SCAN-MRI risk score outperformed established risk models.

July 29, 2026

Representative cardiac MRI strain images and analysis. Images in the two-, four-, and three-chamber views for strain analysis (left) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (eGLSR) curves (right) are shown. (A) Example images and GLS and eGLSR curves in a 37-year-old male participant with diabetes mellitus (DM) without events during follow-up after cardiac MRI. (B) Example images and GLS and eGLSR curves in a 45-year-old male participant with DM who had heart failure hospitalization during follow-up after cardiac MRI. In the left images, blue represents higher myocardial strain (higher absolute values of negative strain), whereas red represents reduced strain. In the curves, blue represents GLS, whereas orange represents eGLSR. The left y-axis denotes GLS (%), the right y-axis represents eGLSR (per second), and the x-axis denotes time (milliseconds). For these strain parameters, a lower absolute value indicates more severe myocardial functional impairment; accordingly, GLS and eGLSR were more impaired in participants with events compared with those without events.

SNMMI issues analysis of 2027 HOPPS proposed rule

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

The proposed rule includes several positive code-level changes for nuclear medicine providers.

July 29, 2026

Ablative RT shows promise in treating pancreatic cancer

By Amerigo Allegretto

Ablative radiotherapy led to promising survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

July 29, 2026

Pancreas Cancerous Area 3 D Rendering Adobe Anton

CT radiation doses have fallen sharply over past decade

The largest reductions appeared in chest examinations with contrast material, where diagnostic reference levels fell 31%.

July 28, 2026

Bar graphs show comparison of volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) (A) achievable doses (50th percentile) and (B) diagnostic reference levels (75th percentile) between 2014 (see reference 4 by Kanal et al) and 2025 (present study) for 10 common CT examination types performed without contrast (w/o) and with contrast (w/). Across all 10 adult CT examination categories, CTDIvol achievable doses and diagnostic reference levels generally decreased from 2014 to 2025, with the largest reductions for torso examinations (chest; abdomen-pelvis; and combined chest, abdomen, and pelvis), intermediate reductions for neck and cervical spine, and minimal change for head examinations.

CEM finds breast cancer at baseline, incidence screening

By Amerigo Allegretto

Incidence screening with CEM maintains high performance and may offer more benefits over baseline CEM screening.

July 28, 2026

Images in a 70-year-old asymptomatic woman with a prior excisional biopsy in the left breast yielding lobular carcinoma in situ 3 years earlier. Screening contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) was performed, which was considered a prevalence screen as the woman had no prior breast MRI in the past 3 years and no prior CEM. (A) Low-energy (26–30 kVp) mediolateral oblique (MLO) and (B) craniocaudal (CC) views show surgical clips but no abnormality. (C) Recombined MLO and (D) CC images show an enhancing mass in the medial left breast (arrows). Biopsy revealed invasive lobular carcinoma. Size was 0.2 cm; tumor grade II/III; negative lymph nodes; and estrogen receptor–positive, progesterone receptor–positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative.

Podcast: Testing the effectiveness of today's MR safety standard of care

If today's MRI safety standard of care were followed, would MRI accidents be impossible, or nearly impossible?

July 28, 2026

The Invisible Force Podcast Album Cover Auntminnie Jan 2026 Thumbnails

Uterine fibroid assessment differs by imaging technique

By Amerigo Allegretto

MRI and ultrasound differ in mapping uterine fibroids in women undergoing laparoscopic-assisted robotic myomectomy.

July 27, 2026

Uterus Pelvic 400 (1)

Societies host events for MR Safety Week

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Observances trace to the 2001 death of Michael Colombini.

July 27, 2026

ACR releases impact tables for 2027 MPFS proposed rule

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Beginning January 1, Medicare will use two separate conversion factors under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).

July 24, 2026

SPECT/CT viable over PET/CT for high-risk prostate cancer staging

Considering its broader accessibility, Tc-99m MIP-1404 CZT SPECT/CT may represent a practical alternative for primary staging.

July 24, 2026

Maximum intensity projection of Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CE-CT (A), Tc-99m MIP-1404 CZT SPECT/CT (B) and Tc-99m HDP CZT SPECT/CT (C) imaging. Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CE-CT and Tc-99m MIP-1404 CZT SPECT/CT showing tracer uptake in lymph nodes below the iliac bifurcation and above, paraaortic and left supraclavicular, bone uptake in the right proximal femur and right scapula (arrows). Tc-99m HDP CZT SPECT/CT did not show any uptake suspicious for metastatic disease. No sclerotic lesions suspicious of metastases were detected by the CT component in any of the studies. Fusion axial imaging of Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CE-CT (D) and Tc-99m MIP-1404 CZT SPECT/CT (E) showing uptake in lymph nodes in the left pelvic area below the iliac bifurcation (arrows). Fusion axial imaging of Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CE-CT (F) and Tc-99m MIP-1404 CZT SPECT/CT (G) showing uptake in the right proximal femur, not detected by Tc-99m HDP CZT SPECT/CT (H), (arrows).

Ultrasound MinnieCast, Episode 13: Who owns echocardiography?

By Amerigo Allegretto

ASE president Cynthia Taub, MD, shares her thoughts on the current state of echocardiography, including who "owns" the modality.

July 24, 2026

Minnie Cast Thumbnail (16)

CT scanner placement near ED cuts stroke imaging times

While prior studies have examined the effect of CT scanner location on general ED disposition times, none have focused on stroke-specific time metrics.

July 23, 2026

Page 1 of 241