Gastrointestinal Radiology: Page 137

Multicenter VC trial begins with high hopes, state-of-the-art protocol

A new multicenter trial under way in the U.S. aims to assess VC's efficacy as a screening tool compared with conventional colonoscopy, using an up-to-the-minute VC protocol. Researchers for the ACRIN National CT Colonography Trial hope it will provide the definitive word on CT colonography's current capabilities.

February 28, 2005

AuntMinnie.com Virtual Colonoscopy Radiology Insider

February 27, 2005

Minimal-prep VC preferred over colonoscopy

Patients experience less discomfort during optical colonoscopy than they do with virtual, according to a study from the University of California, Los Angeles. It's the pain that lingers after conventional colonoscopy that tips the patient-preference balance toward VC, the research team concluded.

February 22, 2005

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VC accreditation goals just a beginning

Virtual colonoscopy accreditation by the American College of Radiology is in the works. Accreditation establishes practice standards and ensures that radiologists meet minimum compliance levels, but is it enough? For better performance and consistent results, best practices need to be defined at every level of care.

February 15, 2005

Given swings into black on sales jump

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers

A strong jump in product sales helped video-capsule manufacturer Given Imaging of Yoqneam, Israel, record profitable financial results for 2004 (end-December 31).

February 8, 2005

Training key to VC performance, but how much is anyone's guess

Poor results from some recent trials have cast doubts on virtual colonoscopy's diagnostic capabilities, and placed training issues center stage. Leading practitioners are unanimous in their view that special training is required to do VC well, yet no reliable criteria exist to define adequate training.

February 7, 2005

Iodine tagging regimen yields best VC results

Tagging agents and protocols are becoming important issues in virtual colonoscopy today, as researchers seek to eliminate the discomfort of cathartic bowel cleansing, and perhaps improve compliance rates for colorectal cancer screening. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital evaluated 11 different prep combinations, and found some surprising results.

January 26, 2005

Ultrasound finds contrast extravasation in ER patients, CT confirms it

In a study with important implications for patients in emergency rooms, Italian researchers have shown that contrast extravasation can be readily seen on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. CT confirmed the findings in most of the patients.

January 24, 2005

2005 01 20 16 43 48 706

Debate over 2D versus 3D VC reveals subtle differences

Virtual colonoscopy studies presented at the 2004 RSNA meeting showed some intriguing differences between 2D and 3D primary interpretation of CT datasets. Primary 2D interpretation was generally faster, for example, but 3D seemed to pick up a few more abnormalities, both true- and false-positive.

January 20, 2005

2005 01 14 13 34 28 706

CT tracks renal cancer recurrence after surgery

Cancer recurs in more than a fifth of patients who undergo resection for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), according to radiologists from South Korea. The most common recurrence site is the lungs, according to the researchers, who developed CT guidelines for detecting recurrent RCC based on a multiyear follow-up study of their own patients.

January 19, 2005

Aw shucks! Corn-oil-based scintigraphy makes good in gallbladder disorder

By Shalmali Pal

A tall glass of citrus-and-vanilla-flavored corn oil may not whet your whistle, but it is an effective, inexpensive, and palatable gallbladder stimulant for the scintigraphic diagnosis of chronic acalculous cholecystitis (CAC), according to nuclear medicine specialists from -- where else? -- Iowa, a state that grew more than 2.2 billion bushels of corn in 2004.

January 19, 2005

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Thrall joins E-Z-EM board

Contrast agent and virtual colonoscopy developer E-Z-EM has appointed Dr. James Thrall to its board of directors.

January 18, 2005

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