The Importance of Imaging in the Assessment of Interstitial Lung Diseases.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is an essential component of the diagnosis and assessment of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). In some cases, a diagnosis of ILD can be made solely based on a multidisciplinary discussion of HRCT findings and clinical evaluation. HRCT findings also inform prognosis and may influence treatment decisions.

Approaches to Greening Radiology.

The health care sector is a resource-intensive industry, consuming significant amounts of water and energy, and producing a multitude of waste. Health care providers are increasingly implementing strategies to reduce energy use and waste. Little is currently known about existing sustainability strategies and how they may be supported by radiology practices.

Impact of pixel value truncation on image quality of low dose chest CT.

Purpose: In some noisy low dose CT lung cancer screening images, we noticed that the CT density values of air were increased and the visibility of emphysema was distinctly decreased. By examining histograms of these images, we found that the CT density values were truncated at -1024 HU. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pixel value truncation on the visibility of emphysema using mathematical models.

Radiology, Mobile Devices, and Internet of Things (IoT).

Radiology by its nature is intricately connected to the Internet and is at the forefront of technology in medicine. The past few years have seen a dramatic rise in Internet-based technology in healthcare, with imaging as a core application. Numerous Internet-based applications and technologies have made forays into medicine, and for radiology it is more seamless than in other clinical specialties.

Reductions in High-End Imaging Utilization With Radiology Review and Consultation.

Following the uptake of value-based purchasing in concert with health care reform in the United States, providers, insurers, and patients are looking for ways to reduce excessive, dangerous, and/or inappropriate high-end imaging utilization (HEIU). Inappropriate HEIU is associated with patient safety risks due to unnecessary exposure to radiation, misappropriation of scarce equipment resources and staff, complications to clinical care, and needless, excessive costs for the patient, hospital, and payer. This paper presents a cost-effective radiology-initiated improvement program piloted in the Christiana Hospital Coordinated Care Network.

Cholecystocolonic fistula.

Cholecystoenteric fistulas are a complication of biliary disease, having an estimated incidence in the range of 0.1 - 0.5 percent.

Osteoprotegerin is a Better Serum Biomarker of Coronary Artery Calcification than Osteocalcin in Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a prominent feature of atherosclerosis and is associated with cardiovascular events. In vitro studies have suggested that osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteocalcin (OC) exert anticalcification potential in the vessel wall. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of CAC and serum bone biomarkers in persons with type 2 diabetes.

Cardiovascular MR imaging: technique optimization and detection of disease in clinical practice.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has emerged as an important and growing means of cardiovascular imaging, with many advantages over other radiologic modalities, including excellent spatial and temporal resolution, lack of ionizing radiation, and noninvasiveness. In this article, the utility of MR imaging in cardiovascular imaging and in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease will be discussed. MR techniques for evaluating the heart and vasculature will be described, and troubleshooting techniques will be presented.