Radiology

Host: Jason Birnholz, MD

Guest: J. Herman Kan, MD, FACR

Pre-treatment MRI can eliminate unnecessary diagnostic or surgical procedures for children with suspected musculoskeletal infections. Host Dr. Jason Birnholz and Dr. J. Herman Kan, assistant professor of radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, specializing in pediatric and adolescent radiology, discuss the application of MRIs and the results of his recent study which showed that a significant number of surgeries could be avoided with early MRI evaluation. Tune in to hear the valuable role MRI plays in the evaluation of musculoskeletal infection.

Host: Beverly Hashimoto, MD

Guest: Sharlene Teefey, MD

Dr. Sherry Teefey, professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, discusses with host Dr. Beverly Hashimoto her experience in Bhutan and Uganda, teaching medical professionals how to use ultrasound and computed tomography and enhancing current techniques. Tune in to hear the challenges to providing imaging services in these countries and the future goals to introduce new modalities and improve radiological services in third world countries.

Host: Beverly Hashimoto, MD

Guest: Sharlene Teefey, MD

Ultrasound images of the musculoskeletal system provides pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and soft tissue throughout the body. Dr. Sherry Teefey, associate professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, discusses with host Dr. Beverly Hashimoto some of the common uses for this procedure. Dr. Teefey also discusses the application of musculoskeletal ultrasound in conjunction with aspiration or injection. Tune in to hear the benefits and limitations of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Host: Mary Leuchars, MD

Guest: Jeffrey D. Cirillo, PhD

Tuberculosis affects the lives of one third of the world's population. How are newly advancing optical imaging technologies poised to help clinicians achieve more accurate diagnosis and treatment for patients with this serious disease? Tune in to hear host Dr. Mary Leuchars explore with Dr. Jeffrey Cirillo, associate professor of microbial and molecular pathogenesis at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, the optical imaging techniques under development to directly detect TB at low levels. Dr. Cirillo explains how the light waves can be used to detect and definitely confirm tubercolosis without invasive techniques, which currently is not possible using CT scans.

Host: Janet Wright, MD

Guest: Mark Hlatky, MD

Does the patient with few cardiovascular risk factors who displays little, if any, sign of heart trouble warrant a coronary CT scan? For patients who may not be best suited for a CT scan, is the coronary calcium measurement a reasonable risk-assessment alternative? Dr. Mark Hlatky, professor of medicine and professor of health research and policy at Stanford University School of Medicine, explores a range of issues related to coronary CT angiography: how the rationale for ordering can change in the emergent setting versus the clinical scenario, its merits as a ‘triple rule-out' test, and the frequency with which patients undergoing a CT scan subsequently undergo angioplasty, bypass surgery, or another coronary procedure. Dr. Janet Wright hosts.

Host: Janet Wright, MD

Guest: Mark Hlatky, MD

Measuring precise risks in medicine can be a tricky proposition. Factoring risk into cost-benefit analyses can make the situation even less clear. In many ways, this is where we stand with coronary computed tomography angiograms: a scan can be immediately helpful in emergent circumstances, but at other points in the clinical care spectrum, the value of that scan is more difficult to estimate. Dr. Mark Hlatky, professor of medicine and professor of health research and policy at Stanford University School of Medicine, juxtaposes the medical aspects of these tests with the money we spend on them. Dr. Janet Wright hosts.

Host: Jason Birnholz, MD

Guest: Fiona Gilbert, MD, MBChB, DMRD

Dr. Fiona Gilbert, Roland Sutton Chair of Radiology at University of Aberdeen Institute of Medical Sciences, discusses her research findings that showed that the rate of breast cancer detection by two experts reading a mammogram was the same as one expert aided by a computer. Dr. Gilbert explains to host Dr. Jason Birnholz that, unlike in the United States, it is normal practice in the United Kingdom for two trained readers to examine mammograms. Tune in to hear how computer-aided detection is likely to improve breast cancer detection in those countries where a single reader is used, as well as improve efficiencies in countries that require two readers.

Host: Jason Birnholz, MD

Guest: Rizwan Aslam, MD

Guest: Michael J. Welch, PhD

Host Dr. Jason Birnholz takes you to the 2008 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, held in Chicago November 30 through December 5. Dr. Birnholz talks with three of the meeting's key presenters. He sits down first with Dr. Michael Welch, co-director of the division of radiological sciences at Washington University's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology in St. Louis, Missouri, who highlights advances in nanotechnology for imaging and drug delivery. Next, Dr. David Weinreb, radiology resident at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, Connecticut, discusses the advantages of portable CT for treating acute stroke patients in the emergency department. Finally, Dr. Rizwan Aslam, assistant clinical professor of radiology at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, reports on mineral density assessment with CT colonography, concurrent to colorectal cancer screening.

Host: Beverly Hashimoto, MD

Guest: Jonn Cronan, MD, FACR

Thanks to extremely sensitive ultrasound technology, thyroid nodules are being detected and treated at unprecedented rates. Host Dr. Beverly Hashimoto welcomes Dr. John Cronan, professor of diagnostic imaging at the Brown University School of Medicine and chairman of the diagnostic imaging department at Rhode Island Hospital, to discuss the phenomenon of over-treatment of thyroid nodules. Is this pattern of care helping or harming our patients?

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Guest: Andrew Muir, MD

Cerebral edema is the most common cause of death among children with diabetes, occurring as a complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in about one percent of children with Type 1 diabetes. Among our young patients, who carries the greatest risk for cerebral edema? How can we prevent, recognize and treat this complication of DKA? Dr. Andrew Muir, professor of pediatrics and chief of pediatric endocrinology at Emory University School of Medicine, talks about the timing of cerebral edema onset relative to diabetes, and potential theories that could explain the pathophysiology of the condition. What signs and symptoms should lead physicians to suspect cerebral edema, and should imaging play any role in diagnosis? Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.