Newsletter - April 2014     Dear MDCT.net users, At ECR 2014, the annual meeting of the European Society of Radiology, the topic of individualized medicine applied to MDCT was addressed in a satellite symposium sponsored by Bracco. Entitled “Personalising: an integrated approach to CT imaging”, this session offered three expert presentations from European radiologists. The videorecordings of these presentations can now be viewed here on MDCT.net at no charge to registered users. The first presentation, given by Marco Francone (Rome, IT), was entitled simply “ Personalized CT imaging: are we there yet?”. His detailed presentation on different ways to optimize CT examinations seemed to answer with an “almost”, as we are only now beginning to integrate all that knowledge in the design of tailored protocols. Next, Thomas Albrecht (Berlin, DE) spoke about “Low kV CT protocols: what you should know”. This presentation emphasized the technical principles of low radiation-dose scanning, through the optimal management of contrast enhancement and image noise. Finally, Mathias Prokop (Nijmegen, NL) addressed the issue of “An integrated approach: what more is needed?” He explained how to integrate the different approaches of low kV scanning with contrast optimization, and presented new solutions for implementing tailored protocols in clinical practice through the use of an automated contrast medium injector and a centralized database system for managing scanning protocols. Automated injection systems, also called power injectors, have also been addressed in a new MDCT.net commentary on a health economics comparison of a dual-syringe injector and a syringeless, roller pump system, published in the journal Medical Devices. From the MDCT.net team editorial@mdct.net     Power injectors for contrast medium administration: new data on efficiency and cost-effectiveness MDCT.net Editorial Team Power injectors are important tools in the standardization of CT examinations: to understand their efficiency and cost-effectiveness in clinical practice, researchers in Italy did a health economics comparison of a dual-syringe injector and a syringeless, roller pump system. view »       • Colombo GL, Andreis IA, Di Matteo S et al.   Syringeless power injector versus dual-syringe power injector: economic evaluation of user performance, the impact on contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) workflow exams, and hospital costs. Med Devices (Auckl) 2013; 6:169-174 • Jun BR, Yong HS, Kang EY et al.  64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography using low tube voltage of 80 kV in subjects with normal body mass indices: comparative study using 120 kV.  Acta Radiol. 2012;53(10):1099-106 • Viteri-Ramírez G, García-Lallana A, Simón-Yarza I et al.  Low radiation and low-contrast dose pulmonary CT angiography: Comparison of 80 kVp/60 ml and 100 kVp/80 ml protocols. Clin Radiol. 2012;67(9):833-9 • Namimoto T, Oda S, Utsunomiya D et al.  Improvement of image quality at low-radiation dose and low-contrast material dose abdominal CT in patients with cirrhosis: intraindividual comparison of low tube voltage with iterative reconstruction algorithm and standard tube voltage. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2012;36(4):495-501 • Paul JF.  Individually adapted coronary 64-slice CT angiography based on precontrast attenuation values, using different kVp and tube current settings: evaluation of image quality. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011 Dec;27 Suppl 1:53-9 • Bae KT.  Intravenous contrast medium administration and scan timing at CT: considerations and approaches. Radiology. 2010;256(1):32-61 • Fleischmann D.   How to design injection protocols for multiple detector-row CT angiography (MDCTA). Eur Radiol. 2005 Dec, 15 Suppl 5:E60-E65 • Fleischmann D.   Present and future trends in multiple detector-row CT applications: CT angiography.  Eur Radiol. 2002;12 Suppl 2:S11-5       From Bracco Satellite Symposium “Personalizing an integrated approach to CT imaging” ECR 2014 Vienna   Personalized CT imaging: Are we there yet? M. Francone view »   Low kV CT protocols: What should you know T. Albrecht view »   An integrated approach: What more is needed? M. Prokop view »     Dyspnea and systolic murmur Woman, 64 years old view » First generalized seizure Man, 43 years old view » Acute thoracic chest pain Woman, 55 years old view »     If you wish to be removed from this email list, please click here If you would like to view our Privacy Policy, click here