Academic radiology
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Comparative Study
Second-order Texture Measurements of (3)He Ventilation MRI: Proof-of-concept Evaluation of Asthma Bronchodilator Response.
(3)He magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to quantify functional responses to asthma therapy and provocation. Ventilation imaging offers quantitative information beyond ventilation defects that have not yet been exploited. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate hyperpolarized (3)He MRI ventilation defect percent (VDP) and compare this and pulmonary function measurements to ventilation image texture features and their changes post-bronchodilator administration in patients with asthma. ⋯ In patients with asthma, differences in ventilation patchiness post-salbutamol can be quantified using coarse-texture classifiers that are significantly different in bronchodilator responders.
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Positron emission tomography (PET), commonly performed in conjunction with computed tomography (CT), has revolutionized oncologic imaging. PET/CT has become the standard of care for the initial staging and assessment of treatment response for many different malignancies. ⋯ The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the current body of literature pertaining to the clinical performance of PET/MRI, with the aim of summarizing current evidence and identifying gaps in knowledge to direct clinical expansion and future research. Multiple example cases are also provided to illustrate the central findings of these publications.
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Comparative Study
Volumetric Arterial Spin-labeled Perfusion Imaging of the Kidneys with a Three-dimensional Fast Spin Echo Acquisition.
Renal perfusion measurements using noninvasive arterial spin-labeled (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging techniques are gaining interest. Currently, focus has been on perfusion in the context of renal transplant. Our objectives were to explore the use of ASL in patients with renal cancer, and to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE) acquisition, a robust volumetric imaging method for abdominal applications. We evaluate 3D ASL perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in the kidneys compared to two-dimensional (2D) ASL in patients and healthy subjects. ⋯ 3D ASL renal perfusion imaging provides isotropic-resolution images, with comparable quantitative perfusion values and image SNR in similar imaging time to single-slice 2D ASL.
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Comparative Study
Supply/Demand in Radiology: A Historical Perspective and Comparison to other Labor Markets.
There has been attention on the job market recently and on radiology's supply/demand calculus. Supply is influenced by the number of trained radiologists, while demand is driven by demographics and technological innovation. We analyze the supply of radiologists historically and compare to other labor markets-medical and non-medical, domestic and foreign. ⋯ The radiology job market is currently oversupplied, primarily a result of increasing residency positions despite indicators of decreasing demand. The percentage of residency positions filled by domestic graduates has decreased during the same period, suggesting that medical student interest is responsive to the market. Other specialties, particularly pathology, demonstrate the dangers of chronic oversupply. We advocate a reduction of radiology residency positions such that supply closely approximates demand without exceeding it. Additional measures may be taken, if necessary, to restore market equilibrium in the event of a mild undersupply.