Diagnostics

Planning Secrets for Enhanced CT/ MRI Throughput

This article will explore ways to maximize MR and CT patient throughput through the use of improved facility layouts, including optimizing the location, number and size of support spaces.

Advances in Neuroradiology

Advances in cross sectional imaging using CT and MR have significantly changed the clinical practice of neuroradiology over the last decade. Powerful imaging investigations such as functional MR, MR tractography and PET CT allow detailed functional and morphological analysis of the patient’s central nervous system. This article reviews some of these important advances and how they impact on daily clinical practice.

PET-CT

Towards personalised cancer treatment

In 2011, it is impossible to consider the modern management of cancer without including PET-CT. The article reviews the up-to date role of PET-CT in oncology practice and considers current areas of PET-CT research that will directly impact on care of cancer patients.

Three-dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography

Early experiences

Imaging, especially echocardiography, plays a key role in structural, congenital and valvular heart disease interventions; not only for the evaluation of the disease and selection of eligible patients, but also for guidance of the procedures and in follow-up examinations. Live 3D echocardiography has recently added new dimensions by providing new views which help to get a better idea of the 3D character of the defect.

Molecular Diagnostics and Personalised Medicine

Present and future

Rationally developed therapies used diligently in the healthcare marketplace can undoubtedly benefit society, and the role of good quality predictive and diagnostic molecular tests is unambiguously a great advance for pharmaceutical medicine.

Predictive, Preventive & Personalised Medicine

A novel strategy for healthcare

Predictive medicine is a new philosophy in the healthcare and novel strategic activity aimed at a potential application of innovative biotechnologies in the prediction of human pathologies, a development of well-timed prevention and individual therapy-planning. Essential components of this approach include well-organised population screening protocols using novel diagnostic biomarkers of disease states, targeted prevention of common human pathologies such as Diabetes mellitus Type 2 and breast cancer, optimal treatment planning and personalised medicine, thereby resulting in substantial improvement of the quality-of-life.

Lab-on-chip

Innovative approach towards telemedicine in primary care

The project POCEMON uses telemedicine to enable point-of-care monitoring of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

PET-CT

A step towards personalised radiation medicine

The introduction of functional data into the radiotherapy treatment planning is currently the focus of commercial, technical, scientific and clinical development. The integrated Positron Emission Tomography / Computer Tomography (PET / CT) offers a lot of advantages in terms of tumour delineation and the description of biological processes. To define the real impact of the PET / CT on the radiotherapy planning, experimental and clinical analyses are required.

PACS

Role of the end-users

To fully achieve the benefits of PACS, the end-users (both radiologists and referring physicians) need to make some necessary efforts.

MR Diffusion and Perfusion

Can they replace PET ?

Functional Magnetic resonance imaging tools have now become widely available and allow viewing beyond the morphology of physiologic and pathologic tissue. Using innovative sequence design and modern MR contrast media, most methods can be easily integrated into the standard MRI protocols and make a combined assessment in one single exam possible. Although MR is still less sensitive than PET imaging, functional MRI tools end up as a comparator using to some of the assessments, e.g. perfusion imaging or diffusion MRI, even the same modelling strategies of the imaging data are used.

Cardiac Computed Tomography

Emerging cardiac devices and technologies

Recent studies have confirmed that non-invasive coronary imaging using Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography (CTCA) is exceptionally accurate and at the same time, compared with its invasive counterpart, is faster, cheaper and safer.

The Innovator’s Prescription

How Asia can disrupt the global healthcare

Asian innovators have the opportunity to design systems and services that are profitable and sustainable, yet affordable and accessible to everyone. As they do so, they can make major contributions to solve the global healthcare crisis by collaborating with colleagues in other regions to adapt and export those new models of care.

Echocardiography

New and evolving roles

Echocardiography plays a key role in the diagnosis of many cardiac conditions and in the assessment of response to therapies. Despite the emergence of new, advanced diagnostic tools such as cardiac computer tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance, echocardiography still plays an important role in patient care because of its unique capabilities.

Diagnostics for the Developing World

Challenges and constraints

In view of limited funding for healthcare, there is a great need and potential for simple, high quality and affordable diagnostic products in the developing world. At present, Immunochromatography-based Rapid Diagnostic Tests are able to meet their requirement to some extent. Innovative molecular diagnostic tools are seen as the future successful products.

Asian Diagnostics Market

Emerging opportunities

Advances in nanotechnology and genomics have enhanced the role of diagnostics in the healthcare market, allowing more tests to be performed at the point-of-care and facilitating the shift towards personalized medicine.

Globalised Healthcare

What lies ahead

With the increasing complexity of globalisation, escalating cost of healthcare and rapid advances in technology—both equipment and IT—the challenges and choices facing the practicing physician, managers and leaders are daunting. The effects of these changes on patient care may be even more difficult to discern.

Radiology Beyond Anatomy

New value chain for personalised medicine

Radiological imaging is capable of providing 'functional' information for biomedical characterisation of disease beyond volumetric visualisation of structure with high spatial resolution. Improved technologies enable further transparency beyond imaging interlinked with important economical aspects, such as Six Sigma for improved and efficient patient care.

Advanced CT Imaging

Effective diagnosis of coronary disease

The advent of 256 and 320-slice CT scanners will eliminate many of the technical difficulties that affect the temporal resolution of coronary CT angiogram. As technology advances, MDCT imaging of the coronary arteries will become the diagnostic tool of choice for the detection of coronary artery disease.

PACS in Indian Hospitals

Catching up

More and more physicians and radiologists have started preferring the PACS systems to hard copies.

Digital Radiography

Efficiency with automated system movements

The introduction of a flat panel system in a filmless computerised radiology unit allows the productivity of a radiology department to be noticeably increased, while providing ergonomic comfort and ease of use. It is particularly suitable for the field of paediatric radiology.

Advances in Breast Imaging

Impact in Asia Pacific

While the technology is relatively new, digital mammography and CAD have already entered. A large part of this growth has come from the rising level of awareness and education on the importance of breast screening. The continuous efforts in organising breast cancer awareness programmes as well as promoting breast health screening, where patients enjoy subsidies in mammogram screening, has created a demand for better and faster mammogram services.

Rapid Diagnostics

Fighting emerging diseases

Hospitals must learn to incorporate new technologies for diagnosis for the simple reason that vaccination, drug treatment and other containment efforts cannot be maximised unless emerging diseases are quickly identified.

Vibration Response Imaging

A new methodology for measurement of lung vibrations

In what appears to be the first step towards a radiation-free, non-invasive technology, Vibration Response Imaging (VRI) has arrived. VRITM, an innovative technology developed by the Israel-based company, Deep Breeze Ltd, can create images of the lungs based on the sound of air moving in and out of the passageways of the lungs, thereby preventing exposure to radiation in diagnosis.

Oral-based Diagnostics

Oral diseases and beyond

With modern proteomic and genomic techniques it is possible to fine-tune diagnostics of oral diseases and monitor other diseases by oral diagnostics.

Point-of-care Diagnostics

Tapping the potential

Point-of-care diagnostics are a potentially profitable growth area for the healthcare industry. However, there are several issues to be overcome before any point-of-care instrumentation can be successfully commercialised.

Human Genome and the Molecular Diagnostics Market

Molecular technologies will drive the expansion in market size and the range of applications in the molecular diagnostics market.

Seeing the Whole Elephant

From the humble beginning of imaging following the discovery of X-rays in 1896, imaging evolved rapidly.