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AI Recon Cuts CT Radiation Dose | Cancer’s Cardiac Link
September 23, 2024
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Together with
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“Isn’t the goal to be just rude enough to get clinicians to want to talk to someone else but also not so much that HR gets involved?”
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Qwerty1489, in a tongue-in-cheek post on RadHQ.net on dealing with radiologist interruptions.
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When BAMF Health began treating patients in 2022, the Grand Rapids, Michigan, facility was the culmination of a novel idea: an entire institution dedicated to theranostics — the fusion of therapy and diagnosis to treat patients more precisely. In this episode of The Imaging Wire Show, we talked to BAMF founder and CEO Anthony Chang, PhD, about how he made his theranostics vision a reality.
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Artificial intelligence got its start in radiology as a tool to help medical image interpretation, but much of AI’s recent progress is in data reconstruction: improving images before radiologists even get to see them. Two new studies underscore the potential of AI-based reconstruction to reduce CT radiation dose while preserving image quality.
Radiology vendors and clinicians have been remarkably successful in reducing CT radiation dose over the past two decades, but there’s always room for improvement.
- In addition to adjusting CT scanning protocols like tube voltage and current, data reconstruction protocols have been introduced to take images acquired at lower radiation levels and “boost” them to look like full-dose images.
The arrival of AI and other deep learning-based technologies has turbocharged these efforts.
They compared DLIR operating at high strength to GE’s older ASiR-V protocol in CCTA scans with lower tube voltage (80 kVp), finding that deep learning reconstruction led to …
- 42% reduction in radiation dose (2.36 mSv vs. 4.07)
- 13% reduction in contrast dose (50 mL vs. 58 mL).
- Better signal- and contrast-to-noise ratios.
- Higher image quality ratings.
In the second study, researchers from China including two employees of United Imaging Healthcare used a deep learning reconstruction algorithm to test ultralow-dose CT scans for coronary artery calcium scoring.
- They wanted to see if CAC scoring could be performed with lower tube voltage and current (80 kVp/20 mAs) and how the protocol compared to existing low-dose scans.
In tests with 156 patients, they found the ultralow-dose protocol produced …
- Lower radiation dose (0.09 vs. 0.49 mSv).
- No difference in CAC scoring or risk categorization.
- Higher contrast-to-noise ratio.
The Takeaway
AI-based data reconstruction gives radiologists the best of both worlds: lower radiation dose with better-quality images. These two new studies illustrate AI’s potential for lowering CT dose to previously unheard-of levels, with major benefits for patients.
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An Enterprise Imaging Platform to Grow
WakeMed Health & Hospitals in North Carolina is home to award-winning chest pain centers and two nationally accredited, award-winning stroke centers. Find out how WakeMed turned to enterprise imaging solutions from AGFA HealthCare to transform the way their clinicians work.
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The Leader in Molecular Imaging
United Imaging’s uMI portfolio of solutions is designed to help you lead the way in molecular imaging. From digital PET/CT systems designed to stand the test of time to the cutting-edge uEXPLORER total-body PET scanner, discover the uMI difference today.
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Image Sharing to Improve Patient Outcomes
In this case study, learn how AdventHealth improved treatment planning and delivery because of Nuance PowerShare’s immediate connection to other sites in the network for medical image sharing.
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- Cancer’s Link to Heart Disease: Better treatments have led to improved survival for cancer patients, but are also leading to complications down the road for survivors. A new study in Cancer of 15.5k people found that older cancer survivors had higher rates of cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack or heart failure (21 vs. 10 events per 1k people). The findings could indicate that cancer survivors may need early CVD screening and other preventive measures following their recovery.
- Journal Publishers in Hot Seat: A class action antitrust lawsuit was filed against the six largest academic journal publishers – Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, Taylor & Francis Group, John Wiley & Sons, Springer, and Sage – for colluding to profit from scientific research. The litigation reads like the culmination of frustrations that have been coming to a boil for years, alleging the publishers consolidated ownership of 53% of all medical journals while leaving peer-reviewers out to dry and fleecing universities for “the maximum the market will bear for access to that scientific knowledge.”
- GE Expands POCUS Scanner Line: GE HealthCare is expanding its Venue POCUS line with a new tablet-based scanner called Venue Sprint, as well as new capabilities for other Venue systems. Venue Sprint includes wireless Vscan Air dual probes and is especially well suited for emergency imaging. The dual probes will also be migrated to other Venue systems, which are also getting the ViewPoint 6 update package, as well as wireless probe connectivity and new clinical tools. Venue scanners also have access to Caption Guidance for acquiring cardiac ultrasound images.
- Digital Tools for Heart Failure: Clinicians have a growing array of digital tools for assessing patients with suspected heart failure. A new review article in Lancet Digital Health takes stock of some of the options, noting that many of the tools are based on patient data routinely found in EHRs such as echocardiograms and ECGs, and can help generate risk scores for flagging patients at high risk. Advances in machine learning and AI analysis of EHR data are making possible automated screening and detection of heart failure.
- Ultrasound Predicts Atherosclerosis: Ultrasound measurements of the carotid arteries in children can predict arterial stiffness in adolescence – a sign of preclinical atherosclerosis. Writing in JAMA Network Open, researchers scanned 232 children at age 5 and then again at 12 and 16; they also tracked various clinical factors like weight gain and blood pressure. Children with more abdominal visceral adipose tissue on ultrasound early in life had higher carotid intima-media thickness in adolescence. Analyzing adipose tissue development in childhood could help tailor cardiovascular prevention strategies later in life.
- DeepHealth Powers Koelis Prostate Biopsy: Prostate MRI software from DeepHealth is being used by urology ultrasound developer Koelis to perform 3D targeted fusion biopsy under a new partnership. Koelis is using the DeepHealth Prostate application to streamline prostate MRI reading and to fuse MR images with ultrasound acquired on Koelis’ Trinity 3D ultrasound platform. The goal is to allow automated prostate MRI segmentation to be imported into Trinity, which will use the data to create 3D patient-specific prostate maps to guide diagnosis and treatment.
- What Do Referring Physicians Want? It’s one of the most mystifying questions of our time: what kind of radiology reports do referring physicians really want? Researchers in a paper in Academic Radiology took a crack at it by surveying 477 referring physicians on their preferred report style: Narrative reports, templated reports, or a hybrid that blended the two styles with structured reporting for some metrics accompanied by narrative elements. A strong majority preferred the blended reports (63%), with almost identical preferences for the other two styles (19% each).
- AIRS Gets Distribution Deal: South Korean AI developer AIRS Medical has signed a distribution agreement with MXR Imaging that will make the company’s SwiftMR algorithm available to over 300 radiology practices in the U.S. SwiftMR reduces MRI scan times by up to 50% and generates clearer images. AIRS introduced the application into the U.S. in 2023, but the new distribution agreement will enable the company to ramp up sales in what’s becoming a competitive MRI reconstruction segment.
- Cardiac MRI Guides ICD Placement: Nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that can cause heart failure or sudden cardiac death. It can be prevented by placing implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), but which patients should get them? Fortunately cardiac MRI can help: Researchers in JAMA did a meta-analysis of 103 studies with 30k nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients, finding that late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac MRI scans was associated with all-cause mortality (HR=1.81), cardiovascular mortality (HR=2.43), and heart failure (HR=1.98). Left ventricular ejection fraction was not predictive.
- Ferrum Raises $16M for AI Platform: The floodgates seem to be opening again for VC funding of AI developers. AI platform company Ferrum Health raised $16M in a Series A round, bringing the company’s total funding to $31M. The company will use the infusion for product development and to accelerate its growing list of partners, including AI algorithm developers like Riverain Technologies and PaxeraHealth. Ferrum’s last funding round was $6M back in January 2023.
- DeepLook Moves Series A Ahead: Another AI developer that’s raising funds successfully is DeepLook Medical, which announced the first close in an ongoing Series A round last week. The company isn’t announcing the total amount raised until the round’s final close later this year; DeepLook earlier this year raised $1.7M in a seed round. The company also released data from a study using its DL Precise algorithm at a New York hospital, which saw a 12% performance improvement when using the solution for breast imaging.
- Avicenna Gets 510(k) for C-Spine AI: Avicenna.ai secured 510(k) clearance for CINA-CSpine, an AI algorithm for detecting and triaging cervical spine fractures on CT. C-spine fractures can lead to spinal cord injury, and CINA-CSpine flags suspicious cases that might otherwise have been overlooked by radiologists. The new solution joins seven other offerings in Avicenna’s AI portfolio, ranging from CINA-ICH for detecting intracranial hemorrhage to CINA Aspects for quantifying stroke severity.
- Canon Opens Cleveland Academy: Canon Medical Systems last week opened Canon Medical Academy USA in Cleveland, the next step in the company’s drive to build an R&D and education hub in the Midwest. The academy offers Canon customers training and access to the company’s advanced products and solutions, and Canon plans to leverage the Cleveland area’s local healthcare workforce. Canon in 2022 formed Canon Healthcare USA in Cleveland, and in 2023 announced an R&D partnership with the Cleveland Clinic.
- NewVue Partners with Konica Minolta: Radiology workflow software developer NewVue continued its string of new partnerships by cementing an agreement with Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas. Konica Minolta will offer NewVue’s EmpowerSuite worklist/workflow orchestrator and command center to its U.S. customers as an integration with its Exa Platform for PACS, RIS, and billing. Exa Platform users will gain access to NewVue’s radiologist-tailored worklists for reducing administrative burden and radiologist burnout.
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Unprecedented Insights Made Possible with AI
With the largest normative dataset of whole-body imaging in the world, Prenuvo’s AI researchers partner with the best academic minds to understand – like never before – what “normal” aging means. Learn about their work today.
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Introducing Merge Consulting Services
How can your radiology practice manage change and expectations in healthcare with workforce flexibility? Merge by Merative is launching Merge Consulting Services to help you face the challenges of sourcing expertise and staff. Learn more about it today.
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Request an RSNA Meeting with TeraRecon
RSNA 2024 will be here before you know it. Come explore TeraRecon’s latest updates and find out why the company is an award-winning solution provider for AI-empowered radiology, oncology, cardiology, neurology, and vascular surgery.
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- A Single Source of Truth for Medical Data: Intelerad’s cloud vendor-neutral archive, InteleShare VNA, creates a centralized repository of images regardless of modality, source, or file type. Find out how it can serve as your single source of truth for effortlessly retrieving and utilizing medical data.
- 5 Things to Know about Cloud PACS: The cloud doesn’t need to be hard. Visage 7 from Visage Imaging delivers simplicity with proven experience. Learn about the five things you need to know in this video.
- Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Image Exchange Solution? Ask yourself these 5 questions from PocketHealth to find out whether your enterprise image exchange solution is maximizing patient satisfaction, efficiency and driving revenue.
- The Clinical Value of Soft-Tissue Chest X-Ray: Soft-tissue techniques can improve the visibility and accuracy of chest X-ray. Learn about two important soft-tissue methods – bone suppression and dual-energy subtraction – in this white paper from Riverain Technologies.
- Building a Brand in Radiology: Check out this episode of Medality’s Radiology Report Podcast featuring Toronto Radiology’s Anish Kirpalani, MD, who talks to host Daniel Arnold about challenges and strategies in radiology, such as proactive recruitment and the importance of building a strong brand.
- Start at the Source to Improve MRI: Looking for ways to improve MRI speed and image quality while addressing broader concerns in healthcare? The answer may lie in proven MRI physics in your existing scanner – learn how to unlock it with STAGE from SpinTech MRI.
- AI for Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Screening: Check out this comprehensive new eBook from Calantic by Bayer on the role of AI in lung cancer diagnosis and screening. It explores AI’s potential role in improving lung cancer screening strategies, identifying high-risk individuals, and enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Download it today.
- Unlock Medical Imaging’s Full Potential: Unlock the full potential of medical imaging with the power of cloud technology and discover how Optum’s solutions can streamline operations, enhance data security, and improve patient outcomes. Embrace the future of medical imaging today and see the difference the cloud can make!
- AI and Cancer Screening: Cancer screening saves lives, but right now screening is limited to a few cancer types. That could change with AI, which opens new possibilities for earlier disease detection. Learn more in this article by DeepHealth clinical AI leader Greg Sorensen, MD.
- Fully Automated AI for Mitral Regurgitation Grading: Echo AI can help address challenges with mitral regurgitation assessment quality and efficiency. Find out how researchers used Us2.ai’s fully automated echo workflow for grading MR severity and predicting one-year mortality.
- Focus on Mammography Workflow: Mammography workflow is key to providing high-quality breast imaging services. In this Imaging Wire Show, we talked with Christie Devine of Siemens Healthineers about how recent advances in mammography workflow are leading to more effective mammography technologists — and happier patients.
- Seamless, Connected Healthcare: Clearpath is committed to facilitating seamless, continued healthcare by optimizing automation and workflows between patients and providers. Learn how the company’s solutions contribute to a healthcare environment where every step of the patient journey is connected and efficient.
- Top 5 Benefits of Standardizing Medical Imaging Archives: Efficient data management is crucial for delivering quality patient care and achieving organizational goals. But data migration when transitioning to a new PACS can be daunting. Find out how solutions from Enlitic can streamline the process.
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