AAPM President John Hazle, Ph.D., discusses trends in medical physics and major initiatives that the association is addressing in 2014 with Imaging Technology News Editorial Director Melinda Taschetta-Millane.

Peter Herscovitch, M.D., SNMMI president-elect, explains the advances in molecular imaging for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2013 meeting in Vancouver, Canada. While new agents allow imaging of these disease states, reimbursement and treatment decisions sometimes limit their use.

Agfa Healthcare introduced new functionality and workflow improvements for its completely revised cardiovascular information system (CVIS), introduced at the American College of Cardiology 2013 meeting. The CV12 system offers new solutions for echocardiography, nuclear perfusion imaging, cath lab reporting and ECG management and reporting. For more information, visit www.agfahealthcare.com

At RSNA 2012, Hitachi featured its Echelon Oval 1.5T MRI system, which features the widest bore on the market at 74 cm, a wide table and the ability to perform non-contrast MR angiography exams. Hitachi also highlighted new features for its Scenaria CT system, which is upgradeable to a 128-slice system, offers new, faster iterative reconstruction software and cardiac imaging packages.

ITN Editor Dave Fornell highlights his choices for the most innovative radiology technologies and trends at Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), 2012. Choices include the first wireless ultrasound transducer, noiseless MRI, a 640-slice CT scanner and a printer than creates sculptures from 3-D datasets.

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At RSNA 2012, IBA showcased several quality assurance (QA) solutions for radiology. The MagicMax is an all-in-one QA system for all X-ray systems, including digital radiography (DR), CT and mammography. The Primus L phantom is an all-in-one QA device for all digital X-ray imaging systems. IBA also offers the LXcan to QA diagnostic-quality black and white flat panel monitors, and the LX Chroma to QA color displays.

Neurologica demonstrated its BodyTom portable whole-body CT scanner during RSNA 2012. The system is the first mobile scanner that can be moved on casters from room to room and is battery powered. The system has an 85 cm gantry and a 60 cm field of view. Unlike traditional CT scanners, the gantry moves over the patient, rather than the patient table being moved through the gantry. This facilitates use in the operating room, where it is not easy to move a patient who may be connected to several devices.

Imaging Technology News experts discuss the trends and latest technology they saw on the show floor and in sessions at Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), 2012. Their discussions include some of the most innovative new devices and software to solve issues facing radiology today.

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At ASTRO 2012, IBA featured a scale model install of its Proteus One compact proton system combined with the Philips Ambient Experience, designed to count patients through lighting visual effects.

At ASTRO 2012, Mevion featured its compact Mevion S250 Proton Therapy System, which has a footprint comparable to traditional radiation therapy systems.

See the versatility of the DRX Evolution room with the wireless DRX detector.

Dr. Gary Ezzell, president of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), talks about current trends in medical physics, particularly the melding of imaging and radiation therapy to guide treatment. He also recaps some of the hot topics discussed at this year's annual meeting in Charlotte, N.C., and AAPM's key initiatives for the coming year.

Dr. Sabee Molloi from the School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, worked with a team on a study using spectral mammography to develop a quantitative technique to measure volumetric breast density. Their technique also enables a lower dose to be used for a screening mammogram. Two members of the team, Justin Ducote and Huanjun Ding, describe the research, which they presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

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Speaking with ITN Editorial Director Helen Kuhl at the SNM annual meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., in June, incoming president Frederic H. Fahey, DSc, explains the reasoning behind the society's name change from Society of Nuclear Medicine to Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. He also shares highlights of the successful 2012 event.

Frederic H. Fahey, DSc, incoming president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, shares his views about significant trends in the field, including the emergence of new amyloid imaging agents and other new agents, radionuclide therapy and the ongoing focus on quality and safety.

Retention Management is a new feature of McKessonâ??s Enterprise Image Repository (EIR), offering the ability to delete data that no longer needs to be retained. It provides the flexibility to set different parameters according to different policies and requirements. System Dashboard is a new tool in the EIR which helps administrators manage and monitor how the system is performing. These features were showcased at the 2012 Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) meeting.

J. Raymond Geis, M.D., SIIM Chair, and Mitchell M. Goldburgh, Dell Healthcare and Life Sciences, discuss the "Corporate Leadership Circle," a partnership allowing vendors to communicate with SIIM members in expanded ways about new technology and to create vendor/provider collaborations to resolve technology challenges.

Gary Levine, M.D., program chair/incoming president of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, gives an overview of current trends in technology, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, and regulatory activity that will impact women's health.

Gary Levine, M.D., program chair/incoming president of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, discusses legislation regarding breast density at the 22nd annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference (NCoBC), held in Las Vegas in March.

Gary Levine, M.D., program chair/incoming president of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, discusses the emergence of interoperative radiation therapy (IORT) at the 22nd annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference (NCoBC), held in Las Vegas in March.