Let’s explore some of the emerging radiology trends in September: potential ARIA side effects in Alzheimer’s treatment, advanced full-body MRI scans, reducing ICM pollution, and responsible AI implementation.
📖 Author: Sandra Dietrich | OpenRad team
ARIA risk in Alzheimer’s Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
A recent article from RadioGraphics discusses the use of monoclonal antibody therapies for Alzheimer’s disease treatment and highlights the potential side effect of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA).
Monoclonal antibodies, such as aducanumab, target the toxic amyloid-B protein in Alzheimer’s patients and have shown promise in reducing amyloid plaque burden. However, ARIA, characterised by edema and hemorrhage, can occur as a complication.
Radiologists play a crucial role in recognising and monitoring ARIA, especially as monoclonal antibody therapies become more widespread, necessitating close collaboration between neurologists and radiologists.
Full-body MRI scans without contrast
At Imaging Technology News we found an interesting publication that discusses the evolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and its application in healthcare and medical research.
MRI, introduced in the late 1970s, has been widely used for non-invasive organ imaging and disease diagnosis. Over the years, contrast agents have enhanced MRI visibility for better diagnosis.
The article highlights the shift toward full-body MRI scans without contrast as a promising trend in diagnostic imaging, offering advantages in monitoring cancer, metastasis, and other complex disorders.
These advancements are seen as a significant upgrade in medical diagnostic solutions and patient care.
Reducing contrast media pollution in hospital wastewater
Radiologists are urging action to reduce the release of iodinated contrast media (ICM) in hospital wastewater following contrast-enhanced scans.
An estimated 300 million CT examinations are performed annually worldwide, leading to the injection and evacuation of significant amounts of ICM into sewage systems, contributing to environmental contamination.
ICMs themselves are not dangerous, but the disinfection process in treatment plants using chemicals like chlorine can create toxic iodinated disinfection by-products (IDBPs) in aquatic environments and drinking water.
The online publication “Sustainability in medical imaging” on Healthcare in Europe advises radiologists to inject less contrast media, reduce waste, use the appropriate vial size, and consider recycling to mitigate pollution.
Responsible AI implementation in healthcare
Last but not least, an online publication from Vizientinc.com discusses the responsible implementation of AI in healthcare, addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by healthcare organisations.
It emphasises the importance of establishing a strategic foundation, anticipating barriers to adoption in clinical, technical, business, legal, and ethical aspects, and piloting low-risk use cases before moving to more advanced applications.
The roadmap outlined in the article aims to ensure that AI is used to complement healthcare professionals rather than replace them and stresses the human-centric approach in healthcare technology adoption.
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📷 Photo credits: daniela-mueller.com