Ultrasound

Ultrasound, also referred to as sonography or diagnostic ultrasound, uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize soft tissue. Ultrasounds are frequently ordered to measure fetal anatomy during pregnancy, check for blood clots and to guide needle biopsy procedures of the breast, abdomen and pelvis. The imaging modality does not use any radiation to create images. Find news specific to cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography).

commercial health insurance

A new payer tactic: Using AI to curtail routine radiology claims, after imaging is already delivered

“Unlike [prior authorization], this model does not delay patient care and does not hold members liable to pay for unneeded exams,” writes radiologist Mark Hiatt, MD, MBA. 

Cardiac imaging pioneer remembered for his joy and enthusiasm

Former American Society of Echocardiography president and well-known cardiac ultrasound pioneer Roberto Lang, MD, died at the age of 73. He helped develop 3D echo technology that is now used by care teams on a daily basis.

Ultrasound-guided thermal ablation safer, as effective as surgery for papillary thyroid cancer

Though surgery is the current standard of care, experts believe ablative strategies "may become the primary choice for PTC treatment" in the future.

neck ultrasound thyroid

RadNet enters ultrasound AI, acquiring imaging vendor See-Mode Technologies

Founded in 2017, the Melbourne, Australia-based company offers software that analyzes breast and thyroid images, “producing fast and accurate radiology reports.” 

Exo Imaging

Samsung invests in ultrasound imaging startup Exo, which has now raised $320M

Founded in 2015, Exo offers a portable platform that combines novel silicon-based hardware, “tightly coupled AI,” and “easy-to-use” collaborative software. 

Predictive model helps identify malignancy in thyroid nodules.

Predictive model uses 6 ultrasound features to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Once the model is further validated, it could help guide providers in determining how to manage thyroid nodules. 

Example of the four types of breast tissue density. The density of fibroglandular tissue inside the breast impacts the ability to easily see cancers. Cancers are very easy to spot in fatty breasts, but are almost impossible to find in extremely dense breasts. These examples show craniocaudal mammogram findings characterized as almost entirely fatty (far left), scattered areas of fibroglandular density (second from left), heterogeneously dense (second from right), and extremely dense (far right). RSNA

Which exam is best for supplemental imaging of women with dense breast tissue?

It is widely agreed that women with dense breast tissue should undergo supplemental imaging in addition to their routine mammogram screening, but the jury is still out on which modality is best for cancer detection in this group. 

CDC

CDC investigating outbreak linked to contaminated ultrasound gel used in image-guided procedures

Authorities issued three recommendations for radiologists related to the issue, including avoiding the use of nonsterile US gels.