PET/CT using Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been used for many years as an adjunct modality to conventional imaging. Until recently, PET/CT’s main utility was in oncology and to a lesser degree cardiology and neurology. However, new radiotracers were approved by the FDA; increasing the application of PET/CT in clinical practice. This Expert Forum aims to educate medical imaging professionals about the common indications of Time of Flight (TOF) PET/CT scans using various radiotracers that include: F18- FDG, F18-Fluciclovine, GA68-DOTA-TATE, and F18-Florbetapir.

Following the presentation questions from the audience were addressed in a moderated Q&A session.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe the importance of PET/CT quality.
• Describe common FDG applications.
• Describe the legacy and new FDA-approved radiotracers, their indications and cost.

This program was originally broadcast live as part of a webinar sponsored by IAME and supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Philips Healthcare.

Benjamin O. Spieler, MD; Lorraine Portelance, MD; Eric A. Mellon, MD, PhD

This review article discusses the major indications for stereotactic ablative radiation therapy for liver cancer, as well as the technologies available and/or necessary for safe treatment delivery. Specific areas discussed include hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, dose, image guidance and respiratory management, emerging techniques, and radiation-induced liver disease.

Available for SA-CME Credit. To receive SA–CME credit, you must complete the post exam and review the discussion and references provided with the exam results.

As new technological advances in Magnetic Resonance & Ultrasound continue to impact how healthcare professionals diagnose and treat sports related injuries; this program from RSNA 2017 features:

The Future of MR in MSK
by Dr. Christine Chung
Unique Ultrasound Solutions in MSK and Sports Medicine
by Dr. Jon Jacobson

Each provides insight into how these modalities are transforming patient care. Also included is a live USD scanning session with Dr. Jacobson, where he provides a detailed description of his scanning techniques.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe imaging techniques that can reduce scan time without decreasing image quality.
• Describe how the infrastructure of MSK tissue provides a rationale for the development of a qualitative pulse sequence.
• Be familiar with the normal appears of tendons under USD
• Recognize the common MSK pathology seen on USD
• Describe applications where dynamic USD is used in MSK imaging.

This program was originally presented live at RSNA 2017 and sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Medical Education (IAME) and supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems (now Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc.).

Computed Tomography (CT) continues to be the modality of choice in most emergency departments and is respected for its ability to quickly capture cross sectional images of the body, allowing ED physicians to quickly assess patients.

In recent years, several manufacturers have developed scanners with the ability acquire images at varying energy levels, which allow imaging professionals to differentiate the various elements of the body based on their material density and atomic numbers.

This technique has the potential to revolutionize the way we depict and interpret CT scans. In this Expert Forum Webcast, Dr. Gopal Punjabi will share his clinical experiences with the use of Spectral CT in the Emergency Department with a focus on body imaging.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe scenarios where spectral CT can enhance diagnosis.
• Describe the types of images that can be obtained with spectral CT.
• Understand how to interpret the additional data acquired in spectral CT imaging.

Supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Philips Healthcare.

Open MRI Systems have evolved enormously since their inception in the 1980’s and today true high-field systems offer an excellent, patient centric alternative to closed, cylindrical bore systems for imaging of basic and advanced applications throughout the body.

In this final installment of this 2-Part series, which is being chaired and moderated by Dr. Lawrence N. Tanenbaum, we will hear from Dr. John Feller who will address the advantages of high-field open MRI systems for MSK imaging. Specifically, he will cover patient comfort, image quality, isocentric imaging, metal artifact reduction scanning (MARS), solenoid coil technology, fat suppression, operational efficiency, and marketability.

Following the presentation, Dr. Tanenbaum will moderate a live Q&A where questions from the audience will be addressed.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe how market forces including patient centric imaging are impacting today’s radiology departments.
• Describe how modern Open MRI Systems align with value-based care and are changing the way that imaging facilities do business.
• Understand the technical specifications of High-Field Open MRI Systems.
• Understand the concept of isotropic imaging and new fat suppression technologies.
• Describe the increased image quality and range of applications in MSK imaging.

Supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Hitachi Healthcare Americas

Uncertainty still exists regarding the appropriate and effective routine assessment of myocardial disease with contrast-enhanced MRI. Today more recent and novel MRI myocardial characterization techniques exist, such as T1 and T2 mapping. However, insufficient awareness of the pitfalls in cardiac MRI diagnosis frequently contribute to missed diagnosis in the workup of patients with myocardial infarction and other diseases of the heart muscle.

This Expert Forum featuring Dr. Joseph Schoepf will address these issues and provide a review of the basic principles and recent advances in contrast-enhanced Cardiac MR imaging. Particular emphasis will be placed on the MR assessment of diseases of the myocardium and novel methods for their granular characterization. Following Dr. Schoepf's presentation, a short Q&A will be conducted where your questions can be answered.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Select suitable approaches for the routine assessment of myocardial disease with contrast-enhanced MRI.
• Discuss current developments in the MR characterization of the myocardium.
• Implement methods to improve accuracy of Cardiac MRI for the granular, comprehensive diagnosis of myocardium infarction and fibrosis.

Supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Guerbet, LLC.

This program reviews fundamental MRI safety protocols and meets the annual training recommendations from the American College of Radiology. Importantly, MRI facilities must now comply with the revised requirements for diagnostic imaging from The Joint Commission and document that MRI technologists participate in ongoing education that includes annual training on safe MRI practices in the MRI environment. As such, Advanced MRI Safety Training for Healthcare Professionals, Level 2 MR Personnel covers each MRI safety topic specified by The Joint Commission, as well as many additional subjects that will expand the knowledge-base of healthcare professionals.

With more than 30 years of experience in the field of MRI, the author of the best-selling textbook series, the Reference Manual for Magnetic Resonance Safety, Implants and Devices, and the creator of the internationally popular website, www.MRIsafety.com, Dr. Frank G. Shellock is uniquely qualified to present the information in this program.

Advanced MRI Safety Training for Healthcare Professionals, Level 2 MR Personnel is a 150-minute program that is divided into three sections.

Educational Objectives

• Understand the safety issues related to MRI.
• Describe the bioeffects associated with the static magnetic field, time-varying magnetic, and radiofrequency fields.
• Present guidelines that prevent projectile-related accdents.
• Describe polices that avoid issues related to acoustic noise.
• Review procedures that prevent burns associated with MRI.
• Explain and demonstrate appropriate pre-MRI screening procedures.
• Identify techniques to manage patients with claustrophobia, anxiety, or emotional distress.
• Describe guidelines to handle medical emergencies in the MRI setting.
• Identify safety considerations for gadolinium-based contrast agents.

This is a Pay-To-View program. Purchase is required for full program access.

As technology continues to impact how healthcare is practiced, this presentation on Computed Tomography - What's Next & Why? | New Hardware & Software Transformations will highlight through the clinical experiences of an Expert Faculty; how they are maximizing the latest advances to increase patient care, satisfaction and throughput.

This program was originally presented live at RSNA 2016 and sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Medical Education (IAME) and supported through an unrestricted educational grant from Toshiba America Medical Systems.

The use of CT has rapidly increased in recent years leading to substantial concern regarding medical imaging-related radiation dose. An important strategy to decrease patient dose while maintaining image quality is the use of iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms. These algorithms have the advantage of reducing image noise, improving the contrast to noise ratio and increasing subjective image quality of CT studies. Initial hybrid IR approaches have been increasingly superseded by model-based iterative reconstruction techniques that use precise system statistics and optics models to further reduce image noise. One such algorithm, iterative model reconstruction (IMR) is the focus of this presentation.

The presenters will discuss an intuitive approach to understanding the physics behind IMR and its capabilities with respect to reducing imaging noise leading to both an objective and subjective improvement in image quality on CT. Relevant literature on this topic will be reviewed. Finally, the presenters will show examples acquired from various parts of the body to demonstrate the benefits of IMR use in comparison to conventional imaging and hybrid IR techniques.

Following their presentations questions from the audience were addressed in a moderated Q&A session.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Explain using an intuitive approach, the physics related to current model based reconstruction approaches on CT.
• Compare current model based reconstruction approaches to earlier algorithms, showing how they can lead to an improved image quality.
• Demonstrate examples from various parts of the body that indicate an advantage for images reconstructed with current model based reconstruction approaches

Supported Through An Unrestricted Educational Grant from Philips Healthcare.

Fetal MRI is a relatively new area of imaging, which is technically challenging. It is important to understand the safety implications when imaging a fetus. In addition, given that the fetus is not sedated, it is important that technical knowledge of the imaging and a planned approach to the procedure is in place.

In this educational lecture, the preparation, positioning, planning for and obtaining of images as well as problem solving during the procedure will be discussed. The importance of anatomic imaging leading to accurate interpretation will be reinforced in cased-based examples of imaging singleton and twin gestations.

Following Dr. Kline-Fath's presentation questions from the audience were addressed in a moderated Q&A session.

Educational Objectives

• Review the safety of fetal MR Imaging.
• Describe the technical approach to fetal MR Imaging.
• Describe cases in which fetal MRI was helpful in the evaluation of singleton and twin gestations.

Supported Through An Unrestricted Educational Grant from Philips Healthcare.

Ultrasound and MR elastography are relatively new, clinically validated, and highly reliable and reproducible imaging techniques to non-invasively, rapidly, and cost-effectively evaluate chronic liver disease in children and adults.

These techniques have widespread applicability in the pediatric population, not only in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a leading cause of chronic liver disease in U.S. children, but in a variety of other pediatric chronic liver diseases. By measuring tissue stiffness, the radiologist can assist the clinician in identifying the presence of fibrosis within the liver parenchyma.

Histopathologic examination of liver biopsy specimens has long been considered the gold standard for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis. However, liver biopsy is invasive, costly, not without complications, samples only a fraction of the liver parenchyma, and requires sedation/anesthesia in young children.

In this CME/CE Accredited Expert Forum, Dr. Podberesky will provide a brief overview of ultrasound and MR elastography techniques, review the current literature, applications, and provide imaging examples.

Following Dr. Podberesky's presentation questions from the audience were taken and answered in a moderated Q&A.

Educational Objectives

• To understand the basic principles of ultrasound and MR elastography.
• To understand how to apply liver ultrasound and MR elastography techniques to the pediatric population.
• To review the role that liver ultrasound and MR elastography play in the clinical evaluation and surveillance of liver fibrosis and inflammation in children.

Supported Through An Unrestricted Educational Grant from Philips Healthcare.

The cost of medicine has reached alarming rates. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays an important role in this new world of medicine that obligates physicians to become financial managers. While MRI is an essential component of a neurologic workup, it represents a high proportion of total episode-of-care (EOC) costs, and has been associated with overutilization. As a result, imaging centers can only survive to the extent they are able to develop cost effective approaches to neuroimaging.

In this CME/CE Accredited Expert Forum Webcast, Dr. Mechtler will share his clinical insights, best practices and protocols for utilizing fast MRI methods in a cost effective manner in neuroimaging.

Following Dr. Mechtler's presentation questions from the audience were taken and answered in a moderated Q&A.

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this program, participants will:

• Review clinical indications for post contrast MR imaging in pediatrics and discuss current GBCA utilization in the pediatric population.
• Review the studies describing gadolinium retention in the body of pediatric patients following multiple GBCA doses.
• Discuss relevant considerations when selecting specific GBCAs for post contrast MR imaging in pediatric patients.

Supported Through An Unrestricted Educational Grant from Philips Healthcare.