Imaging Technology News - October 2008 - (Page 45)

Advances In MR-GUIDED ULTRASOUND with symptomatic fibroids waited an average of five years and consulted with an average of three gynecologists before undergoing UAE.3 In comparison, MRgFUS is an outpatient procedure, and patients are able to return home after a very short recovery time of approximately 30-60 minutes.Typical time to return to work with MRgFUS is between 0.8 ± 1.9 days.4 By contrast the time to return to work is over 30 days for hysterectomy and 10 days for UAE. In a survey of 84 women with symptomatic fibroids the top factors that influenced their decision to choose UAE (the most minimallyinvasive procedure at the time of that publication) included: desire to avoid adverse effects of other treatments (90 percent), anticipated prolonged recovery from surgery (83 percent), and avoiding surgery (71 percent).5 While no medical procedure is without risk, it has been demonstrated that MRgFUS has fewer risks than other treatment options for fibroids. 6 The side-effects of MRgFUS include transfusion (3 percent), fever (6 percent) and vaginal discharge (7.5 percent). This is much lower than the 32 percent and 76 percent of women experiencing transfusions and fever respectively after a hysterectomy and the 21 percent of women experiencing vaginal discharge after UAE.7 With lower side effects comes a reduction in cost primarily attributed to hospital length of stay (LOS). This statistic has been documented for fibroid treatment. (see Table 1). web sive ablation procedure, the expectation is that the numbers of MRgFUS procedures will rise. With it will likely come greater awareness and expectation that non-invasive MRgFUS ablation procedures could be applied for use in treating various types of tumors. At this stage in the evolution of the technology, MRgFUS has proven to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of uterine fibroids with a minimal recovery time, can potentially save on provider resources and is a viable and cost-effective alternative to currentITNfibroid treatments. c ontinued online Read the full story and references at ITNonline.net For More Information www.insightec.com universitymri.com Warm and Comfortable Our newly designed three-bottle Gel Warmer surrounds your gel in warmth, providing ultra-comfort for ultrasound patients. And, for the first time, Parker now offers a single-bottle gel warmer for ultra-flexibility. Procedure Cuts Time, Cost A recent study investigated payer costs associated with 2,836 hysterectomy, 704 myomectomy and 125 UAE patients.8 It was shown that although there were significant differences in the procedure costs, the difference in total 12-month payer costs (medical, professional and pharmacy) for all three procedures was not significant (see Table 2).There were also more accident and emergency visits and hospital admissions after UAE than for hysterectomy and myomectomy. From a patient and employer perspective, the minimal recovery time can be associated with fewer lost workdays. Several studies have reported the number of missed work days associated with UAE, hysterectomy and myomectomy, and the indirect costs associated with work loss and recovery time. As patients and physicians become more aware of this noninvaOctober 2008 | ITN | 45 Introducing the new Thermasonic® Gel Warmer Newly designed single-bottle, and redesigned three-bottle gel warmers provide the ultimate comfort in ultrasound • Hospital grade plug and power cord • Three-bottle unit has a three-position, adjustable thermostat and illuminated power switch • Designed around practitioner needs and competitively priced • Approved for continuous, reliable use, either wall-mounted or counter standing • Single and three bottle units available in 120V and 230V CE Log on to www.parkerlabs.com/thermasonic.html for more information and an interactive product demonstration. Exclusively from Parker ISO 13485:2003 Warming Up Ultrasound http://new.reillycomm.com/imaging/article_detail.php?id=682 http://www.insightec.com http://www.universitymri.com http://www.parkerlabs.com/thermasonic.html http://www.parkerlabs.com/thermasonic.html http://www.parkerlabs.com http://www.parkerlabs.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Imaging Technology News - October 2008

Imaging Technology News - October 2008 Contents RSNA Low-Field MRI Systems Contrast Media Injectors AM-LCDs Special Report - Agents Target Neurological Diseases and Disorders IT Laser Imagers Monitors Meet Radiology Suite Needs MR Guides Ultrasound in Outpatient Treatments Replacing a Legacy PACS PACS SAs: Titles and Salaries

Imaging Technology News - October 2008

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