FDA Issues Alert on Radiofrequency Ablation-Related Deaths

The FDA recently issued an alert to healthcare professionals regarding reports of patient deaths associated with the use of radiofrequency (RF) ablation devices during lung tumor ablation. Patient selection, subsequent treatment and technical use of the RF device, including placement and operation, may have contributed to the fatalities, according to the FDA. The FDA noted that while RF ablation devices have been cleared for general indications, the devices have not been cleared specifically for lung tumor ablation.

The FDA urged healthcare professionals to use caution when operating RF ablation devices, adhering strictly to information contained in the labeled operating instructions, operators manual, manufacturer’s instructions for use and any training provided. Additionally, if healthcare professionals plan to use RF ablation devices to treat patients with lung tumors, they should consider enrolling patients in an approved clinical study, where training is available, according to the FDA.

More information is available at www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/121107-rfablation.html.

Image Gently Campaign Promotes Need to "Child-Size" Radiation Dose

With its Image Gently campaign launched in late January, the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging is aiming to turn concern about radiation dose to children into action.

Through a series of e-mails to members of alliance organizations—including one sent to RSNA members on Jan. 22—press releases, posters, news articles, editorials and other communications, the alliance is emphasizing that children may be more sensitive to radiation received from medical imaging scans than adults and that cumulative radiation exposure to their smaller bodies could have adverse effects over time. With an initial focus on CT scanning, the alliance recommends:

• "Child-sizing" the scan, as this often reduces the amount of radiation used

• Not overscanning: scanning only when necessary, only the indicated region and only once, as multiphase scanning is rarely helpful

• Involving medical physicists to monitor pediatric CT techniques and technologists to optimize scanning

In addition to targeting radiologists, medical physicists and technologists who image children as a very small part of their patient volume, the campaign will also target referring emergency department physicians, pediatricians, pediatric orthopedists and other physicians and will also reach out to parents.

More information on the campaign is available at www.imagegently.org.

World Leadership Council Meets at RSNA 2007

The council comprises leaders from major radiology societies around the world.

(Left to right) Barry Goldberg, M.D., Radiology Outreach Foundation; James P. Borgstede, M.D., American College of Radiology; Dave Fellers, C.A.E., RSNA; Hans Ringertz, M.D., Ph.D., International Society of Radiology; Hedvig Hricak, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. h.c., RSNA; Claude Manelfe, M.D., International Society of Radiology; Andy Adam, M.B.B.S., European Society of Radiology; Otha W. Linton, M.S.J., International Society of Radiology; Lenny K. Tan, M.D., Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology.

RSNA News Survey Under Way

RSNA is seeking feedback regarding RSNA News via a Web-based survey mailed to about 2,000 randomly selected RSNA members in late January. The 20-question survey seeks information about readers’ interest in the various sections and format of the magazine and will guide future changes to the publication. Survey results will be reported in RSNA News later this year.

Radiology Leaders Join Forces at RSNA 2007

The executive directors of more than two dozen radiology-related organizations met during RSNA 2007 to discuss common issues and concerns.

(Front row, left to right) Donald Swinbourne, Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists; Michael R. Mabry, Radiology Business Management Association; Angela R. Keyser, American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Dave Fellers, C.A.E., RSNA; Teri Saylor, North American Society for Cardiac Imaging; Alexander Yule, J.P., D.Sc., International Society of Radiographers & Radiological Technologists; Andrew Whitman, J.D., Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance; Susan Cappitelli, M.B.A., C.A.E., American Roentgen Ray Society. (Back row, left to right) Andrew Hall, Royal College of Radiologists; Jerry Reid, Ph.D., American Registry of Radiologic Technologists; Lynn May, C.A.E., American Society of Radiologic Technologists; Edward Cronin, M.B.A., C.A.E., American Healthcare Radiology Administrators; Gary J. Becker, M.D., American Board of Radiology; Peter Lauer, C.A.E., Society of Interventional Radiology; Bernhard Lewerich, Deutsch Röntgengesellschaft; David Schauer, Sc.D., C.H.P., National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements; Renee Cruea, M.P.A., Academy of Radiology Research; Otha W. Linton, M.S.J., International Society of Radiology; Charles Shields Jr., Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists; Patricia Russell, International Commission on Radiation Units & Measurements; William A. Gardner, M.D., American Registry of Pathology; Richard Evans, H.D.C.R., Society & College of Radiographers; Harvey Neiman, M.D., American College of Radiology.

The RSNA International Advisory Committee (IAC) advises RSNA on the impact that Society activities and programs have on international members and annual meeting attendees. Comments, questions and suggestions for the IAC can be sent to IntlAdvCom@rsna.org.

(Front row, left to right) RSNA President Theresa C. McLoud, M.D., IAC Chair Christian J. Herold, M.D., Austria; Lizbeth Kenny, M.B.B.S., Australia. (Back row, left to right) Byung Ihn Choi, M.D., Ph.D., South Korea; Ji Qi, M.D., Ph.D., China; Renato A. Mendonca, M.D., Brazil; Maximilian F. Reiser, M.D., Germany; Philippe A. Grenier, M.D., France; Kazuro Sugimura, M.D., Japan; Ricardo D. Garcia-Monaco, M.D., Argentina. Not pictured is Jan Labuscagne, M.B.Ch.B., South Africa.