Radiology in public focus
Press releases were sent to the medical news media for the following articles appearing in recent issues of RSNA Journals.
Elevating Radiology Research and Expertise
Media coverage of RSNA research and Society initiatives helps raise awareness of radiology’s vital role in healthcare.
1,621 RSNA-related news stories were tracked in the media. These stories had over 1.1 billion audience impressions. March coverage included WGN-TV (Chicago), Reuters, Forbes, STAT News, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ScienceDaily, Yahoo! News, AuntMinnie,com, Healthcare Business News and Applied Radiology.
AI Model Analyzes Body Composition to Predict Health Risks
In a retrospective study led by Jakob Weiss, MD, PhD, and Matthias Jung, MD, of University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany, MRI-based skeletal muscle quality predicted cardiometabolic disease and mortality better than body mass index.
Using AI to analyze whole-body MRI scans from more than 66,000 participants, researchers linked visceral fat to a 2.26-fold higher diabetes risk, intramuscular fat to a 1.54-fold higher cardiovascular event risk and low skeletal muscle to a 1.44-fold higher all-cause mortality risk.
Access the study, “Body Composition in the General Population: Whole-body MRI–derived Reference Curves from Over 66 000 Individuals,” and related editorial.
Read the related RSNA News story.
Blast Exposure Linked to Aneurysms in U.S. Miliary Units
Brain MRI and MR angiography may reveal a lasting vascular signature of repeated blast exposure, an important finding for radiologists imaging military populations.
A study led by Sara De Giorgi, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, reviewed imaging from 564 U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel. They found intracranial aneurysms were significantly more common in those with higher cumulative blast exposure, raising concern that years of low-level blasts could have measurable long-term brain effects.
Access the study, “Brain MRI Analysis of Cumulative Blast Exposure and Intracranial Aneurysms in Special Operations Forces,” and related editorial.
Read the related RSNA News story.
Ultra-Processed Foods Tied to Worse Muscle Health
Routine thigh MRI provides valuable insights into dietary influences on muscle health in people at risk for knee osteoarthritis.
Lead author Zehra Akkaya, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues found in a recent study of 666 adults, most of whom were overweight with a body mass index of 27, that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with greater fat infiltration within thigh muscles, regardless of calorie or fat intake, physical activity or sociodemographic factors.
Access the study, “Ultra-processed Foods and Muscle Fat Infiltration at Thigh MRI: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative,” and related editorial.
Read the related RSNA News story.
Support MR Safety with RadiologyInfo.org
MR Safety Week, an annual event focused on promoting safe MRI practices for imaging professionals, begins July 26. Radiologists play a critical role in promoting MR safety and addressing common patient questions and concerns.
Encourage patients to visit RadiologyInfo.org to support informed, safe and confident imaging care. Produced by RSNA, the American College of Radiology and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the site offers clear, patient-friendly information on MR safety topics, including implants, contrast agents, noise, claustrophobia and what patients can expect before and during an MRI exam.