Radiology in public focus
Press releases were sent to the medical news media for the following articles appearing in recent issues of RSNA Journals.
Hidden Fat in Your Body Type May Put You at Greater Brain Risk
The effect of obesity on brain health may depend not only on how much fat a person has, but also on where it is stored, according to a study published in Radiology.
Researchers at The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University in China used MRI to quantify fat in various body compartments to identify fat patterns linked to brain and cognitive outcomes.
In a data-driven approach, Kai Liu, MD, PhD, an associate professor in The Affiliated Hospital’s Department of Radiology, and colleagues used MRI data from 25,997 individuals in the UK Biobank database, which also houses the physical measurements, demographics, disease biomarkers, medical history and answers to lifestyle questionnaires.
Of the body fat profiles the team identified, “pancreatic-predominant” and “skinny fat” profiles were most associated with extensive gray matter atrophy, accelerated brain aging, cognitive decline and increased risk of neurological disease.
“Brain health is not just a matter of how much fat you have, but also where it goes,” Dr. Liu said.
Read the related RSNA News story.
Photon-counting CT Outperforms Conventional CT in Lung Cancer Management
Photon-counting CT (PCCT) reduces radiation exposure and adverse reactions while delivering higher image quality and improved malignant feature detection in individuals with lung cancer, according to a study published in Radiology.
In the prospective study, researchers compared the benefits of contrast-enhanced chest CT using ultra-high-resolution PCCT versus conventional CT on a cohort of 200 individuals with lung cancer. Compared to conventional CT, PCCT reduced radiation and iodine exposure by 66.34% and 26.57%, respectively.
Individuals who underwent low-dose, ultra-high-resolution PCCT also had fewer adverse reactions compared to conventional CT. At a 0.4 mm section thickness, photon-counting CT improved overall image quality, detection of enhancement-related malignant features and diagnostic confidence, making it suitable for various body mass indices and small lesions at the T1 stage.
“We believe photon-counting CT might replace conventional CT in the near future due to its improved imaging quality and the diagnostic confidence it offers,” said study author Songwei Yue, MD, chief physician, professor and deputy director of radiology in the Department of Radiology at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in Henan, China.
Read the related RSNA News story.
ASRT Joins ACR and RSNA as RadiologyInfo.org Partner
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) has joined the American College of Radiology and RSNA as a RadiologyInfo.org™ partner.
The site is a trusted source of information for patients, families and health care providers about the vital role of medical imaging, image-guided therapy and radiation therapy in health care.
“RSNA is pleased to welcome ASRT as a partner on RadiologyInfo.org,” said Anne M. Covey, MD, RSNA Board liaison for Public Information and Professionalism. “Radiologic technologists have extensive experience working directly with patients in imaging suites and procedure rooms. Their perspective and expertise will help us ensure that patients are getting accurate information about the range of imaging studies and procedures performed in diagnostic imaging.”
The website, available in English and Spanish, explains in easy-to-understand language how imaging procedures are performed. It describes what patients may experience and provides guidance on how to prepare for the exams.
Add RadiologyInfo.org to your patient communication toolkit and start sharing it today.
Help Spread the Word on Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, but it is also one of the most preventable and treatable when detected early.
In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, RSNA is distributing public service announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness about risk factors and available screening methods, such as CT colonography.
Encourage your patients to schedule their next colorectal screening and to visit RadiologyInfo.org for information on available screening methods, treatment options and follow-up.
RSNA Media Coverage Amplifies the Reach of Radiology
In November, 15,082 RSNA-related news stories were tracked in the media. These stories had over 10.4 billion audience impressions.
Six press releases were issued for RSNA 2025 scientific sessions ahead of the annual meeting. Since then, there have been 4,487 tracked placements and more than 2.7 billion audience impressions for them. In addition, there have been 14,491 tracked placements and more than 8.4 billion audience impressions for RSNA 2025.
Coverage included NBC News, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, New York Post, Financial Times, Yahoo! News, The Times (London), The Independent (London), Daily Mail (London), The Sun (London), National Post (Canada), Women’s Health, Boston Herald, Newsmax, HealthDay, United Press International, Asian News International, Inc., NBC News Radio, ABC News Radio, SiriusXM Radio, and regional broadcast outlets in top tier markets like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.