RSNA Highlights

In last months issue we started our review of RSNA04, in this months issue we bring you news of all of the other sessions covered at last years meeting


Imaging Tool May Help Physicians Diagnose Bipolar Disorder

Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy may provide vital information in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, a serious condition of the brain affecting 2.3 million Americans, is characterized by an alternating pattern of emotional highs and lows.

Using MR spectroscopy of the brain, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., identified significant differences between the brain chemistries of people with and without bipolar disorder.

Currently, bipolar disorder is diagnosed by psychiatrists on the basis of symptoms and, when available, family history. Often patients go undiagnosed for years.

Using MR spectroscopy, a special form of MR imaging that allows researchers to analyze the chemical properties of tissue, Dr. Port and colleagues studied 60 to 70 regions of the brain at a time, gathering thousands of data points. The spectroscopic scans enabled the research team to perform statistical analysis on 14 separate areas of the brain and five metabolites, chemical substances found in brain tissue.

The preliminary findings indicated that certain metabolite levels differed significantly between the bipolar group and control group in four areas of the brain that control behavior, movement, vision and reading, and sensory information.


CT Helps Find Cause of Puzzling Cough in WTC Rescue Workers

Radiologists are one step closer to solving a mysterious condition affecting World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers.

"WTC cough” is an uncharacterized ailment of rescue workers at the World Trade Center site who were exposed to airborne toxins on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Specialized CT scans identified WTC cough as air trapping, which causes shortness of breath, dry cough or wheezing.
Although thought to be benign, air trapping is symptomatic — causing shortness of breath, dry cough or wheezing — and is treated as a variant of asthma, with inhaled steroids and bronchodilators.

Wipeout! Surfing Creates Wave of Unique Injuries

Surfing inflicts its own variety of injuries that can be perplexing for physicians unfamiliar with the sport.

When surfers are injured, many times there are no telltale abrasions since the impact is often with water and not a solid object. Surfers are also usually leashed to their boards, making it easier for them to strike the boards even after they tumble off.

Surfing injuries can be classified into three groups: paddling toward the surf, catching a wave and marine environment.

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