Preclinical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy in the fields of radiological technology, medical physics, and radiology.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an indispensable diagnostic imaging technique used in the clinical setting. MRI is advantageous over X-ray and computed tomography (CT), because the contrast provided depends on differences in the density of various organ tissues. In addition to MRI systems in hospitals, more than 100 systems are used for research purposes in Japan in various fields, including basic scientific research, molecular and clinical investigations, and life science research, such as drug discovery, veterinary medicine, and food testing. For many years, additional preclinical imaging studies have been conducted in basic research in the fields of radiation technology, medical physics, and radiology. The preclinical MRI research includes studies using small-bore and whole-body MRI systems. In this review, we focus on the animal study using small-bore MRI systems as "preclinical MRI". The preclinical MRI can be used to elucidate the pathophysiology of diseases and for translational research. This review will provide an overview of previous preclinical MRI studies such as brain, heart, and liver disease assessments. Also, we provide an overview of the utility of preclinical MRI studies in radiological physics and technology.

Answering Japanese Fill-in-the-Blank Questions in the Radiological Technology Field Using BERT.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Japanese fill-in-the-blank questions in the radiological technology field using six BERT models. Our original model, created using 330,000 abstracts related to radiological technology, was as accurate as other models created by Wikipedia when vocabulary size was the same. Further improvements in accuracy can be expected if we can increase the vocabulary size and add Japanese Wikipedia data in training.

An Institutional Approach to Fight Technologist Burnout: Radiologist Contribution to National Radiologic Technology Week and Other Efforts.

Radiologic technologists are an integral part of the function of the radiology department and are at risk of burnout with increasing volumes and demands. Integration of the technologists into departmental wellness efforts may prove to be important to technologist retention and job satisfaction. We describe a single institution's efforts to support the technologists in our department, which started as a spontaneous thank you note drive and has grown into an annual effort to celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week and a broader inclusion of the technologists in departmental wellness.

Radiology-based diagnosis of fungal pulmonary infections in high-risk hematology patients: are we making progress?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In patients with hematological malignancies, high-resolution computed tomography (CT) is the recommended imaging approach for diagnosis, staging and monitoring of invasive fungal disease (IFD) but lacks specificity. We examined the status of current imaging modalities for IFD and possibilities for more effective applications of current technology for improving the specificity of IFD diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Although CT imaging recommendations for IFD are largely unchanged in the last 20 years, improvements in CT scanner technology and image processing algorithms now allow for technically adequate examinations at much lower radiation doses. CT pulmonary angiography can improve both the sensitivity and specificity of CT imaging for angioinvasive molds in both neutropenic and nonneutropenic patients, through detection of the vessel occlusion sign (VOS). MRI-based approaches also show promise not only for early detection of small nodules and alveolar hemorrhage but can also be used to detect pulmonary vascular occlusion without radiation and iodinated contrast media. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is increasingly used to monitor long-term treatment response for IFD, but could become a more powerful diagnostic tool with the development of fungal-specific antibody imaging tracers. SUMMARY: High-risk hematology patients have a considerable medical need for more sensitive and specific imaging approaches for IFD. This need may be addressable, in part, by better exploiting recent progress in CT/MRI imaging technology and algorithms to improve the specificity of radiological diagnosis for IFD.

Perceptions of Radiation Safety Culture in Medical Imaging by Role.

PURPOSE: To determine whether radiologic technologists' perceptions of determinants of radiation safety culture differ significantly based on their primary role. METHODS: A secondary analysis of deidentified data from 425 radiologic technologists who participated in the Radiation Actions and Dimensions of Radiation Safety questionnaire, a 35-item survey with valid and reliable psychometric properties, was performed. Nine determinants (dependent variables) of radiation safety culture were analyzed in this study. The radiologic technologists worked primarily as staff technologists; shift, team, or modality leads; and managers or directors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze differences in favorability for the determinants of radiation safety culture by primary role. Games-Howell post hoc tests were conducted to analyze the hypothesis for each determinant. RESULTS: Four determinants demonstrated significant differences with appropriate observed power between staff technologists, leads, and managers and directors: questioning attitude (P < .001), feedback loops (P < .001), leadership actions (P < .001), and nonpunitive response (P < .001). DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that dialogue is needed between all stakeholders to improve the radiation safety culture and that power imbalances caused by the hierarchical system should be considered when seeking to improve the safety culture. CONCLUSION: Positional hierarchies in the medical imaging profession affect the perception of radiation safety, with managers and directors having different perceptions of leadership actions, questioning attitudes, feedback loops, and nonpunitive responses than staff technologists. Therefore, radiologic technologist subgroups must be included purposefully in the process of establishing a radiation safety culture in the imaging department.

Virtual Technology in Radiologic Technology Classrooms: Educational Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: To investigate the educational effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on virtual technology use in the radiologic technology classroom by comparing virtual technology use and perceived barriers for use from before the COVID-19 pandemic through the spring 2021 semester. METHODS: An explanatory mixed-method, cross-sectional survey design was used to evaluate radiologic technology educators' integration of virtual technology and continuance intention to use (CITU) virtual technology in the radiologic technology classroom. A pseudoqualitative component also was used to add meaning to the quantitative data. RESULTS: A total of 255 educators completed the survey. Educators with associate degrees scored significantly lower in CITU compared with participants with master's degrees (P = .04) and doctoral or professional degrees (P = .01). Virtual technology use significantly increased from before COVID-19 to spring 2021 (P < .001). Educators' perceptions of barriers to technology integration significantly decreased from before COVID-19 to spring 2021 (P < .001). In this report, radiologic technology educators indicated intentions for increased virtual technology use in the future compared with their use during the spring 2021 semester (P = .001). DISCUSSION: Virtual technology use was low before COVID-19, and although it increased during the spring 2021 semester, it remained relatively low. Future intentions for virtual technology use indicate an increase from spring 2021, suggesting a change in future delivery of radiologic science education. Instructors' levels of education had a significant effect on CITU scores. Cost and funding was consistently the highest reported barrier to virtual technology use, whereas student resistance to technology was consistently the lowest reported barrier. Narratives of participants' challenges, current and future use, and rewards related to virtual technology also added pseudoqualitative meaning to the quantitative findings. CONCLUSION: The educators in this study demonstrated low virtual technology use before the COVID-19 pandemic, increased virtual technology use because of the pandemic, and significantly positive CITU scores. Radiologic science educators' responses regarding their challenges, current and future use, and rewards might be helpful in facilitating more effective technology integration.

Evaluating Current Tuition Trends in Radiography Programs.

PURPOSE: To identify current tuition trends among types of radiography programs; compare tuition rates; and provide prospective students, educators, and professionals with a comprehensive cost analysis for postsecondary education planning, recruitment, and retention. METHODS: Radiography program tuition data were collected from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) website. National tuition rates were obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics website. Tuition fees for JRCERT-accredited programs were sorted by degree level and state. The data were evaluated for each pathway to determine tuition range, median cost, cost effectiveness, and comparison with national rates. RESULTS: The range of annual tuition costs for JRCERT-accredited radiography programs was $750 to $51 769. Results were not normally distributed, and the median annual tuition rate for all programs was $5005. Broken down by program type, the median tuition rate was $4861 for a certificate, $4556 for an applied associate of science degree, $5959 for an associate of science degree, and $10 075 for a bachelor of science degree. The overall mean for radiography tuition was $7875, compared with the national average of $13 016 for all undergraduate institutions nationally. DISCUSSION: Radiography program tuition rates vary widely. Prospective students' use of research and financial strategies to determine the best value is recommended. The applied associate of science degree in radiography was found to be the most cost-effective type of program. Bachelor's degrees in radiography were the most expensive option, but according to the literature, a bachelor's degree could yield additional benefits such as increased employment, advanced career opportunities, and higher return on investment. CONCLUSION: An education in radiography is a competitive option compared with the national average for undergraduate programs. To achieve a favorable outcome, prospective students should evaluate educational costs, educational value, and informed decision-making strategies when investing in their postsecondary education.

Além do câncer de mama: estudo das lesões mamárias raras / Beyond breast cancer: study of rare breast lesions

Lesões incomuns da mama podem representar um desafio diagnóstico. Essas lesões incluem doenças sistêmicas, tumores benignos e malignos primários da mama, e até mesmo tumores metastáticos. É importante que os radiologistas estejam familiarizados com a aparência de uma variedade de lesões mamárias incomuns, não só na mamografia como também na tomossíntese, na ultrassonografia e na ressonância magnética. Essas lesões incluem doenças sistêmicas, tumores benignos raros, tumores malignos primários incomuns e lesões metastáticas. Este trabalho consiste num ensaio iconográfico, observacional, descritivo e retrospectivo, realizado através da avaliação dos prontuários e exames de imagens de pacientes com lesões mamárias suspeitas de câncer primário das mamas, ainda que sem diagnóstico, ou mesmo com diagnóstico de lesões benignas ou malignas, mas que não primárias das mamas, e referenciadas ao Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) para tratamento. A presente revisão da literatura visa facilitar o aprendizado dos médicos radiologistas, permitindo um diagnóstico mais precoce reduzindo a morbimortalidade das pacientes acometidas

Unusual breast lesions can pose a diagnostic challenge. These lesions include systemic diseases, primary benign and malignant breast tumors, and even metastatic tumors. It is important for radiologists to be familiar with the appearance of a variety of unusual breast lesions, not only on mammography but also on tomosynthesis, ultrasound, and MRI. These lesions include systemic diseases, rare benign tumors, uncommon primary malignant tumors, and metastatic lesions. This work consists of an iconographic, observational, descriptive and retrospective essay, carried out through the evaluation of medical records and image exams of patients with breast lesions suspected of primary breast cancer, even if without diagnosis, or even with a diagnosis of benign or malignant lesions, but not breast primary, and referred to the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) for treatment. This literature review aims to facilitate the learning of radiologists, allowing an earlier diagnosis, reducing the morbidity and mortality of affected patients.