Editor’s Note: Divergent Paths
By David Yeager
Radiology Today
Vol. 25 No. 4 P. 5

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our routines. But we’re also innovators. Who doesn’t want a faster, easier way to get things done? These competing traits often collide in the health care sphere. It usually takes a while for a new trend to catch on, but when it does, it often takes off quickly. The articles in this month’s issue offer examples of both ends of that spectrum. In some cases, innovation is leading to significant change. In others, health care professionals are working to change the status quo. Sometimes, it takes time to figure out the best path to follow.

Our cover feature takes a look at the growth of forensic imaging. Traditional pathology, with autopsies and tissue samples, is still the gold standard for determining a cause of death, but imaging is proving to be a useful adjunct. As with many other medical specialties, forensic pathology is woefully understaffed, and medical imaging offers a fast, relatively inexpensive way to gather information about a person’s cause of death. Although it’s not applicable in all cases, the trend is catching on in the United States, and it’s likely to grow for the foreseeable future. Beth W. Orenstein has an in-depth examination of how forensic radiology is helping pathologists address some of the challenges they’re facing.

A challenge in the MRI department is how to best image pediatric patients. The length of many MRI protocols can make it difficult for young patients to keep still, which makes it difficult for MRI technologists to get usable images. In some cases, anesthesia is required to ensure that high-quality images are obtained. David E. Bessom, who is an MRI technologist, discusses the pros and cons of allowing parents to be with their children during anesthesia administration, as well as possible alternatives that may better meet the needs of patients, parents, and technologists.

Addressing inequities in breast imaging is another significant challenge. Black women have the lowest five-year breast cancer survival rates of any racial or ethnic group. Additionally, Hispanic women are more likely than white women to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease, and breast cancer is the number one cause of mortality among Hispanic women. Rebecca Montz reports on the factors that drive these disparities and what can be done to narrow the gaps.

Finally, Keith Loria has a round-up of the latest trends in handheld ultrasound. Portability and ease of use are making point-of-care ultrasound a popular option for many health care settings, including emergency medicine and in underserved areas. As manufacturers begin to incorporate AI into these systems, their utility and popularity are poised to increase. Turn to page 22 for more details.

Enjoy the issue.