This year Toshiba’s Ultrasound (UL) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) modalities introduced new techniques and equipment dedicated to improving women’s imaging. In conjunction, Toshiba sponsored an evening event where physicians shared how Toshiba’s technology is helping women.

Pamela M. Otto, M.D., professor and director of Breast Imaging & Intervention, Department of Radiology, UT Health Science Center & University Health System, San Antonio discussed her experiences with Toshiba’s newRadiance Plus Breast Imaging Coil, which optimizes Magnetic Resonance Mammography (MRM) on the Toshiba Vantage systems. In fact, this coil enabled Dr. Otto to conduct the first contrast-free breast MRA exams. Toshiba is a pioneer in contrast-free MRA techniques, and now plans to develop a sequence that will enable contrast-free breast MR exams.

Ellen B. Mendelson, M.D., F.A.C.R., Northwestern University and Thomas Fischer, M.D., Charite Hospital, University of Berlin presented their experiences with Toshiba’s ultrasound technology. Both discussedToshiba’s new and exclusive ultrasound technique — MicroPure™, which helps physicians detect breast lesions and micro-calcifications more clearly, as well the sonoelastography suite, ElastoQ (works-in-progress), a non-invasive medical imaging technique that evaluates tumors based on their stiffness (elasticity) compared to normal tissue. Both of these Toshiba collaborators presented cases that provided insight on ultrasound’s future as an effective tool for diagnosing breast disease.

At a CT event the same evening, Frank J. Rybicki, M.D., Ph.D., director, Cardiac CT & Vascular CT/MRI, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and William W. Orrison, M.D., MBA chief of neuroradiology, Nevada Imaging Centers shared their experiences with the Aquilion® ONE 320 detector row CT.

Dr. Rybicki provided insights into key research that has been completed on the Aquilion ONE over the last year. For the first time, CT can now visualize how the cardiac vessels curve and measure flow dynamically within the vessels. He also discussed Brigham and Women’s work on the recently announced CORE 320 worldwide multicenter trial that will compare dynamic volume CT to SPECT for evaluating myocardial perfusion.

Dr. Orrison has completed more than 3,500 patient studies on the Aquilion ONE and shared the way this technology is changing his practice. Not only did Dr. Orrison showcase his whole brain perfusion studies, but he also showed advanced dynamic motion studies of musculoskeletal anatomy, which were clinically used for surgery planning and follow up.