Radiology Insider Articles

Optimized Protocols for Breast MRI – Increasing the total number of breast MRI screening exams in Canada

Mon, 06/27/2022 - 15:27

The pandemic has exacerbated the backlog in breast imaging and the longer patients wait to get screened, the more likely the cancer is going to be diagnosed at a later stage, leading to more aggressive treatment options. The Ottawa Hospital ran a 10-month trial with optimized protocols for breast imaging that aimed to bring the average scan times from 30 minutes to 12 minutes. Click here to learn more about optimized protocols for breast imaging.

The current liver imaging landscape in Canada: from CT to Primovist®-enhanced MRI

Thu, 06/23/2022 - 11:20

Bayer continues to seek out ways to best support liver imaging practices and optimize patient outcomes. For that reason, we recently conducted a survey across Canada to gain a better understanding of the current liver imaging landscape directly from clinics and healthcare professionals – such as yourself.

The survey explored topics such as the different modalities currently being used for liver imaging, reasons for using Primovist^®-enhanced MRI, sites current and desired usage of Primovist among different focal liver lesions, potential factors that can affect the use of Primovist, and the top referring physicians involved.

Why I Scan – International Day of Radiology 2021

Tue, 11/02/2021 - 10:07

On this International Day of Radiology, we wanted to share some of the great things our colleagues across Canada have contributed to us recently about why they love scanning, their careers, patient care and their specialty focuses

DENSE Trial Second Round Results

Mon, 11/01/2021 - 12:35

Results from the second round of the DENSE trial were published in the May 2021 issue of Radiology1. The DENSE trial is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands and has enrolled 40,373 women between the ages of 50 and 75 years with extremely dense breast tissue and previous normal results on a mammogram. Dr. Carla van Gils presents results from the second round in this video.

Bayer Contrast Agents and Gadovist video

Sat, 09/11/2021 - 10:10

Based on customer feedback we created a video which may be helpful to you as it explains the benefits of using contrast agents in MR screening, and why Gadovist^® is particularly well-suited for the detection of small lesions and lesion characterization. We suggest sharing this material among your team, to support the team’s knowledge and help respond to frequent questions coming from patients about these procedures.

The causes and cures of artifacts in MRI

Thu, 09/09/2021 - 10:14

We invite you to watch this recording presented by Dr. Martin J. Graves on “Artifacts in Enhanced and Unenhanced MRI: Causes and Cures”. As Dr. Graves describes, the three main sources of artifacts in MRI include (1) the MR system hardware, (2) physics of MRI acquisition and (3) patient related factors

Benefits of Primovist-enhanced liver-MRI for liver disease management and patient outcomes

Thu, 09/09/2021 - 08:15

Watch the video from a symposium on “Primovist-enhanced liver MRI: Benefits in HCC liver disease management & patient outcomes” recorded at ECR 2021. There were two talks presented at this symposium.

Macrocyclic contrast agents used in MRI have high kinetic stability

Wed, 09/08/2021 - 10:16

All MRI contrast agents currently marketed in Canada contain gadolinium. Gadolinium is used because of its paramagnetic properties, which accelerates the magnetic relaxation of water protons, providing contrast enhancement in a T1-weighted image. See video for more.

IUDs and Malposition

Wed, 09/08/2021 - 06:19

Did you know that some Intrauterine Devices (IUD) sit differently in women? Dr. Renee Hall noticed that some IUDs have been taken out without need due to misinterpretation of scans, which could have led to unwanted pregnancies. To provide more information about this, Dr. Hall joined us for a webinar to discuss IUDs.

Intego, making things easier in nuclear medicine

Sat, 07/04/2020 - 10:30

Tony Correia, our Clinical Success Specialist, shares his thoughts and some customer testimonials about the Intego Injector, the "need to have" product. Customers say they have been able to speed up procedures and decrease the radiation doses to staff.

Primovist reporting tool

Wed, 06/17/2020 - 10:31

Bayer Global and Smart Reporting have developed a Reporting tool for liver MRI to help Radiologists create their reports. There are 3 reporting templates included for structured reporting.

Year in review: unprecedented challenges and unparalleled partnerships

Fri, 05/15/2020 - 10:33

2020 has tested our collective resolve and challenged our healthcare systems in ways never before seen. Each step of the way, we at Bayer have been happy to call you our partners and support you in new and innovative ways. We’re proud of our contributions in the face of ambiguity and the unknown.

Everyone deserves clear answers about their health 2021

Thu, 05/07/2020 - 10:59

These are not normal times, so you shouldn’t expect a normal radiology partner. As we continue to go through this unprecedented second wave of COVID-19, dedication and resiliency have become more than buzz words: they’ve become the foundation to ensure patients get the care that they need. Bayer Radiology is here to help support you through that process.

The Radiology Insider Podcast, presented by Bayer Canada

Thu, 05/07/2020 - 08:00

As a Radiology community, it is critical we stay connected to share best practices and experiences from across the country.

To listen to these great chats on-the-go, anywhere and anytime, download them to your device with a simple click. Don’t forget to click the green "follow" button on the podcast page to stay informed!

Medrad® Stellant Cleaning Assets

Wed, 05/06/2020 - 11:02

As we continue to navigate through these challenging times we wanted to provide some additional support by developing some tools to help ensure your team is informed on how to properly care for and clean/disinfect your Medrad Stellant with Certegra CT injection system.

How has COVID-19 impacted your work?

Wed, 05/06/2020 - 09:04

Recent Canada-wide survey by Bayer on the impact of COVID-19 on computerized tomography (CT) scans shows decrease in outpatient volumes and increases in ER scanning, administrative work, and cleaning and disinfecting requirements

Using MRI to diagnose breast cancer in women with dense breasts

Wed, 05/06/2020 - 08:06

Mammograms are the primary screening technique to diagnose breast cancer, MRI has shown to have advantages as a screening tool. In a recent randomized controlled trial investigating screening with mammography versus MRI in women with a familial risk, MRI was shown to find more instances of breast cancer. Watch Lisa's story.

Breast MRI Screening Practice in Canada

Wed, 05/06/2020 - 07:07

Breast MRI offers the highest sensitivity of all breast imaging modalities for the detection of breast cancer. However, the use of MRI for breast cancer screening is limited due to its cost and complexity.

Mercy Ship - Larry's story

Mon, 05/04/2020 - 11:10

Larry Hewitt lived in Prince George, BC and has been volunteering on board the Africa Mercy since 2015 with his wife, Sandy. With a background in biomedical engineering and radiology, his knowledge and expertise is being put to good use. Larry gave us a bit of background on his work with Mercy Ships..

MR Throughput Results Presentation

Mon, 05/04/2020 - 09:11

In 2019, we launched an effort to better understand the topic of MR Throughput for Canadian hospitals through a series of interviews. We took the step of presenting the results to MR Throughput expert, Jennifer Catton, to capture her insights into where opportunities for improvement exist. This video is an excellent resource of advice and techniques based on the data.

Why I Scan - Lauren Bureau

Sun, 05/03/2020 - 11:13

Lauren Bureau is an MRI supervisor from Alberta. Her peers recently nominated her to the CAMRT MRT Heroes for going above and beyond. Having recently been on the other side of the health care system with her father experiencing cancer, Lauren shares her patient and family centered view point with us.

Why does Bayer invest in indications?

Sun, 05/03/2020 - 10:14

At Bayer, we believe in scientific evidence. That’s why we invest in clinical trials to support the approval for more indications. Gadovist® has the most Health Canada-approved indications of any macrocyclic gadolinium-based-contrast agent (GBCA).

Predicting ICU stays through medical imaging

Sun, 05/03/2020 - 09:16

Bayer Radiology will collaborate with Altis Labs in the development of machine learning models to extract features from image data for the prognostication of COVID-19 severity and other types of pulmonary infections. Specifically, Bayer will be developing the AI algorithms that will support the diagnosis of COVID-19 with X-ray and CT imaging.

Canada’s role in shaping Radiology’s Purpose

Sun, 05/03/2020 - 07:17

Tyler Hughes started his career in Bayer as a Medical Advisor. In his rotations through marketing, strategy, and operations roles within the Canadian Radiology organization, Tyler identified that serving patients was near and dear to his colleagues, although his thinking was progressive, there was still work to be done to rally the rest of the organization.

Bayer Radiology’s taskforce to make Canada a little brighter

Sat, 05/02/2020 - 11:19

Knowing that so many are working hard to keep us safe in this challenging time, and how many people are trying hard to adapt to the current state of the world, we wanted to do something to contribute. Bayer Radiology Canada formed the TOTO team (The One Team Objective).

Patients are Waiting: Radiology is Ready to do its part

Sat, 05/02/2020 - 08:13

On April 18, a taskforce was commissioned by the CAR Board to examine the re-entry of imaging. On May 11, the taskforce released an initial report titled “Radiology Resumption of Clinical Service”. This report provides important information and guidelines for the re-entry of imaging after the slowdown driven by COVID.

Employees Volunteer to Manufacture Critical Imaging Products

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 11:31

After COVID-19 presented a dilemma for production employees in high risk categories, 34 employees across functions from HR to marketing raised their hands to volunteer to take on production shifts at our North American manufacturing site.

COVID-19 Preparedness and Safety: From the Front Lines

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 11:27

Join Andrew Bierhals MB, MPH and Jay Phade MD, for a live webinar as they discuss response plans, quality and safety issues, and the abbreviated protocols that have been developed to protect patients and staff while optimizing imaging services during the COVID-19 crisis.

A Canadian COVID-19 story from the front lines - Amber’s story

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 10:55

Adding to our stories of brave Canadians working in the field of Radiology during COVID-19, comes this story from Amber, a CT Technologist at a trauma centre in Canada.

Join Dr. Essig to hear the Impact of Relaxivity in MR Imaging

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 10:30

We are pleased to invite you to hear Dr. Marco Essig speak about the Impact of Relaxivity in Imaging on May 6 or 7 on Zoom.

Exam volumes expected to rebound according to our quick poll

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 10:00

We issued a quick poll to Radiology Insider readers to share their expectations for exam volumes over the coming months.

Why I Scan: Dr Raymond’s Story of the Mercy Ship

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 09:58

Times of crisis remind us about the importance of access to medical care and how many in the world lack that access even in the best of times. This is a story of Canadian radiologist, Dr Greg Raymond, and many other medical professionals that use their training to help those in need across the world on Mercy Ships

A Canadian COVID-19 Story - Graeme’s Story

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 09:50

Graeme Boyd is one of our Field Service Representatives who travels the country to ensure our customers are operational. With a wife and a baby at home, Graeme describes how his day-to-day work experience has changed and given him a new perspective.

July 31Update: Bayer and COVID-19

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 08:02

We continue to face unprecedented challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. As provinces continue to phase in the opening of the economy, we want to assure our customers that we continue to be vigilant with respect to product supply and services.

A COVID-19 story from Italy – Alessandro’s story

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 07:58

We are currently facing an unprecedented time and ‘business as usual’ is no longer possible. How are our radiology colleagues responding to the recent challenges? This is a letter from a Field Service Engineer for Bayer in Italy.

You've shared your preferences for shaping Radiology Insider

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 07:50

Late last year radiologists, administrators and technologists from across Canada shared their preferences for online resources. We can now share this with you and send a big thank you to everyone who participated.

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Gadolinium presence in the pediatric brain – Section 1

Tue, 04/28/2020 - 12:00

In this interview, Dr. Govind Chavhan sits down with Dr. Ravi Bhargava to discuss Dr. Bhargava’s recent investigation of gadolinium presence in the pediatric brain.

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Gadolinium presence in the pediatric brain – Section 2

Tue, 04/28/2020 - 11:00

This video is part 2 of the interview with Dr. Bhargava, in which he describes the design of his study investigating whether multiple doses of Gadovist^® increase T1 signal intensity in the brains of children.

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The role of breast density in breast cancer screening

Sun, 04/26/2020 - 12:30

Breast MRI may reveal additional breast cancers which are missed by x-ray mammography, especially in women with high breast density…

Additional Brain Metastases identified in patients after MRI with a higher relaxivity contrast agent

Sat, 04/25/2020 - 12:31

Improved MR imaging performance with Gadovist has been reported in an intraindividual comparison with gadopentetate dimeglumine for the detection of brain metastases.1 Differences between these agents include the higher relaxivity and gadolinium concentration of Gadovist^®...

Better visualization and lesion enhancement in contrast-enhanced MRI of the brain with Gadovist® compared to gadoterate meglumine

Mon, 04/20/2020 - 12:36

There have been three intraindividual studies directly comparing Gadovist® and gadoterate meglumine for contrast-enhanced MRI of the central nervous system. In 2 out of 3 of these direct comparison trials, Gadovist^® showed either…

RI015 [EN] Better visualization and lesion enhancement

The power of relaxivity: Which Macrocyclic agent has the highest relaxivity?

Sun, 04/19/2020 - 12:38

There are three macrocyclic gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCAs) available on the Canadian market. As macrocyclic agents, these three GBCAs all belong to the most stable class of MRI contrast media. Beyond stability, there are other differences in molecular structure that impact the relaxivity of these agents and thus their ability to enhance signal intensity on the MR image.

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10 Years of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) – What Conclusions Can Be Drawn From Report Numbers?

Sat, 04/18/2020 - 12:39

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) categorize all macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) as low risk for NSF development. A similar conclusion was drawn by the Canadian Association of Radiology (CAR) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). The NSF risk classification is largely based on single-agent NSF reports. However, different numbers of NSF reports are frequently cited…

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Relaxivity Matters - The influence of molecular structure on relaxivity

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 12:42

Two requirements of gadolinium based contrast agents (GBCAs) designed for use in MRI include high stability and high relaxivity. While molecular structure plays a large role in the stability of GBCAs, molecular structure also influences relaxivity, which is a prerequisite of technical efficacy of MRI contrast.

Gadolinium Presence in the Brain and Body

Tue, 04/14/2020 - 12:43

The first association of repeated gadolinium-based contrast agent administrations and increased signal intensity (SI) on non-contrast T1-weighted MR images in the dentate nucleus and globus pallidus brain areas was published by Kanda et al in 2014. This study stimulated intensive scientific investigations that aim to better understand the origin of this SI increase.

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CT Contrast extravasation: Can it be Decreased?

Mon, 04/13/2020 - 12:44

CT has exploded in popularity since the early 2000s and has changed the game of medicine in many ways. Even though CT scans may have several benefits to diagnosis, contrast extravasations may carry downsides from compartment syndrome to tissue necrosis. In this video, Ryan K. Lee talks about CT contrast extravasation, its definition, implications, and tips and tricks to try to decrease extravasation.

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Delayed tumour enhancement may predict long-term survival post-hepatectomy

Sun, 04/05/2020 - 12:50

Delayed tumour enhancement of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) on gadoxetate-enhanced MRI is associated with survival post-hepatectomy, according to results reported by researchers from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

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