Being early is often considered a virtue, and in medical care, that is frequently the case. In this issue, we have some articles that highlight the benefits of being early. In some cases, it may mean adopting cutting-edge technology. In others, it may mean diagnosing medical conditions sooner. Often, it’s both. From applying AI more broadly to IR, to treating stroke earlier, to finding breast cancers in earlier stages, sooner is better.
The Society of Interventional Radiology’s (SIR) annual meeting is this month, and our cover feature examines the use of AI in IR. Although AI hasn’t filtered into IR to the degree that it has in diagnostic imaging, there are many potential applications. Beth W. Orenstein speaks with interventional radiologists who are proponents of utilizing AI more widely in IR.
Next up, Rebekah Moan reports on mobile stroke units. When strokes happen, time is a critical factor in determining how fast and how much a patient recovers. Mobile stroke units provide crucial support for patients, getting them triaged and beginning treatment earlier, when they are likely to have better outcomes. Given the benefits of these services, it may be expected that they are becoming more common, but funding can be an obstacle, and rollouts have been uneven. For more details, turn to page 14.
In more AI-related news, Rebecca Montz reports on the ways in which AI and other data-driven applications are enhancing breast cancer detection. Earlier detection improves outcomes, and many new algorithms and features are helping radiologists find cancers earlier than was previously possible. These new tools also address data bias to more accurately reflect diverse populations.
Finally, Keith Loria has a round-up of the latest trends in ultrasound. Ultrasound has been one of the most ergonomically challenging modalities for technologists. From moving the probe to obtain a usable image to pushing buttons on the consoles, technologists literally have their hands full. Combine that with a shortage of technologists, and the time is ripe for ergonomic and workflow enhancements. At RSNA 2024, several vendors demonstrated the features that they believe will help make a difference. To learn more, turn to page 22.
If you happen to be at the SIR conference, feel free to stop by booth #1333 and say hi. We always appreciate hearing from our readers.
Enjoy the issue.
— Dave Yeagerdavid.yeager@gvpub.com