Radiologist Must Pay $1.15 Million Fine

(AP) BALTIMORE ... A federal appeals court upheld a $1.15 million fine against a Baltimore-area radiologist for using uncertified mammography equipment that produced substandard images and could have placed breast cancer patients at risk.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals opinion said Dr. Amile A. Korangy, who owns Korangy Radiology Associates, performed 192 mammograms in the summer of 2002 with a substandard machine at his Catonsville office.

"If mammography equipment does not produce an image of acceptable quality, early stage breast cancer may not be detected, thus depriving the patient of the best chance for cure," Judge William B. Traxler Jr. wrote Friday.

Korangy had argued the size of the fine violated the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

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Understanding Radiation Risks: Informational Handout For Parents Of Children Undergoing CT Exams

Simply giving parents informational handouts can improve their understanding of the potential increased risk of cancer related to pediatric CT, according to a recent study conducted by researchers from The Children's Hospital in Denver, CO and Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

"Like many radiology departments around the country, we are concerned about the increasing radiation exposure to children caused by increased usage of CT. When we looked into it, our emergency physicians told us that parents' expectations may play a role," said David B. Larson, MD, lead author of the study. "The emergency room clinicians tell us anecdotally that a number of parents expect that their child will undergo CT even before the child is seen by a physician. Parents rarely seem to understand the associated risks, so we thought it might be helpful to our emergency room colleagues to provide a handout to parents to explain, in basic terms, the risks associated with CT," said Dr. Larson.

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British advisory panel deems CT screening tests safe and effective

An advisory healthcare panel in the U.K. has found that CT screening of the lung, heart, and colon exposes patients to safe levels of radiation. It is also clinically effective, according to a published July 31.

The report recommended annual audits of outcomes and a better infrastructure to ensure compliance with national and international radiation exposure protocols.

The Clinical Advisory Committee of Diagnostic Imaging, set up in January 2007, asked experts to review evidence-based clinical papers and research to examine the role of diagnostic imaging in preventive medicine, looking specifically at CT screening in the early detection of certain diseases.

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Transitioning to Teleradiology

For some, it may be the lure of higher salaries – for others, the promise of more time with their families. For other professionals, it may be simply the excitement of joining a burgeoning field that offers the promise of both state-of-the-art technology and innovation.

Despite a radiologist’s reasons for transitioning into the field of teleradiology, one fact remains: Teleradiology is certainly making its mark on the radiology industry. It provides an option for young radiologists seeking a non-traditional career path or established radiologists looking for a change.

But, before imaging professionals opt out of a career in traditional, hospital-based radiology, it’s imperative that they understand the key benefits and drawbacks of a career in teleradiology.

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