New ultrasonography criteria to reduce risk of mistaken diagnoses of nonviable pregnancies PET imaging predicts inoperable lung cancer outcomes New MRI technique able to diagnose Fabry disease New device has potential to reduce false-positives in breast cancer screening Experts devise method to reduce radiation exposure to children requiring repeat CT scans
New diagnostic criteria for the use of ultrasonography published in the New England Journal of Medicine aim to reduce the possibility of physicians identifying a potentially healthy pregnancy as nonviable. The thresholds have been recommended by a panel of 15 experts from the fields of radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency medicine, convened by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound.The report’s lead author, Peter M Doubilet of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School (MA, USA), said: “When a doctor tells a woman that her pregnancy has no chance of proceeding, he or she should be absolutely certain of being correct. Our recommendations are based on the latest medical knowledge with input from a variety of medical specialties. We urge providers to familiarize themselves with these recommendations and factor them into their clinical decision-making.”