reading & research

Landmark clinical study shows MRgFUS effective for bone mets pain.

A Landmark Study on Palliation of Bone Mets PainWhen a primary cancer such as cancer of the breast, prostate or lung spreads to the bone (bone mets), treatment strategies become complex. In today’s world of oncology, better systemic chemotherapies can add months and even years to a patient’s life; in addition, local cancer control of […] KEEP READING

Understanding cartilage increases awareness of its importance.

What You Should Know About CartilageOne of the most fascinating components of the human body is cartilage, an incredibly versatile material. Trying to describe cartilage is like the six blind men who try to figure out what an elephant is: “The elephant is like a pillar,” said the man who touched his leg. “Oh no! […] KEEP READING

Essential tremor gets worse in stressful situations.

How Stress Makes Essential Tremor WorseEssential tremor (ET) is the most common form of uncontrollable rhythmic shaking, though it is sometimes misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. The involuntary trembling results from abnormal communication between certain areas of the brain (cerebellum, thalamus, and brain stem). It is estimated that 10 million Americans suffer from ET, though many […] KEEP READING

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Ultra-Fast MRI Accurately Detects Prostate Cancer

Today’s multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) has revolutionized the prostate cancer (PCa) world. Thanks to its high resolution, 3-dimensional imaging done by a powerful 3 Tesla (3T) magnet, experienced radiologists are able to identify areas that are suspicious for clinically significant PCa (csPCa). This helps avoid unnecessary biopsies, but if a biopsy is indicated, the area can […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence, Prostate imaging

AI Improves Treatment Planning for Intermediate Prostate Cancer

When a patient is told, “You have prostate cancer,” it’s not a simple one-size-fits-all diagnosis. The doctor will then give the patient an idea of how severe his cancer is. If his prostate cancer (PCa) is still localized (that is, contained within the gland), the doctor will specify if it is low, intermediate, or high […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence, Prostate imaging

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Interpreting Clinical Imaging

The interpretation of medical images is “a task that lies at the heart of the radiologist’s work.”[i] In fact, the human element—a radiologist’s eyes and brain—is just as important as what a high resolution, 3- dimensional image depicts. Imaging types include x-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound and PET scan, but no matter how advanced the […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence, Prostate imaging

AI Improves Identification of Extracapsular Extension Before Surgery

We’ve posted numerous blogs on the contributions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to various aspects of MRI detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). We’ve reported AI’s ability to predict metastasis, assign Gleason scores and PI-RADS scores, pinpoint tumor margins for focal therapy, rule out need for biopsy, predict PCa metastasis, and more—showing the accuracy and […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence, Prostate imaging

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Deep Learning Simulates Dynamic Contrast Scan

If you’ve ever been involved in a simulation game, or a simulation training model, you are interacting with something that’s not really there but feels like it is. In fact, during the experience the same neurons in the brain are activated as if the simulation IS the real world. Thus, the brain can be functionally […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence, Prostate imaging

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Multimodal Deep Learning and Risk Stratification

Determining the risk level of localized prostate cancer (PCa) at the time of diagnosis is often closer to an art than a science. Is it low risk, favorable intermediate risk, unfavorable intermediate risk, or high risk? Precision matters, because it determines the treatment plan’s projected probability of success. If the treatment isn’t aggressive enough, there’s […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence

Can AI Match Radiologists at Detecting Prostate Cancer?

In early August, 2024 several medical news services trumpeted the news that Artificial Intelligence can detect prostate cancer (PCa) on MRI with the same accuracy as radiologists: “AI model matches radiologists at detecting prostate cancer on MRIs” (Radiology Business, Aug. 7) “AI model as effective as radiologists in detecting prostate cancer on MRI” (MedPage Today, […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: The Lead is Narrowing in the Radiologist vs. AI Race

No radiologist was born knowing how to interpret MRI scans of the prostate gland. They must be trained to interpret images, and the rate at which they improve is called their learning curve. According to Rosencrantz et al. (2017), At a basic level, by seeing many cases, radiologists experience innate self-directed visual learning, even without […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Taking MRI Interpretation to a New Level

When a person is born, is their IQ fixed for life? IQ stands for intelligence quotient, and is a standard measure of mental performance. Is it fixed, or can it be taken to a new level as the person develops? This question has sparked all manner of research with infants, young children, school-age kids, etc. […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence, Prostate imaging

AI Helps Rule Out Unnecessary Biopsies

Let’s start with the hypothetical case of Robert. He considers himself lucky in life because good things have come his way. He has a happy marriage, nice kids, a decent job, and he’s healthy. He follows the principles of the Mediterranean diet, doesn’t smoke, and has an occasional glass of wine. He does cardio workouts […] CONTINUE

CATEGORY:: Artificial Intelligence