Ultra-low Field MRI

 An Ultra low field (ULF)  prototype magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner that does not require heavy shielding and is much quieter than commercially available MRI scanners was developed by Wu et al in the University of Hong Kong.  The prototype system described in Physics World has 0.055 Tesla permanent samarium-cobalt (SmCo) magnet with a 29x70 cm gantry for patient access. Costing an estimated $20,000 to build, it would be significantly less expensive that the MRI scanners in use today which cost between $1 and $3 million.  The researchers hope that the ULF scanner, which can be plugged in a typical wall outlet, although it generates a magnetic field of a much lower strength than those produced by clinical MRI machines in use today might one day bring this valuable clinical tool to 70% of the world's population that does not have access to MRI imaging and thus improve global access to neuroimaging.

Head CT does not increase the risk for meningioma

A paper by Nordenskjold et al published in Radiology found that exposure to radiation from computed tomography of the head does not increase the risk of developing a meningioma.

The authors collected data from a cohort of 26 370 subjects from a radiology archive of CT examinations of the head performed from 1973 through 1992. For comparison, an age- and sex-matched cohort of 96 940 subjects who were not exposed to CT (unexposed cohort) was gathered.

Comparison of exposed and unexposed cohorts no statistically significant increase in the risk of meningioma was found among patients who were exposed to ionizing radiation from CT of the head compared to the unexposed control individuals.