RSNA 2022: Innovative Solutions on Display, Leadership Addresses Value of Imaging

November 27, 2022 — Among dozens of technical exhibit visits, informative discussions, and captivating Plenary Session addresses, the Imaging Technology news (ITN) editorial team offers this snapshot of noteworthy highlights from day one of the Radiological Society of North America’s 108th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, RSNA 2022, which reported 34,385 total advanced registrants for the Nov. 27-Dec. 1 conference being held at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

With an expanded offering of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in the AI Showcase, a meeting with ClariPi Inc. set the stage for the myriad collaborative announcements highlighting AI’s impact on imaging this year. The company has announced that its ClariCT.AI software will be released on Siemens Healthineers’ Digital Marketplace, which provides an open and secured environment for a wide range of healthcare stakeholders to share, access, and analyze data. It is reported to be the entry point for connecting users with an ever-growing portfolio of applications from solution partners and Siemens Healthineers, covering clinical, operational, and financial functions in healthcare delivery, and enabling them to get the most out of users’ healthcare data

ClariCT.AI is an innovative CT image denoising solution, requiring less contrast agent, which produces superior CT images by removing noise and enhancing image clarity based on deep-learning technology for a more efficient workflow. It is both FDA-cleared and CE-marked and offers superior CT image quality over existing technologies, even with ultra-low-dose CTs in many clinical studies. In addition to Siemens, Bayer also announced its collaboration agreements with app developer ClariPi, as well as other app developers Quantib and EXINI Diagnostics,  to strategically expand the offering on its medical imaging platform Calantic Digital Solutions. The platform, which was launched recently, delivers access to applications, including those enabled by AI, for medical imaging. With these new collaboration agreements, Bayer is broadening the already available options for thoracic and neurological diseases on the platform by including tools which aim to aid in breast and prostate imaging.

In the RSNA AI Theater, a packed audience was tuned into a session on “Quantitative Imaging and AI,” presented by Caroline Chung, MSc, MD, Vice President and Chief Data Officer with MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is also an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology & Diagnostic Imaging, and Vice Chair of the Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance. Notably, in Dec., 2021, Chung, along with David A. Jaffray,  authored a paper which was published in American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Journal Cancer Research, titled “Cancer Needs a Robust ‘Metadata Supply Chain’ to Realize the Promise of Artificial Intelligence.” Chung’s message reinforced the power of human inference, addressed AI’s role in clinical imaging workflow. “Machines lack ‘human inference’ and is driving a new need for what and how data is generated and flows,” she offered, adding, “Metadata provides context that enables transparency and reproducibility that is critical for AI translation to clinical impact.”

An informational update from Bracco’s management team revealed details of its Nexo Dose and Global Dose Registry. Among other news were updates on the company’s 95 anniversary year and its laser focus on a “no compromise’ emphasis relating to safety, workflow, compliance, connectivity and integration. In an ongoing effort to support contrast agent conservation strategies, necessitated by the COVID-19 lockdown in China in 2022, the company announced in past months that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted import discretion of Iomeron (iomeprol injection) into the U.S. to address the ongoing iodinated contrast media shortage. The product addresses the need for the most advanced diagnostic imaging standards and became temporarily available in the U.S. market starting at the end of August, 2022.

In September, 2022, Bracco Diagnostics Inc. also announced, in collaboration with Guerbet, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gadopiclenol Injection, a new, highly stable macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA). The introduction of VUEWAY injection is the result of a strategic, global collaboration between Bracco and Guerbet in both research, development, and manufacturing of the product signed in December 2021. As noted by representatives from Bracco who spoke with the ITN editorial team, these ongoing updates and solutions help to address the contrast agent supply issues, while reinforcing patient safety and supporting clinical workflow. Looking ahead, Bracco’s top executives are soon expected to release new information from a recent survey of radiologists.

For its part, Guerbet LLC, the US affiliate of Guerbet, a global leader in medical imaging offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and digital and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for diagnostic and interventional imaging, will spotlight its novel new drug Elucirem (gadopiclenol) injection during the RSNA 2022. Gadopiclenol, which was initially invented by Guerbet, with the subsequent contribution of Bracco's intellectual property, is a new macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) with high relaxivity. The efficacy and safety of gadopiclenol have been evaluated in MRI of the Central Nervous System (brain, spine and associated tissues) and Body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and musculoskeletal system. 

"It's very exciting to be back at RSNA, to give the radiology community a first-hand opportunity to experience the clarity of MRI images offered by our new MRI product, Elucirem," said David Hale, Chief Executive Officer of the Guerbet Group. "We look forward to sharing insights about gadopiclenol, a novel, highly stable macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent offering the highest relaxivity in its class for magnetic resonance imaging."

A one-on-one interview with 4D Medical founder and CEO, Andreas Fouras, provided an in-depth overview of its medical imaging software, which is gaining attention for its unveiling of its XV Scanner, the world’s first dedicated lung scanner, at RSNA. The XV scanner, which integrates 4DMedical’s XV Technology, represents a significant step forward in lung diagnostics, noted Fouras. The new imaging tool allows physicians to detect areas of high and low ventilation with pinpoint accuracy across all parts of the lung, in all phases of the breath. The resulting ventilation report is extremely clear and easily understood by providing clinicians with a color-coded and dynamic visualization of the patient’s breathing lung, enhanced with four-dimensional animation. For the first time ever, it enables highly detailed maps of pulmonary function to be created from a scan captured in 5 seconds using less radiation than a typical chest x-ray. 

The company is working with nearly 20 major institutions, including Cedars Sinai, Vanderbilt and Cleveland Clinic, among others. Fouras reinforced the passion he and his team have in providing better information to clinicians to allow greater insights into lung function and lung diseases. He also discussed the value the scanner, which does not rely on contrast agents, delivers as it aims to aiming to deliver the global gold standard in respiratory diagnostics for all lung disorders including coronavirus, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and cancer.

The company received FDA clearance for XV Technology, a cloud-based software solution which provides 4D analysis of functional lung impairments, in May, 2020. The Australian medical technology company, with U.S. operations in Woodland Hills, CA, noted this is a patented four-dimensional lung imaging process that rapidly and automatically analyses any functional lung impairment from a single X-ray.

Presidential Plenary Addresses Impact of Imaging

Impactful remarks on the value of imaging were made during the well-received Presidential Plenary Address by Bruce Haffty, MD, MS, 2021-2022 RSNA President. Haffty is Chair, Radiation Oncology, Associate Vice Chancellor for Cancer Programs, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; and System Director of Radiation Oncology, RWJ Barnabas Health. His wife, children and grandchildren proudly watched, and cheered him on, during his session, “Diagnostic Imaging: Value from the Lens of the Patient.” With a focus on RSNA 2022’s theme, “Empowering Patients and Partners in Care,” day one closed with the second Plenary Session by Elizabeth A. Morris, MD. She delivered a powerful presentation, and a number of challenges to the radiologists in attendance. A breast cancer survivor, she serves as Radiology Department Chair at the University of California Davis, who refers to her as “an internationally recognized pioneer in high risk breast screenings.”

In addressing the full house in the Arie Crown Theatre late in the afternoon of RSNA 2022 day one, RSNA President Haffty shared these thoughts:

“The major challenge is determining how we demonstrate imaging’s value to the greater healthcare community. Patient reported outcomes (PRO) are understudied and underreported, offering metrics which have been tested and validated…the research is an endeavor worthy of our support. Armed with this knowledge, we can expand our own lens to see the bigger picture of our patients’ medical journey. Imaging’s true value to the patient — quality of life, comfort, peace of mind, certainty, hope, trust — lies below the surface for us to explore together.”

In her clarion call to her colleagues, Miller offered this:

“I challenge all of us to be more present and to communicate better with our patients, and I challenge you all to be more vulnerable… vulnerability leads to authenticity, allowing us to truly connect with our colleagues and our patients…we hold the key to life-saving tests. The future of radiology is bright, and lies in our assuming more responsibility for our patients.”

Stay tuned for more highlights from RSNA 2022, as the ITN editorial team continues to monitor important imaging news, products, educational sessions and RSNA 2022 features, including the AI Challenge winners and additional plenary sessions.

Related Content: RSNA 2022 Day 2: Focus on Breast Screening & AI, Future of Patient Care