... the thrice-yearly journal for medical imaging professionals worldwide.

Controversies and Consensus in Imaging and Intervention

Encourages debate and informs:

Computed tomography radiologists
Interventional cardiologists
Interventional radiologists
MRI radiologists
Radiographers
Nurses
Pharmacists
Practice managers

Editorial Board news

I am delighted to welcome a new member to the Editorial Board, Dr Charles Knight, who is a consultant cardiologist at the London Chest Hospital. Dr Knight is an interventional cardiologist who has been an investigator in a number of clinical trials and his appointment strengthens the cardiology expertise on the board. He brings considerable experience in interventional cardiology and in the renal complications of coronary artery disease and its treatment. He is a member of the British Cardiac Society Programme Committee and serves as a specialist advisor to NICE.

The Editorial Board met in January to plan the content for forthcoming issues of C²I², taking due consideration of the suggestions made in the recent readership survey. An interesting and varied series of papers have been commissioned including contributions on chest CT and endovascular aneurysm repair.

Clinical updates
This issue begins with a paper reviewing the cardiac applications of MR imaging that covers the use of the technique to study cardiac morphology, to assess myocardial perfusion, to diagnose myocardial infarction and for imaging of the coronary arteries. Radiofrequency treatment is an important technique for the control of severe chronic pain of spinal origin and the review in this issue discusses the mode of action, the indications and the use of the technique. Two papers address aspects of venous disease. One provides important background information on the prognostic implications of venous thromboembolic disease and reminds us of the importance of thromboprophylaxis. The other describes clinical experience of an endovascular laserbased technique that offers a less invasive alternative to conventional surgery for chronic venous insufficiency.

In this issue...

Professor Hermann Eichstädt of Berlin and Dr Thomas Störk of Stuttgart review the cardiac applications of MRI
Dr Menno Sluijter of Nottwil, Switzerland provides an overview of the use of radiofrequency ablation for spinal pain
Dr Enrico Bernardi of Padua, Italy discusses the epidemiology of venous thromboembolic disease and the short- and long-term consequences
Dr Dimitris Kontothanassis, Dr Giuseppe Camporese and co-workers, also at the University of Padua, Italy, present their experience with endovascular laser treatment for chronic venous insufficiency

We hope that you will enjoy reading this issue of C²I² and that you will find the content useful in your clinical practice.

04-2006 BUY1142603/JB2003/MB001849/CMC 10th edition

Source: C2I2, Volume IV, Issue 1, 2006

In this issue

Cardiac MRI for morphology and function
Author: Hermann Eichstädt MD, Thomas Störk MD
Recent advances in technology and sequencing have led to a great expansion in the use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to include not only the study of cardiac morphology and the imaging of infarcts, but also diagnosis of other coronary artery disease... Read more...

Radiofrequency ablation in the management of spinal pain
Author: Menno E. Sluijter MD, PhD
Radiofrequency treatment has traditionally been regarded as an ablative method, blocking the conduction of nociceptive stimuli to the spinal cord. This concept has been challenged and the mode of action may not be exclusively thermal. Read more...

Short- and long-term consequences of venous thromboembolic disease
Author: Enrico Bernardi MD
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent disease, particularly in ill, elderly patients. Both immediate and longer-term mortality rates are significant, especially in patients presenting with pulmonary embolism, with chronic lung or heart disease or with malignancy. Read more...

Endovascular vein treatment (ELVeS™) for chronic venous insufficiency from varicose disease of lower limbs with reviparin sodium thromboprophylaxis
Author: Dimitris Kontothanassis, Giuseppe Camporese, Alberto Scuro, Andrea Griso, Roberto Di Mitri
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a consequence of varicose disease (VD) or post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The cost of both diagnosis and treatment are high and the condition causes significant loss of working hours and impairs quality of life. Read more...

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