Could Improvements In Medical Imaging Lead To Fewer Biopsies

medical imaging systems - medical imaging

A major dilemma in medical imaging systems is balancing access with accuracy, and anything that can improve the accuracy of readily accessible medical images can reduce the need for unnecessary procedures.

A common example of this is found when diagnosing breast cancer using an ultrasound scan, which are typically used in place of a mammogram if you have a lump to test if it is a tumour or if it contains fluid and is therefore a cyst.

However, not all solid masses are cancerous tumours, so the protocol for many oncologists is to arrange a biopsy, an intrusive procedure that has greater risks than non-intrusive scans and can be uncomfortable if not outright painful.

Whilst biopsies are one of the only ways to confirm a cancer diagnosis, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation found that 80 per cent of them will return a negative result, causing unnecessary anxiety and alarm through unnecessary testing.

However, a research team led by Quing Zhu of Washington University in Saint Louis has developed an alternative diagnostic process using a combination of ultrasound and diffuse optical tomography (DOT), which can provide greater insight into a lump on the breast.

The study itself, which tested 226 women who had been scheduled for a routine biopsy, found that the ultrasound and DOT combined process, which can be undertaken using a handheld device, found differences between benign and cancerous lumps in the breast.

Cancerous growths have a lower level of oxygen and a higher concentration of haemoglobin compared to benign ones, with more aggressive cancers having even more noticeable results.

In a study where radiologists had the ability to review the DOT measurements, the number of biopsies of what turned out to be benign lumps was cut by a quarter, allowing for less intrusive but more precise diagnoses using equipment that more doctors are likely to have access to.

However, the DOT technique has also been combined with X-ray mammograms, 3D mammograms and MRI scans, although due to the need for specialist equipment, the benefits are not quite as significant as they appeared with ultrasound.

Can Mental Health Issues Be Detected Using Medical Imaging?

medical imaging solutions - MRI

Diagnosing mental health issues can be complex, as there is a combination of physical, neurological and emotional symptoms that psychiatrists and neurologists use to diagnose conditions. Could everyday medical imaging solutions help here?

A recent study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark has revealed that it is possible to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to detect variations in the brain that have been connected with some mental health conditions.

It found that certain mental health conditions were linked to changes in brain structure, such as:

  • A smaller thalamus, the section of the brain in charge of memory, learning, sleep, movement and sensory information.
  • A smaller amygdala, which is a section of the brain in charge of emotional regulation.
  • Larger ventricles, which produce and store cerebrospinal fluid.
  • A thinner cerebral cortex, the outer brain layer of nerve cells, which plays a huge role in personality, intelligence, emotional control, thought and decision-making.

Whilst this study primarily built on the work of the ENIGMA Consortium, which had worked to develop and collate smaller-scale neurological studies in order to create large-scale meta-analyses, confirming findings was complicated by inconsistencies between the studies they used.

The hope was to use routine clinical data obtained through non-invasive imaging tools, such as MRI, to examine changes in the structure of the brains of people diagnosed with mental health conditions.

If this is possible, then everyday medical scans available in hospitals and community diagnostic centres could also be used to provide a much greater insight into mental health care.

Medical scans, unlike the higher-quality scans ENIGMA uses for research, also include a complete medical history and can thus provide insight into how the progression of mental health conditions affects the structure of the brain and whether it is possible for them to be detected earlier.

There were some limitations in terms of scale, with some conditions being excluded due to a lack of data, but the principle provides promise that a very different approach to mental health diagnostics could arrive in the future.

Do You Know What To Look For In A Medical Imaging Partner?

medical imaging cloud - Medical Imaging

When you work in a healthcare setting, the imaging work you’re doing is saving lives. Medical imaging helps diagnose illness, as well as supporting us to better understand the human body. 

Of course, technology is an increasingly valuable tool for medical imaging professionals, but most healthcare organisations in the UK need support to deliver the most efficient medical imaging service. 

With that in mind, what is the one factor you need to consider when choosing an imaging partner for your healthcare organisation? 

The answer is platform reliability.

Why is imaging platform reliability so important? 

When people’s health is on the line, being able to deliver timely diagnoses is essential. Any downtime in technology will have an impact on how efficiently radiologists and other healthcare professionals work. 

The knock-on effect of that cannot be understated, especially when figures from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) show that 46 per cent of acute NHS trusts in England are failing to meet the target of no more than 20 per cent of people waiting over six weeks for a diagnostic test.

To help tackle this issue, the RCR has stressed the need for the NHS to embrace solutions to improve efficiency, which will likely include making use of the latest technology to support the likes of imaging diagnostics. 

But what does reliability look like in relation to an imaging partner? First and foremost, it’s the ability to keep the service running consistently. That means you want to look at platform uptime – the higher the number here the better. 

Data security is also an essential aspect of reliability, so you need to be certain that any imaging partner you work with has the right digital security in place to keep patient data secure. 

It’s also important to understand what their procedure is in the event of a significant issue with their platform. While no one likes to think about worst-case scenarios, it’s vital to understand how an imaging partner will handle disaster recovery. 

To find out more about our reliable medical imaging cloud services, contact us today. 

Is Paediatric Medicine The Next Area Of Growth For Scans?

Medical image sharing - baby getting vaccinated

The growing use of medical image sharing is a reflection of two significant developments. One of these is advances in scanning technology, enabling more and better images to be used effectively in diagnostics and treatment decisions.

The other major development is the use of the cloud to help share images across settings. This enables medics in different locations to have access to the same images, which makes it possible to access expertise remotely and ensure patient care is not compromised.

However, a third way in which scanning is advancing is in its increasing use in paediatric care.

Writing in Pharma Forum recently, experienced doctor and scientist Dr Konstanze Diefenbach stated that the “constant stream of breakthroughs in medical imaging” has been transformational.

She added: “This evolution is especially important in paediatrics, where medical imaging is used to make clinical decisions across a vast range of conditions.”

Why Do Paediatric Scans Need To Be Different?

Dr Diefenbach explained that because children are not just “small adults”, but have a “unique anatomy and physiology”, increasing the capacity to tailor scanning has proved invaluable in diagnostics and finding the right treatments.

She listed areas of the anatomy where such scanning is particularly important in paediatric care, including:

  •       The  central nervous system
  •       The  chest
  •       The abdomen
  •       The  pelvis
  •       Musculoskeletal tissue

As paediatric scanning proves increasingly useful, it follows that the importance of medical image sharing in this particular field of medicine will also grow.

All around the world, new scanning systems are emerging to provide better care for children at various ages.

For example, a new full-body MRI scanning system called Ascent has just been approved for use in the United States for scanning infants and neonates, providing enhanced technology for the very youngest patients.

Matt Storer, the CEO of the device’s creators Eyas Medical Imaging, said it would help doctors to “save more babies’ lives with state-of-the-art, precision imaging”.

How Can Hospitals Ensure Medical Scans Are Always Seen?

Medical image sharing - medical scan

The great benefit of having a cloud system to store medical scans is that it makes it possible for them to be seen widely by whoever needs to, even if the medics viewing them are isolated by time and place from where and when the scans were taken.

This should mean that those who need to see the scans always do, ensuring that the appropriate diagnosis can be made and the right treatment swiftly provided to patients.

However, the medical image sharing system needs to be set up in such a way as to ensure the scans are indeed seen by the right people. UK hospitals should avoid anything like a case in Australia, where a hospital failed to ensure that scans were subsequently seen by doctors.

ABC News Brisbane reported that up to 130 outpatients at Caboolture hospital were let down when doctors did not see their scan results on paper, while there was no system in place to flag up electronic copies.

As many as 38 affected patients are now at risk of major health consequences due to not getting the follow-up care they should have had in the year after the scans were taken. This included some former cancer patients undergoing their five-year follow-ups.

Metro North health chiefs have issued a reminder to all Queensland hospitals to have systems in place that ensure doctors see the scans.

Why Are Hospital Scans So Valuable?

Such failings are more significant because improvements in the technology the scans themselves use have made them much better at detecting medical problems, making it all the more valuable to have efficient systems to provide the electronic storage of scans to help in diagnostics.

Examples of new and better technology in the UK include those recently introduced by the United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which has invested in new state-of-the-art CT and ultrasound scanners, Lincolnshire Live reported earlier this month. This should mean both faster and more accurate scans.

It is to be hoped that, unlike their colleagues down under, the systems are there to ensure that these benefits are backed up by the systems for storing and disseminating the data.

RadNet Acquires CIMAR UK, Empowering DeepHealth to Accelerate AI-Powered Imaging, Reporting and Image-Based Screening

Acquisition supplements CIMAR’s cloud-native infrastructure with DeepHealth’s AI-powered informatics to deliver connected, efficient and accessible care

LOS ANGELES and LONDON, November 4, 2025 — RadNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDNT) (“RadNet”), a US leader in providing high-quality, cost-effective diagnostic imaging services and digital health solutions, announced today the acquisition of CIMAR UK, a leading provider of cloud-native healthcare image management solutions.  CIMAR will be integrated into DeepHealth, RadNet’s wholly owned subsidiary and a global leader in AI-powered health informatics, to advance connected imaging-based care.

“Imaging and diagnostics sit at the forefront of care, serving as the gateway to treatment and disease management,” said Kees Wesdorp, CEO and President of RadNet’s Digital Health division, DeepHealth.  “Radiologists and care teams are under immense pressure, often working with outdated or siloed tools, and are not set up to keep pace with rising demand.  By acquiring CIMAR, DeepHealth is taking a powerful step in redefining imaging-based care through a portfolio of solutions that connect clinical and operational intelligence to enable faster, more accurate diagnoses and improve efficiency.”

CIMAR deploys an extensive image management infrastructure that provides data connectivity and interoperability to enable vendor-neutral solutions, such as clinical AI, across more than 50% of National Health Service Trusts and 80% of UK private hospital groups.  As imaging volumes continue to rise and fragmented technologies create barriers to efficient, coordinated care, CIMAR’s model of a centralized image infrastructure has demonstrated its capability to deliver connected healthcare.

The acquisition combines complementary capabilities, CIMAR’s cloud-native infrastructure and services—which enhance data connectivity and interoperability across public and private healthcare systems in the UK—with DeepHealth’s leading end-to-end informatics and population health applications, from patient engagement tools and AI-based reporting to viewing and workflow applications.  Together, they can create a richer solution for advancing efficient, coordinated and accessible imaging-based care across the UK.

“This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for CIMAR,” said Howard Jenkinson, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CIMAR.  “Through our integration with DeepHealth, we can scale our impact and expand access to services and solutions that provide a more seamless, connected, and intelligent imaging experience.  Together, we aim to empower healthcare providers with the tools they need to stay at the forefront of medical imaging innovation, supporting them in delivering the highest standard of care.”

Today, an existing partnership between DeepHealth and CIMAR underpins the NHS England’s Lung Cancer Screening Program. CIMAR provides the digital infrastructure connecting DeepHealth’s AI lung solution across more than 90% of the program’s screening sites.  The Program has demonstrated early success. UK Government data show that more than three-quarters (76%) of lung cancers detected through the program are now caught at earlier, more treatable stages compared to only 29% historically.1

This stage shift highlights how connected, AI-powered screening programs can enable earlier disease detection, expand access to timely care and advance better patient outcomes.  With this acquisition, DeepHealth aims to scale digitally enabled new and more efficient care models across the UK and Europe for other screening and diagnostic programs.  The expansion would bring this connected healthcare model of image-based care programs to more patients and healthcare systems.

 

 

About RadNet

RadNet, Inc. is a leading national provider of freestanding, fixed-site diagnostic imaging services in the United States based on the number of locations and annual imaging revenue. RadNet has a network of 405 owned and/or operated outpatient imaging centers. RadNet’s imaging center markets include Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Texas.  In addition, RadNet provides radiology information technology and artificial intelligence solutions marketed under the DeepHealth brand, teleradiology professional services and other related products and services to customers in the diagnostic imaging industry.  Together with contracted radiologists, and inclusive of full-time and per diem employees and technologists, RadNet has a total of over 11,000 employees. For more information, visit http://www.radnet.com.

 

About DeepHealth

DeepHealth is a wholly owned subsidiary of RadNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDNT) and serves as the umbrella brand for all companies within RadNet’s Digital Health segment. DeepHealth provides AI-powered health informatics with the aim of empowering breakthroughs in care through imaging.  Building on the strengths of the companies it has integrated and is rebranding (e.g., eRAD Radiology Information and Image Management Systems and Picture Archiving and Communication System, Aidence lung AI, DeepHealth, Kheiron, and iCAD breast AI, Quantib prostate and brain AI, and See-Mode thyroid and breast AI), DeepHealth leverages advanced AI for operational efficiency and improved clinical outcomes in brain, breast, chest, prostate, and thyroid health.  At the heart of DeepHealth’s portfolio is a cloud-native operating system – DeepHealth OS – that unifies data across the clinical and operational workflow and personalizes AI-powered workspaces for everyone in the radiology continuum.  Thousands of radiologists at imaging centers and radiology departments around the world use DeepHealth solutions to enable earlier, more reliable, and more efficient disease detection, including in large-scale cancer screening programs. DeepHealth’s human-centered, intuitive technology aims to push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare. https://deephealth.com/

 

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “possible,” “predict,” “project,” “seek, “should,” “target,” “will” or “would,” the negative of these words, and similar references to future periods.  Examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, the impact of the acquisition on RadNet’s business and future financial and operating results and prospects and the amount and timing of synergies from the acquisition are based on the current estimates, assumptions and projections of RadNet, and are qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, all of which are subject to change.  Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond RadNet’s control.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance.  Instead, they are based only on management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of RadNet’s business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of RadNet’s control.  RadNet’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.  None of RadNet, CIMAR or any of their respective directors, executive officers, or advisors, provide any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements will actually occur, or if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on the business, results of operations or financial condition of RadNet.  Should any risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have a material adverse effect on RadNet’s business and the ability to realize the expected benefits of the acquisition.  Risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ from expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, which may be affected by, among other things, the ability of RadNet or CIMAR to maintain relationships with its vendors, customers, the NHS and providers and retain its management and key employees, (2) the ability of RadNet to achieve the synergies contemplated by the acquisition or such synergies taking longer to realize than expected, (3) costs related to the acquisition, (4) the ability of RadNet to execute successfully its strategic plans, (5) the ability of RadNet to promptly and effectively integrate CIMAR into its business, (6) the risk of litigation related to the acquisition, (7) the diversion of management’s time and attention from ordinary course business operations to integration matters, and (8) the risk of legislative, regulatory, economic, competitive, and technological changes.  The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere.  Additional information concerning risks, uncertainties and assumptions can be found in RadNet’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors discussed in RadNet’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and future filings with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable law, RadNet does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or any other information in this communication, as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, or to correct any inaccuracies or omissions in them which become apparent.  All forward-looking statements in this communication are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

RadNet Contact

Mark Stolper
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
+1 310-445-2800

 

Jane Mazur
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
+1 585-355-5978
jane.mazur@radnet.com

 

DeepHealth Contact

Andra Axente
Director of Communications
+31614440971
andra.axente@deephealth.com

 

 

References

How Two Breakthroughs May Enhance Scanning Quality

Medical imaging storage - doctor showing MRI image to patient

Medical scanning technology has enjoyed some significant developments over the years, enabling better diagnostics. To make the very best use of the technology, however, requires matching up the latest tech for the scans themselves with the newest and best medical image storage and sharing facilities.

This combination becomes more important as new discoveries promise significant improvements in scanning, a topical case being that of AI in diagnostics. Now, two new developments may help take scans to the next level.

Scientists from the Centre de biophysique moléculaire in Orleans, France, have announced a breakthrough concerning the use of rare Earth minerals called lanthanides. These can emit bright light in the near-infrared range when inserted into molecular complexes known as metallocoronas, potentially making them very effective for scanning.

However, until now, the only way to produce this light was exposure to harmful UV rays. Now, researchers have managed to synthesise new metallocoronas that can respond to harmless wavelengths of light.

This is the second discovery announced in the past month to potentially offer a major enhancement in the clarity of scans, improving diagnostics as a result.

Last month, it was announced that a partnership of scientists at Northwestern University in the US and Soochow University in China has developed a new camera using perovskite crystals for use in scans using nuclear medicine.

The camera made using the crystals has proved to be less expensive to make and offers clearer pictures than existing versions using cadmium zinc or sodium iodine detectors.

Both of these new developments could lead to better images and advances in diagnostics. To make the most of them, using a cloud-based system for storing and sharing enables information to be accessed by medical professionals wherever and whenever they need it.

This means that not only are many medical issues more likely to be diagnosed with better scans, but the easier access to the scans enables accurate interpretations and appropriate treatment decisions to be achieved as quickly as possible, with better patient outcomes as a result.

Medical Image Storage Can Increase Prostate Scan Benefit

Medical imaging storage - MRI image

The benefits of being able to store medical images in the cloud lie in the extensive capacity to keep records and the ease of remote access to them, which may prove essential in diagnostics to enable medics to access the scans they need, whenever required.

Such accessibility becomes more relevant as scanning technology improves and the potential to defeat deadly diseases increases as a result. Such an advance has just been proclaimed in the area of prostate cancer.

An international study including the University of Birmingham, University of London College Hospitals and University College London found that a quicker and cheaper MRI scan is as effective at detecting prostate cancer as the 30-40 minute scans currently used as standard.

The study, published in the journal JAMA, revealed that a two-part MRI scan taking half as long as the current scans is just as effective in diagnosis.

Researchers said this shorter duration would likely have the effect of increasing access to MRI scans. A positive benefit of this would be more scans, increased detection and therefore a larger number of patients surviving thanks to early clinical intervention.

At present, 56,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, with 12,000 deaths. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, 38 per cent of eligible men in the UK did not get scanned. Easier access may reduce this shortfall.

Enhanced storage of scans and access to them could further aid the situation, as it would mean there is more capacity to store the data and doctors can access it remotely, ensuring there is no hold-up in identifying cancers and getting the process of treatment started at the earliest possible opportunity.

While age is the biggest factor in susceptibility to prostate cancer, with those over 50 at greatest risk, other significant risk factors include a family history of the disease and ethnicity, with black men being the highest risk group.

World’s Biggest Medical Imaging Project Reaches Major Target

The impact of advances in medical imaging technology, particularly in the wake of machine learning and increased training data, is found both in individual diagnoses as well as wider trends in health, medicine and an understanding of how the human body changes as it ages.

The single biggest medical imaging project in the world, the UK Biobank, has completed its goal of scanning the whole bodies of 100,000 volunteers, with an impact that has already been felt throughout the medical world.

Taking place over the course of a decade, the UK Biobank involved the collection of an extensive corpus of MRI scans, with 12,000 scans being undertaken in each five-hour session with every person.

The project took ten years to complete, with a second phase following up on 60,000 participants set to continue until 2029.

This information has become extremely vital training data for medical scanners, allowing for dedicated diagnostic tools powered by machine learning to provide more accurate, faster diagnoses, particularly of complex and difficult-to-detect diseases.

For example, the UK Biobank has already allowed for dementia to be more accurately diagnosed, something that can potentially prolong and save lives as more rapid interventions lead to more positive prognoses.

Another result of the project was a tool that can scan the heart in less than a second, compared to a 15-minute scan that was more common prior to the UK Biobank project. This tool can help find potential warning signs of heart disease, further preventing premature death.

In the future, the Biobank could replace a biopsy scan to diagnose fatty liver disease with an MRI scan, which could avoid it progressing into potentially life-threatening conditions such as cirrhosis.

It also helps to illuminate certain variables that affect how people remain healthy as they age, including predicting the early onset of disease, how alcohol consumption affects the brain and how people store fat in different ways, leading to different risks of disease.

These insights, as well as countless others made possible with the anonymised database of information, have already saved lives and will have a progressively larger impact going forward.

Why The Cloud Can Help Maximise Diagnostic Scan Advances

If ever two developments should go hand-in-hand, it is the growing effectiveness of medical scans in detecting problems and making early diagnosis possible, and the development of the cloud to make this crucial information accessible to all who need it.

This point should never be overlooked, because at a time when developments like AI are enabling diagnostic scans to be more effective than ever before, the capacity to maximise the benefit lies in ensuring that the accessibility to the data is as easy to obtain as possible for those who need to know. Medical cloud storage offers exactly this.

Some of the latest diagnostic developments in the UK alone offer great encouragement. The BBC recently reported on the introduction of AI by West Yorkshire NHS Trust, which will be used to help diagnose conditions like lung cancer and infections faster when examining X-rays.

Speaking to the broadcaster, project lead and consultant radiologist Dr Fahmid Chowdhury said: The real benefit will be once we start using the AI to flag the abnormal reads we will see over time, and the abnormal X-rays will get reported more quickly.”

Needless to say, the benefit of earlier diagnosis can mean an earlier start to treatment, which may make the difference between life and death in cases such as cancer.

However, the capacity of staff to access such information via the cloud means that in circumstances such as a patient moving to a different hospital, essential data like this will be easy to access and not lost through any lack of communication.

Other new developments in the UK include a study co-led by the London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute and published in the Lancet Neurology, which revealed that carrying out heart scans quickly after a stroke patient arrives in hospital improves the chances of establishing the underlying reasons for the episode.

This will not only help the stroke patient at the time, but can aid recovery by enabling future treatment and medication to be tailored towards preventing a recurrence arising from the identified root cause.