BoneXpert: automated bone age determination

BoneXpert is a software product that computes bone age automatically based using the Greulich-Pyle and the Tanner-Whitehouse systems. It is installed on a PC and can be set up as a "PACS listener" so that the radiographer can send the hand x-ray (as a DICOM file) from PACS to the BoneXpert PC, where the analysis is carried out automatically in 10 seconds. The images then appear on the BoneXpert PC with the patient details and the name of the referring physician.

I haven't tried it myself, but the program can be downloaded from the website. The first five analyses are free. Thereafter, licensing thereafter is on a fee-per-analysis basis, currently 5 Euro per image, with discounts for developing countries. BoneXpert "conforms to the European Community Directive for Medical Devices EC 1993/42, as indicated by the CE mark".

The website also has a list of publications which have been accepted in peer-reviwed journals which suggest that the product has been validated , based on the Greulich-Pyle atlas.

Sounds interesting, and possibly even cost-effective.

Socioeconomic Status Most Important Factor in NHL Survival

I've been rich and I've been poor. Believe me, rich is better.

Mae West

Low socioeconomic status is significantly associated with a higher risk for mortality among elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) Low socioeconomic status is significantly associated with a higher risk for mortality among elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). 

Article in Medscape

Ref:

Wang M, Burau KD, Fang S, Wang H, Du XL.

Ethnic variations in diagnosis, treatment, socioeconomic status, and survival in a large population-based cohort of elderly patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cancer. 2008 Oct 20. [Epub ahead of print]

Also:

Bray C, Morrison DS, McKay P.

Socio-economic deprivation and survival of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Scotland.

Leuk Lymphoma. 2008 May;49(5):917-23.