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As the new year begins, the medical imaging community continues to evolve by embracing technology, refining patient care, and strengthening collaboration across specialties. The year 2026 promises to bring innovation, compassion, and progress together. Here are six key trends that will shape the future of imaging and patient care in the year ahead.
Portable X-rays are a vital part of patient care, allowing technologists to acquire images at the bedside for patients who can’t be transported. But portable imaging also creates unique workflow challenges, one of the most persistent being the simple act of marking laterality. When images are not clearly labeled as “Right” or “Left,” it can lead to delays, confusion, and even misdiagnosis.
A recent conversation with one of our customers revealed just how common this problem still is. Many technologists avoid using their permanent R & L markers during portable exams because they’re afraid of losing them in the patient’s bed linens.
And it happens often, so often, in fact, that housekeeping frequently finds permanent markers during the laundry process and returns them long after the exam has been completed. In the meantime, techs have moved on to the next patient without having their markers available at all.
Hypofractionated radiation therapy continues to expand across oncology, offering shorter treatment courses that maintain clinical effectiveness while improving convenience for patients. As departments advance toward hypofractionated and ultra hypofractionated schedules, clinicians are also rethinking the marking methods they use for daily alignment. InkRight semi-permanent tattoos https://beekley.com/radiation-oncology/inkright-semi-permanent-tattoos, have emerged as an ideal match because they support accuracy and provide a better patient experience.
While many people associate breast cancer with a noticeable lump, the earliest signs are often much more subtle. In fact, many early symptoms are missed by patients and even providers without specialized training in breast imaging. Learning to recognize these subtle signs is key to catching breast cancer early, when treatment is most effective. In this post, Dr. Tchaiko Parris, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Mammography & Breast Cancer Prevention at ImageONE, https://image-one.com/about-us/ shares insights on the less obvious ways breast cancer can present, and how mammography technologists and radiologists can work together to detect subtle but important changes.
As the end of the year approaches, mammography departments begin to feel the full momentum of the annual rush. Patients are trying to fit in their screening before insurance benefits are reset, schedules are packed, and imaging teams work hard to keep each day running smoothly. It is one of the busiest times of the year for breast imaging centers, and it highlights just how essential thoughtful workflow and consistent positioning are when volumes surge.
Automation has reshaped the body contouring in radiation oncology. Auto-segmentation, atlas libraries, and deep learning tools complete in minutes what once demanded hours of focused attention. The progress is remarkable, but speed introduces a quiet challenge. Machines do not truly see. They recognize shapes, edges, and contrasts, and sometimes those patterns do not tell the whole story.
As healthcare continues to evolve, so do the roles within imaging departments. One of the most impactful new positions emerging in MRI is the Imaging Assistant, a role designed to keep patient care, workflow efficiency and image quality running seamlessly, especially as radiologists increasingly interpret studies remotely. In some cases, the MRI technologist is scanning from a remote location as well.
This approach is used to increase efficiency, improve access to care, and help with staffing. The remote technologist can operate multiple scanners simultaneously and provide coverage during extended, off, or peak hours, improving scanner utilization and patient throughput. In the remote setup, the Imaging Assistant is on-site with the patient to handle physical tasks such as positioning, screening, and patient interaction, while the remote technologist guides the scan from a control room.
While this model supports faster turnaround times and access to subspecialty reads, it also changes how everyone communicates with each other in the MRI suite. This is where the Imaging Assistant becomes essential, as does the use of MRI skin markers.
That is elevated from the skin line and helps to exclude the marker from the automatic body contour
Existing skin markers affect dose calculations and must be manually contoured out, increasing the dose planning time per patient. Manual contouring can be imperfect leading to dose inaccuracies or rework of treatment plans.
RT-SPOT is an elevated skin marker designed to minimize dose perturbation and reduce the need for manual contouring.
1- Minimizes dose perturbation and helps ensure dose accuracy
2- Increase efficiency and save time
3- Reduce the need for manual contouring
4- Flexible line, easier to form into desired shapes
5- Stays in place on the skin and thermoplastics
Despite the well-documented benefits of screening mammography, many women still do not follow recommended guidelines. The reasons are complex, ranging from access and cost to fear, mistrust, and lack of education. These barriers to early detection can delay diagnosis and limit treatment options. We spoke with Dr. Tchaiko Parris MD, PhD, Medical Director of Mammography & Breast Cancer Prevention at ImageONE https://image-one.com/about-us/, about why some women do not get screened and what healthcare providers can do to close the gap.
MRI technology continues to evolve at a remarkable pace. With higher field strengths, faster sequences, and artificial intelligence (AI) now assisting in image reconstruction and analysis, radiology teams are achieving new levels of diagnostic precision. Yet amid all these advancements, one simple and reliable tool remains just as vital as ever: the skin marker. For MRI technologists and radiologists alike.