Clinical radiology
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Multidetector computed tomography angiography (MD-CTA) of the intra-cranial vessels is now a routine examination, and is becoming fully integrated into the imaging and treatment algorithm of patients presenting with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage in many centres in the UK and Europe. The development and current status of CTA for cerebral aneurysms, and the strengths and limitations of this technique are herein reviewed.
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The ability of a child to remain sufficiently immobile for painless imaging depends upon their behaviour and the imaging itself. Anaesthesia allows imaging to be optimised but it is expensive, scarce and inappropriate for many situations. Fortunately, sedation and behavioural techniques are sufficiently successful for the majority of scanning, and success rates are high provided that suitable children are selected. ⋯ Current UK recommendations demand that any sedation technique has a 'wide margin of safety', but in addition to this, safety is dependent on trained, skillful and experienced staff. Magnetic resonance imaging frightens many children and special planning is necessary for sedation and anaesthesia. When planning an imaging service for children, all the management techniques should be considered in order to achieve maximum efficiency, quality and safety.
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Radiologists have been involved in anatomy instruction for medical students for decades. However, recent technical advances in radiology, such as multiplanar imaging, "virtual endoscopy", functional and molecular imaging, and spectroscopy, offer new ways in which to use imaging for teaching basic sciences to medical students. ⋯ Current reforms in the medical curriculum and the establishment of new medical schools in the UK further underline the prospects for an expanding role for imaging in medical education. This article reviews the methods by which diagnostic imaging can be used to support the learning of anatomy and other basic sciences.
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The quantity of radiological educational resources available via the internet is enormous and is constantly increasing. The quality is variable, and much time can be wasted trying to find what is required. ⋯ We present an introduction to the scope and diversity of educational websites in radiology. Effective evaluation of web-based material is essential to maximize the benefit to the user: a suitable method of evaluating radiological educational websites is described.
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ECG-synchronized multislice spiral CT (MSCT) allows a significant reduction of cardiac motion artefacts and as a result a virtually artefact-free display of intrathoracic structures. With their advantages in imaging geometry and continuous spiral image acquisition multislice CT scanners provide superior image quality and spatial resolution in these patients. ⋯ In addition the development of time-optimised reconstruction algorithms for retrospective cardiac gating in 8- and 16 slice spiral CT scanners have enabled further improvements in temporal resolution. This overview describes the technique, its clinical indications and the merits of electrocardiographic assistance in MSCT of chest disorders.