Clinical radiology
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To compare image quality and lesion detection in the liver using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T between T2-weighted imaging using a standard rectilinear k-space trajectory (standard T2WI) and using the BLADE technique (BLADE-T2WI), a technique that employs periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction for motion correction. ⋯ Use of the BLADE technique for T2-weighted MRI of the liver at 3T may lead to a significant improvement in image artefacts and improved PPV for lesion detection.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does ultrasound-guided lidocaine injection improve local anaesthesia before femoral artery catheterization?
To present the results of a prospective, randomized, single-centre study investigating local anaesthesia before percutaneous common femoral artery (CFA) puncture and catheterization with the use of ultrasound-guided injection of lidocaine versus standard infiltration by manual palpation. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided local anaesthesia of the CFA prior to percutaneous transcatheter procedures is safe and achieves superior levels of analgesia with minimal patient pain and discomfort compared to the standard method of manual palpation.
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To determine the size and three-dimensional spatial distribution of pulmonary emboli (PE) at computed tomography angiography (CTA) to optimize the scan length. ⋯ Scan length at CTA for PE can be reduced by up to 47% while preserving diagnostic accuracy for PE detection.
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To compare the yield of positive computed tomography (CT) brain examinations after the implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) or the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network (SIGN) guidelines, in comparable urban populations in two teaching hospitals in England and Scotland. ⋯ In a teaching hospital setting, there is no significant difference in the yield between the NICE and SIGN guidelines. Both meet the SIGN standard of >10% yield of positive scans. The choice of guideline to follow should be at the discretion of the local institution. The indications GCS <13 and clinical or radiological evidence of a skull fracture are highly predictive of intracranial pathology, and their presence should be an absolute indicator for fast-tracking the management of the patient.