AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2015
Comparative StudyValue of Focused Appendicitis Ultrasound and Alvarado Score in Predicting Appendicitis in Children: Can We Reduce the Use of CT?
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of focused appendicitis ultrasound combined with Alvarado score to accurately identify appendicitis in children in whom it is suspected, thereby reducing unnecessary CT examinations and associated radiation exposure. ⋯ Children with inconclusive focused appendicitis ultrasound findings and a low Alvarado score are extremely unlikely to have appendicitis (NPV, 99.6%). Avoiding unnecessary CT of these patients is a safe approach to diagnosis.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2015
Performance of bedside diagnostic ultrasound in an Ebola isolation unit: the Emory University Hospital experience.
Individuals with Ebola virus disease, a contagious and potentially lethal infection, are now being treated in specialized units in the United States. We describe Emory University's initial experience, current operating procedures, and ongoing planning with diagnostic ultrasound in the isolation unit. ⋯ Ultrasound use has been limited to date. Future planning considerations include deciding what types of ultrasound studies will be performed, which personnel will acquire the images, and which ultrasound machine will be used.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2015
CT Dose Reduction for Visceral Adipose Tissue Measurement: Effects of Model-Based and Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstructions and Filtered Back Projection.
The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of radiation dose reduction and the reconstruction algorithm used--filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), or model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR)--on the measurement of abdominal visceral fat using CT. ⋯ A 73.0% reduction of the radiation dose would be possible in CT for the measurement of the abdominal visceral fat regardless of which reconstruction algorithm is used (i.e., FBP, hybrid IR, or pure IR).
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2015
Estimates of diagnostic reference levels for pediatric peripheral and abdominal fluoroscopically guided procedures.
The objective of our study was to survey radiation dose indexes of pediatric peripheral and abdominal fluoroscopically guided procedures from which estimates of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) can be proposed for both a standard fluoroscope and a novel fluoroscope with advanced image processing and lower radiation dose rates. ⋯ Estimates of dose indexes of pediatric peripheral and abdominal fluoroscopically guided, clinical procedures should assist in the development of DRLs to foster management of radiation doses of pediatric patients.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2015
ReviewAnaphylactoid reactions to the nonvascular administration of water-soluble iodinated contrast media.
Anaphylactoidlike reactions occur during the nonvascular administration of iodinated contrast media. Many of these reactions have been severe. These reactions have occurred with many procedures, including gastrointestinal imaging, cystography, sialography, and hysterosalpingography. ⋯ This article reviews reports of these reactions. It also reviews what the literature recommends concerning how to deal with individuals undergoing these procedures who are at a higher risk for anaphylactoidlike reactions.