AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Aug 1995
Letter Case ReportsRuptured aneurysm presenting with a subdural hematoma.
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The purpose of our study was to correlate the spectrum of radiologic and pathologic findings in a series of patients with biliary hamartomas and known extrahepatic malignancy. ⋯ Biliary hamartomas cause single or multiple nonspecific hepatic lesions that may mimic metastases. This diagnosis should be considered in patients with a primary malignant tumor when single or multiple small hepatic lesions are seen, regardless of uniformity of size or distribution.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Aug 1995
Color Doppler sonography of groin complications following femoral artery catheterization.
Color Doppler sonography has proved to be an excellent technique for the evaluation of groin complications following femoral artery catheterization [1-4]. With the widespread use of fibrinolytic therapy, anticoagulants, and large-diameter vascular sheaths, a marked increase has been noted in the number of such complications [5, 6]. ⋯ In this pictorial essay we review the color Doppler sonography findings of these complications, emphasizing unusual complications such as pseudoaneurysms coincident with arteriovenous fistulas, multilobulated pseudoaneurysms, ruptured pseudoaneurysms, and patent needle tracts. We also discuss the diagnostic pitfalls and mimics of groin injuries, including lymphadenopathy, varicosities, true aneurysms, and atypical but normal branch vessels.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jul 1995
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyTriage of patients to angiography for detection of aortic rupture after blunt chest trauma: cost-effectiveness analysis of using CT.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of dynamic chest CT, compared with plain chest radiography and immediate angiography, in deciding when angiography should be performed in hemodynamically stable patients with suspected aortic rupture after blunt chest trauma. The use of CT was evaluated in relation to the prior probability of aortic rupture. ⋯ Selecting hemodynamically stable patients after blunt chest trauma with suspected aortic rupture for angiography on the basis of CT findings is more effective than doing so based on the findings on chest radiography and is cost-effective compared with other accepted health care programs. Immediate angiography has a high incremental cost-effectiveness ratio compared with triage by CT and is warranted only in patients not undergoing CT for the evaluation of other injuries who have a prior probability of aortic rupture of 5% or more.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 1995
Can ultrasound probes and coupling gel be a source of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing sonography? An in vivo and in vitro study.
At our institution, ultrasound probes are wiped with a clean, dry, soft, absorbent paper towel after each procedure as a basic standard of probe disinfection. However, it was unclear if this provided a sufficient level of decontamination. This study was designed to determine if the ultrasound probe and coupling gel can act as a vector of nosocomial infection and to describe a cost-effective method of probe handling that allows optimal control of infection. ⋯ Ultrasound probes that are wiped with a paper towel until they are visibly clean do not contribute to nosocomial infections. Additional antiseptic solutions such as Hibidil are not necessary. We suggest that probes be simply wiped with a clean, dry, nonsterile paper towel between procedures, including probes used on contaminated scanning fields, open wounds, and cutaneous infections. After the final procedure of the day, probes should be cleaned with a liquid cleaning solution such as Hibidil to remove all traces of coupling gel, which could support the overnight growth of bacteria. This would decontaminate the probes and prevent the overnight growth of bacteria. This method would be both a cost-effective and time-efficient protocol for controlling infection.