Academic radiology
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Meta-analysis: comparison of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and bone scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastasis in patients with lung cancer.
The aim of this review was to evaluate the diagnostic properties of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (CT) and bone scintigraphy in the detection of osseous metastases in patients with lung cancer. ⋯ Although FDG-PET or PET/CT has higher sensitivity and specificity than bone scintigraphy, further research with a less biased design is needed to determine the most efficacious imaging modality for the detection of metastatic lung cancer.
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening condition, characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, which is confirmed based on invasive right heart catheterization (RHC). Noninvasive examinations may support diagnosis of PH before proceeding to RHC and play an important role in management and treatment of the disease. Although echocardiography is considered a standard tool in diagnosis, recent advances have made computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging promising tools, which may provide morphologic and functional information. In this article, we review image-based assessment of PH with a focus on CT and MR imaging. ⋯ CT may provide useful morphologic information for depicting PH and seeking for underlying diseases. With the accumulated technological advancement, CT and MRI may provide practical tools for not only morphologic but also functional assessment of patients with PH.
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At the authors' level 1 trauma center, postgraduate year 3 and 4 radiology residents interpret urgent overnight imaging studies, which are reviewed by attending radiologists the next morning. The goals of this study were to determine the discrepancy rate for torso computed tomography between resident radiologists' preliminary interpretations and attending radiologists' final interpretations and to identify adverse patient events secondary to the delayed diagnoses. ⋯ At the authors' institution, there was a 2.0% discrepancy rate between residents' preliminary interpretations and attending radiologists' final interpretations of overnight torso computed tomography, with a small rate of additional intervention as a result of the major discrepancies. No adverse patient effects were directly attributable to discrepant interpretations. In discrepant cases, there was a 15% disagreement rate (17 of 112) between attending radiologists, suggesting some degree of interreader variance in interpretation. In addition, this disagreement rate among attending radiologists may imply that these cases were complex. Because there is educational value in overnight call, independent radiology resident coverage should continue.
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The purpose of this work is to provide current information on the rapidly evolving subject of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), to establish the radiologic approach to the management of high-risk patients for NSF, and to assess the probabilistic risk of NSF compared to contrast induced nephropathy (CIN), as encountered with iodinated contrast media used in computed tomographic (CT) imaging. NSF is a disease process of considerable concern following gadolinium-containing contrast agents (GCCA) exposure in patients with diminished renal function. To minimize the possibility of NSF development in high-risk patients, GGCAs should not be used when they are not necessary, or the GCCAs, that have not at present been associated with NSF development, should be used at the lowest possible diagnostic dose, when they are necessary. ⋯ In patients with diminished renal function who are not on regular dialysis, the risk of CIN following the administration of iodinated CM is higher than the risk of NSF following the administration of the most stable GCCAs. Risk benefit analysis should be performed prior to the administration of all CM, and the best combination of safety and diagnostic accuracy should be sought. Concern of NSF or CIN should not prevent the use of contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography when they are deemed essential.
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Advances in computed tomographic (CT) imaging of the lung in the past decade, particularly with increased speed, resolution, gating capability, and rapidly expanding volumetric image acquisition, along with advances in image processing, have expanded the repertoire of imaging methods beyond anatomic visualization into the noninvasive study of regional lung physiological function. Recognizing that significant local disease or dysfunction can exist before global measures begin to deteriorate, the motivation for the development and application of these regional techniques is to further our understanding of the basic pathophysiological characteristics of evolving lung disease and, ultimately, develop sensitive measures for its early detection. This review emphasizes the key elements of ventilation and lung mechanics relevant for regional approaches and CT measurement principles available for their study. Examples of established and evolving methods for imaging regional ventilation and mechanics, including the xenon CT ventilation method; the relationship between changing regional CT density and air volume change; and registration-based methods for examining regional lung expansion and strain, are presented.