Australasian radiology
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Australasian radiology · Aug 2005
Patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction in a radiotherapy centre during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak.
An outpatient radiotherapy department assessed how precautions implemented during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak affected patient satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction and explored variables potentially influencing satisfaction. The information obtained would help prepare us for future infectious disease outbreaks. Outpatients seen during the outbreak completed a validated questionnaire assessing satisfaction with doctor-patient interaction. ⋯ However, patients who were dissatisfied with the SARS precautions had poorer satisfaction. In particular, physician empathy appeared to be most adversely affected. The results have relevance to any radiotherapy department preparing contingency plans in the event of infectious disease outbreaks.
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Australasian radiology · Aug 2005
Case ReportsUltrasound detection of a subperiosteal abscess secondary to coalescent otomastoiditis.
We report the unusual ultrasound appearance of coalescent otomastoiditis with subperiosteal abscess in a 3-month-old boy with a 1-week history of an enlarging lump behind the left ear. Ultrasound examination of the lump revealed subcutaneous oedema with an abscess extending from a defect in the cranial vault as a result of extension of the inflammatory process. We believe that this sonographic appearance has not been previously described in the published literature.
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Australasian radiology · Aug 2005
Importance of radiation time and dose factors on outcome for childhood medulloblastoma.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of posterior fossa radiation therapy duration (PFRTD) and relapse-free survival (RFS) following adjuvant craniospinal RT for childhood medulloblastoma. A retrospective audit was performed assessing all children aged <18 years managed with adjuvant craniospinal RT for medulloblastoma in Australia and New Zealand in 1980-1993. Children receiving prolonged (>180 days) pre-RT chemotherapy were excluded. ⋯ Other factors assessed that did not reach significance were patient age, local tumour extent, presence of internal shunt and use of chemotherapy. The importance of local treatment factors was confirmed in this audit with established prognostic factors such as primary tumour macroscopic resection and adequate PF RT dose being associated with RFS. A treatment time effect is weakly suggested, although less significant than RT dose delivered.
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Australasian radiology · Aug 2005
Case ReportsContrast column interruption artefact in computed tomography pulmonary angiography.
Interruption of the contrast column during inspiration can lead to non-diagnostic CT pulmonary angiograms. The importance of this artefact will increase with more CT studies being performed for pulmonary embolism on multidetector row CT. We describe here an instance of such an artefact and discuss its aetiology.