AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Apr 2010
Frequency of use of imaging tests in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: effects of physician specialty, patient characteristics, and region.
The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether clinical practice in diagnosing pulmonary embolism is consistent with recommendations in the literature and to explore variations in practice across site of care (e.g., emergency department), physician and patient characteristics, and geographic location. ⋯ Physician practice in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is broadly consistent with recommendations. However, variations by physician specialty and geographic location may be evidence of inappropriate imaging.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Apr 2010
Pilot study assessing differentiation of steatosis hepatis, hepatic iron overload, and combined disease using two-point dixon MRI at 3 T: in vitro and in vivo results of a 2D decomposition technique.
The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether two-point Dixon MRI using a 2D decomposition technique facilitates metabolite differentiation between lipids and iron in standardized in vitro liver phantoms with in vivo patient validation and allows semiquantitative in vitro assessment of metabolites associated with steatosis, iron overload, and combined disease. ⋯ MR Dixon imaging facilitates metabolite decomposition of intrahepatic lipids and iron using in vitro phantoms with in vivo patient validation. The proposed decomposition technique identified distinct in-phase/opposed-phase and fat/water ratios for in vitro steatosis, iron overload, and combined disease.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Apr 2010
Estimating effective dose for CT using dose-length product compared with using organ doses: consequences of adopting International Commission on Radiological Protection publication 103 or dual-energy scanning.
The objective of our study was to compare dose-length product (DLP)-based estimates of effective dose with organ dose-based calculations using tissue-weighting factors from publication 103 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) or dual-energy CT protocols. ⋯ These differences in estimates of effective dose suggest the need to reassess DLP to E conversion coefficients when adopting ICRP 103, particularly for scans over the breast. For the evaluated scanner, DLP to E conversion coefficients were energy independent, but ICRP 60-based conversion coefficients underestimated effective dose relative to organ dose-based calculations.