AJR. American journal of roentgenology
-
AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2013
Comparative StudyComparison of liquid crystal display monitors calibrated with gray-scale standard display function and with γ 2.2 and iPad: observer performance in detection of cerebral infarction on brain CT.
The purpose of the study was to compare observer performance in the detection of cerebral infarction on a brain CT using medical-grade liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors calibrated with the gray-scale standard display function and with γ 2.2 and using an iPad with a simulated screen setting. ⋯ Observer performance for detecting cerebral infarction on the LCD with γ 2.2 calibration was found to be similar to the LCD with gray-scale standard display function calibration. Although observer performance using the iPad was poorer than that using the other LCDs, the difference was small. Therefore, the iPad could not substitute for other LCD monitors. However, owing to the promising potential advantages of tablet PCs, such as portability, further examination is needed into the clinical use of tablet PCs.
-
AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2013
In vitro assessment of a fiducial marker for lung lesions: MRI issues at 3 T.
The objective of our study was to assess MRI issues at 3 T for a newly developed fiducial marker used to localize lung lesions. ⋯ The results of this investigation show that there are no MRI-related safety concerns and, thus, that it would be acceptable (i.e., "MR conditional") for a patient with this new fiducial marker to be examined using MRI at 3 T or less. Artifacts, although relatively small, may create issues if the area of interest is the same as that of the marker or if the interpreting radiologist does not know the marker is present.
-
AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jun 2013
Comparative StudyEvaluation of pediatric thoracic disorders: comparison of unenhanced fast-imaging-sequence 1.5-T MRI and contrast-enhanced MDCT.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of thoracic MRI with fast imaging sequences without contrast administration at 1.5 T for evaluating thoracic abnormalities by comparing MRI findings with contrast-enhanced MDCT findings. ⋯ With MDCT as the reference standard, 51 of 71 (72%) patients had abnormal findings on MDCT studies, including infections in 21 (42%) cases, neoplasms in 19 (37%) cases, interstitial lung disease in seven (14%) cases, pleural effusion in three (6%) cases, and congenital bronchogenic cyst in one (2%) case. The overall diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRI for detecting thoracic abnormalities were 69 of 71 (97%), 49 of 51 (96%), and 20 of 20 (100%). Two undiagnosed findings with MRI that were detected with MDCT were mild bronchiectasis and small pulmonary nodule (3 mm). Almost perfect interobserver agreement was found between two reviewers with 70 of 71 agreements (κ = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1.00; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION; MRI with fast imaging sequences without contrast administration is comparable to contrast-enhanced MDCT for detecting thoracic abnormalities in pediatric patients. Use of MRI with fast imaging sequences without contrast administration as a first-line cross-sectional imaging study in lieu of contrast-enhanced MDCT has the potential to benefit this patient population owing to reduced radiation exposure and i.v. contrast administration.