AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · May 2010
Comparative StudyQuantification of hepatic iron deposition in patients with liver disease: comparison of chemical shift imaging with single-echo T2*-weighted imaging.
The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of chemical shift imaging, compared with that of single-echo T2*-weighted imaging, for hepatic iron quantification in patients with liver disease, and to examine the confounding effect of steatosis. ⋯ Routine chemical shift imaging and single-echo T2*-weighted imaging have excellent diagnostic performance for detection of significant hepatic siderosis (grade >or= 2). Concomitant steatosis lowers the diagnostic performance of both sequences without reaching significance.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · May 2010
Comparative StudyDetection of chest trauma with whole-body low-dose linear slit digital radiography: a multireader study.
The objective of our study was to compare the performance of low-dose linear slit digital radiography (DR) with computed radiography (CR) for the detection of trauma sequelae in the chest including rib fractures, pneumothorax, and lung contusion. ⋯ Linear slit DR is a reliable substitute for CR in the initial evaluation of chest trauma, with better sensitivity for detecting rib fractures and similar performance in assessing pneumothorax and lung contusion.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · May 2010
Use of a rosch-uchida needle for recanalization of refractory dialysis-related central vein occlusion.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience with the use of a Rösch-Uchida needle technique to recanalize central vein occlusion that cannot be traversed with a guidewire. ⋯ Use of a Rösch-Uchida needle to recanalize central vein occlusion refractory to a traditional procedure is feasible and safe and can preserve the involved extremity for long-term hemodialysis.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · May 2010
Cost-effectiveness of coronary CT angiography in evaluation of patients without symptoms who have positive stress test results.
Patients without symptoms who have positive stress test results are often referred for diagnostic catheter angiography in an evaluation for coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to use decision tree analysis to determine the cost-effectiveness and radiation dose that would result from performing coronary CT angiography (CTA) before catheterization. ⋯ Performing coronary CTA before cardiac catheterization is a cost-effective strategy in the care of patients without symptoms who have positive stress test results when the probability that the patient has significant coronary artery disease is less than 50%. The false-negative rate with this strategy compares favorably with the false-negative rate of stress testing. The use of coronary CTA in this role can avoid many unnecessary cardiac catheterization procedures.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Apr 2010
ReviewOptimizing detectability of renal pathology with MDCT: protocols, pearls, and pitfalls.
The purpose of this article is to review MDCT acquisition protocol parameters and interpretative practices for evaluating genitourinary lesions other than classic renal cell carcinoma, to optimize lesion detectability and accurately characterize pathologic abnormalities. ⋯ With the goal of refining interpretative performance, this pictorial essay shows the patterns of conspicuity unique to each genitourinary pathologic abnormality, presents experience-based recommendations to improve detection and characterization using multiphasic MDCT, and describes pitfalls to be avoided.