AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Mar 2009
Pleural effusion: characterization with CT attenuation values and CT appearance.
The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of CT in characterizing pleural effusions on the basis of attenuation values and CT appearance. ⋯ The clinical use of CT attenuation values to characterize pleural fluid is not accurate. Although fluid loculation, pleural thickness, and pleural nodules were more commonly found in patients with exudative effusions, the presence of these features does not accurately differentiate between exudates and transudates.
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The purpose of this article is to familiarize the radiologist with radiation dose in cardiac CT imaging and explain the current methods for dose reduction. ⋯ Advances in CT technology have resulted in a significant increase in cardiac CT applications. It is imperative that the radiologist understand the resulting dose implication to the patient and actively engage in optimal protocol design to achieve adequate image quality with patient dose reduction in mind.
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Chest radiography is the first-line imaging examination for assessment of thoracic polytrauma, serving to evaluate the extent of injury and facilitate early triage to observation, further imaging, or immediate surgical intervention. The objective of this article is to review the spectrum of injuries that occur in the chest and upper abdomen after blunt and penetrating trauma. Pathophysiology, imaging findings, and management recommendations will be discussed for injuries to the chest wall, diaphragm, pleura, lungs, mediastinum, heart, aorta, and great vessels. ⋯ Chest radiography plays an important role in the initial evaluation of blunt and penetrating chest trauma, providing rapid imaging information to supplement the history and physical examination. In the emergency department, familiarity with the spectrum of injuries that can occur in the chest and upper abdomen is important for accurate interpretation of chest radiographs as well as establishment of appropriate recommendations for management and follow-up.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Mar 2009
CT quantification of emphysema in young subjects with no recognizable chest disease.
The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate volumetric CT emphysema quantification (CT densitovolumetry) in a young population with no recognizable lung disease. ⋯ Young healthy nonsmokers with no recognizable lung disease can also show a small proportion of emphysematous-like changes on CT densitovolumetry when a threshold of -950 HU is used. Reference values should be considered when applying the technique for early detection or grading of emphysema and when studying aging lungs.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Mar 2009
Incidental findings in the cervical spine at CT for trauma evaluation.
CT is the standard of care for assessment of traumatic injuries. Because of the detail depicted with this technique, findings incidental to the injury are easily detected. We sought to determine the frequency and types of incidental findings in the cervical spines of trauma patients undergoing CT. ⋯ Incidental findings in the cervical spine were associated with age, injury severity score, and mechanism of injury. Awareness of the prevalence of incidental findings is important to assuring that both traumatic and nontraumatic pathologic findings are detected and appropriately managed.