AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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The objective of this report is to describe a previously unreported technique of selective cervical nerve block, performed from January 1, 2004, to May 19, 2006, in 560 injections, that was designed to allow continual monitoring of injectate passage and verification of needle tip position. We also illustrate faulty needle placement in a cadaveric neck. ⋯ Using a short connecting tube, contrast material mixed with the final injectate, and fluoroscopy when performing a selective cervical nerve block allows continual monitoring of injectate including where washout of the original testing contrast material actually flows. A true lateral view shows a more dangerous anterior needle tip placement. In addition, performing a test with anesthetic and contrast material, waiting 1.5 minutes before administering the final injectate, and using a water-soluble steroid may provide further safety with selective cervical nerve block.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Sep 2007
Indeterminate CT angiography in blunt thoracic trauma: is CT angiography enough?
The primary objective of our study was to determine whether catheter angiography is needed to exclude aortic and intrathoracic great vessel injury when CT angiography (CTA) findings are indeterminate (mediastinal hematoma without direct evidence of aortic or intrathoracic great vessel injury). The secondary objective was to devise a classification scheme for mediastinal hematomas. ⋯ When CTA is indeterminate in blunt thoracic trauma, conventional angiography is unlikely to show an aortic or intrathoracic great vessel injury and may be unnecessary. A grading system for mediastinal hematomas could help triage patients to conventional angiography when further imaging is desired.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Aug 2007
Diffusion tensor imaging assessment of brain white matter maturation during the first postnatal year.
The purpose of this study was to use diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the status of cerebral white matter (WM) at term gestation and the rate of WM maturation throughout the first year of life in healthy infants. ⋯ At term, both ADC and FA differ significantly in peripheral WM and deep WM, deep WM structures being more mature. Both deep WM and peripheral WM mature more rapidly during approximately the first 3 months in comparison with the rest of the first year. Unexpected differences in early (first 100 days) rates of maturation assessed with diffusion-weighted (ADC) and diffusion tensor (FA) imaging suggest that these two techniques may be sensitive to different aspects of WM maturation in the early perinatal period.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Aug 2007
Comparative StudyCombined T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI for localization of prostate cancer.
The objective of our study was to compare T2-weighted MRI alone and T2 combined with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the localization of prostate cancer. ⋯ Combined T2 and DWI MRI is better than T2 imaging alone in the detection of significant cancer (Gleason score > or = 6 and diameter > 4 mm) within the peripheral zone of the prostate.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Aug 2007
Postoperative lung function in lung cancer patients: comparative analysis of predictive capability of MRI, CT, and SPECT.
The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the utility of dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI in the prediction of postoperative lung function in patients with lung cancer with the utility of quantitative and qualitative assessment of CT and perfusion SPECT. ⋯ Dynamic perfusion MRI is more accurate in prediction of the postoperative lung function of patients with lung cancer than are qualitative CT and perfusion SPECT and may be at least as accurate as quantitative CT.