AJR. American journal of roentgenology
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jan 1988
How research becomes knowledge in radiology: an analysis of citations to published papers.
The process by which research becomes generally disseminated knowledge in radiology was studied by an analysis of reference citations. A citation is the event that occurs when one paper is listed as a reference by another paper. Analysis of the citations received by 30 diagnostic radiology journals in 1985 showed that five journals received 73% of the citations. ⋯ Parameters of citation activity may be relevant to selecting journals for subscription, reading, or publication. The radiology literature has lasting relevance and receives citations for many years. Advancement of the science of radiology follows the lead of a very few works; the most frequently cited papers concern practical techniques and procedures.
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Fourteen patients had mesenteric, portal, or splenic venous thrombosis that was diagnosed primarily by contrast-enhanced CT. The group included five patients with coagulopathy, three with pancreatic carcinoma, two with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, one with pancreatitis, and one with hepatocellular carcinoma. In two patients, no etiology was determined. ⋯ The major morbidity suffered by these patients stemmed from complications of splanchnic venous occlusion, and nine patients ultimately required sclerotherapy, splenectomy, and portal decompression. We conclude that CT is useful in the diagnosis of splanchnic venous thrombosis. Our experience suggests that mesenteric, splenic, and/or portal venous thrombosis may occur more commonly than has been previously thought and that the disease in many cases is not life threatening.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Jan 1988
Postbiopsy pneumothorax: estimating the risk by chest radiography and pulmonary function tests.
Pulmonary function tests and chest radiographs of 160 patients who had had percutaneous needle biopsy of lung lesions were reviewed to determine the value of these examinations in estimating the risk of postbiopsy pneumothorax. Chest radiographs were evaluated subjectively for changes of obstructive and restrictive airway disease and for size and depth of lesion. Pulmonary function tests, consisting of simple spirometry (forced vital capacity, percentage of predicted forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, and [forced expiratory in 1 sec/forced vital capacity] X 100), and the pulmonologist's interpretation were evaluated. ⋯ None of the patients who had normal pulmonary function tests required placement of a chest tube, whereas 19% (13/67) of those who had obstructive airway disease required chest tubes. Decreasing size of lesion and increasing depth of lesion were associated with a significant increase in the risk of pneumothorax. We conclude that the results of chest radiographs and pulmonary function tests are useful parameters for estimating the risk of postbiopsy pneumothorax.
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AJR Am J Roentgenol · Oct 1987
Noninfectious complications of long-term central venous catheters: radiologic evaluation and management.
During a 5-year period, 416 long-term double-lumen central venous catheters were inserted into 288 patients. In these patients, 106 catheter venograms and nine upper extremity venograms were performed. All studies were reviewed retrospectively to determine the nature and prevalence of noninfectious catheter-related complications, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of streptokinase therapy, and to determine if catheter venography should be performed before streptokinase therapy is started. ⋯ Recognition of noninfectious complications associated with use of long-term catheters is important for institution of appropriate therapy, which in many instances obviates removal of the catheter. Formation of a fibrin sheath in only 57% of cases of catheter malfunction provides an argument for performing catheter venography before streptokinase therapy is started. Low-dose streptokinase therapy for long-term central venous catheters occluded by a fibrin sheath is safe and efficacious.