Pediatric radiology
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Prior to interpreting PET/CT, it is crucial to understand the normal biodistribution of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). It is also important to realize that the normal biodistribution can vary between adults and children. Although many studies have defined normal patterns of pediatric FDG uptake in structures like the thymus, brown fat and bone marrow, patterns of normal pediatric bowel activity, specifically uptake within the appendix, have not been well described. Active lymphoid tissue has increased FDG uptake when compared with inactive tissue. Since children have more active lymphoid tissue than adults, and because the appendix contains aggregated lymphoid tissue, we postulated that appendiceal uptake may be increased in pediatric patients. ⋯ FDG uptake in the appendix is typically similar to that of background activity. However, slight variations in appendiceal FDG uptake do occur, which should not be misinterpreted as pathological.
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Pediatric radiology · Mar 2014
Analysis of an automated background correction method for cardiovascular MR phase contrast imaging in children and young adults.
Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for evaluating vessel blood flow. Inherent errors in acquisition, such as phase offset, eddy currents and gradient field effects, can cause significant inaccuracies in flow parameters. These errors can be rectified with the use of background correction software. ⋯ Our data suggest that background phase correction of phase contrast MRI data does not significantly change Qp:Qs quantification, and there are residual errors in expected Qp:Qs quantification despite background phase correction. However the use of background phase correction does improve quantification of MPA flow relative to combined RPA and LPA flow. Further work is needed to validate these findings in other patient populations, using other MRI units, and across vendors.
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Pediatric radiology · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialChest CT in children: anesthesia and atelectasis.
There has been an increasing tendency for anesthesiologists to be responsible for providing sedation or anesthesia during chest CT imaging in young children. Anesthesia-related atelectasis noted on chest CT imaging has proven to be a common and troublesome problem, affecting image quality and diagnostic sensitivity. ⋯ Controlled-ventilation infant CT scanning under general anesthesia, utilizing intubation and recruitment maneuvers followed by chest CT scans, appears to be a safe and effective method to obtain reliable and reproducible high-quality, motion-free chest CT images in children.
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Pediatric radiology · Feb 2014
Clinical TrialGreater saphenous venous access as an alternative in children.
In the pediatric population, obtaining venous access in high-risk neonates, severely ill children with cardiac anomalies or very young children (<10 kg) can be very challenging. In the literature to date, the greater saphenous vein has not been primarily used by interventional radiologists as an entry site for venous access in children. ⋯ In children, the greater saphenous vein provides a safe, suitable alternative for venous access, particularly in very young children (<10 kg) and in a select group of older children who are not mobile. In the lower extremities, greater saphenous venous puncture and access may be a preferred initial access site in small children to preserve future venous access.