European radiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Supine/left decubitus scanning: a valuable alternative to supine/prone scanning in CT colonography.
The purpose was to evaluate supine/left decubitus as an alternative to supine/prone scanning in computed tomographic colonography (CT colonography). Fifty patients were randomised to supine/prone, another 50 to supine/left decubitus scanning. Patients were scanned using a single-slice CT scanner. ⋯ There were no significant differences between the two scanning protocols. Prone scanning, however, is hampered by breathing artefacts, especially in the elderly. Therefore, supine-left decubitus scanning is considered a valuable alternative to supine-prone scanning for the elderly.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The non-invasive detection of intracranial aneurysms: are neuroradiologists any better than other observers?
Can non-neuroradiologists detect intracranial aneurysms as well as neuroradiologists, using CT and MR angiography? Sixty patients undergoing intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) to detect aneurysms also underwent computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Consensus review of IADSA by two neuroradiologists was the reference standard. Two neuroradiologists, a neurosurgeon, a neuroradiographer and a general radiologist blinded to IADSA, plain CT and clinical data, independently reviewed hard-copy base and reconstructed maximum intensity projection images of the CTA and MRA studies. ⋯ Agreement with IADSA was "good" for neuroradiologists: kappa 0.73 for CTA, and 0.63 for MRA. For the other observers, agreement with IADSA was "moderate": kappa 0.59 for CTA, and 0.56 for MRA. Neuroradiologists performed consistently better than the other observers, although differences did not reach statistical significance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Use of a 22-gauge Whitacre needle to reduce the incidence of side effects after lumbar myelography: a prospective randomised study comparing Whitacre and Quincke spinal needles.
In a prospective study lumbar iohexol myelography was performed in 107 consecutive patients, randomised for lumbar puncture with a Quincke or Whitacre spinal needle. All patients answered a questionnaire about possible side effects. Data from 100 patients (58 men, 42 women) were evaluated. ⋯ In the Whitacre group (n = 47), 33 (70%) had no side effects. PDPH was reported by 9 patients (19%), of whom 2 had mild, 6 moderate and only 1 (2%) severe cephalalgia, 4 (9%) reported increased low back pain/sciatica, 5 nausea and 4 dizziness. The conclusion drawn from this study is that lumbar myelography performed with the Whitacre spinal needle reduces postspinal side effects.