Academic radiology
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To investigate whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiographers are able to evaluate MRI examinations with regard to scaphoid fractures to save patients unnecessary immobilization and clinical and radiographic examinations, and to reduce the costs for the hospital as well as society in general. ⋯ It is possible to provide an acute MRI service to patients with clinically suspected fracture of the scaphoid and a normal plain radiograph. The MR images can be primarily read by sufficiently trained MR radiographers. This new work-up protocol reduces the cost for society.
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To develop a method to provide absolute values of regional myocardial perfusion by means of color maps, and to determine myocardial perfusion reserve using magnetic resonance imaging during the first pass of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). ⋯ Our new technique can provide absolute values of regional myocardial perfusion by means of color maps, and has potential for widespread use for evaluation of ischemic and other types of heart disease.
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To compare conventional radiofrequency coil reception techniques with parallel coil array acquisition methods in adrenal tissue visualization and to evaluate the dependence of temporal resolution on image quality in adrenal magnetic resonance magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. ⋯ Parallel acceleration of sequences used for adrenal tissue visualization leads to a significant increase in diagnostic quality by significantly reducing breathing motion artifacts without sacrificing contrast indispensable for adrenal lesion characterization.
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To determine the in vivo feasibility of quantifying early degenerative changes in patellofemoral joint of symptomatic human knee using spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (T(1rho)) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ Preliminary results demonstrated the in vivo feasibility of quantifying early biochemical changes in symptomatic osteoarthritis subjects employing T(1rho)-weighted MRI on a 1.5 T clinical scanner. This study on limited number of symptomatic population shows that T(1rho)-weighted MRI provides a noninvasive marker for quantitation of early degenerative changes of cartilage in vivo. However, further studies are needed to correlate early osteoarthritis determined from arthroscopy with T(1rho) in a large symptomatic population.
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We surveyed program directors to determine current radiology program practices in evaluating their residents, faculty, and program. ⋯ In general, there is a high degree of compliance among radiology programs in meeting ACGME evaluation requirements. However, some programs do not comply with requirements for frequency of resident evaluation or annual program evaluation. The percentage of new program directors is high and related to not using or knowing about useful evaluation resources. Use of computerized evaluation systems, which have the potential to decrease the work associated with evaluations and provide more dependable and reliable data, is minimal.