Academic radiology
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To test the repeatability, reproducibility and accuracy of the three-point Dixon (3PD) sequence for estimating true fat volume ratios using a fat/water phantom. ⋯ The 3PD technique was found to be highly reproducible and accurate, and may be useful for in vivo quantification of fat in lean tissues, such as the liver, pancreas or skeletal muscle.
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This study is designed to assess the performance of radiology residents in interpreting emergency department chest radiographs for pneumonia and to characterize chest radiographic findings in patients for which interpretation was amended by an attending radiologist. ⋯ Interpretation of chest radiographs for pneumonia by PGY-3 residents has a low error rate. Missed pneumonias often were segmental or smaller and conspicuous on only one projection.
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The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of bronchomalacia associated with sarcoidosis and compare the extent of air trapping in patients with sarcoidosis with and without bronchomalacia. ⋯ Bronchomalacia frequently was associated with sarcoidosis, and the extent of air trapping was significantly greater in patients with sarcoidosis with bronchomalacia compared with those without bronchomalacia.
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Real-time tomographic reflection (RTTR) permits in situ visualization of tomographic images so that natural hand-eye coordination can be used directly during invasive procedures. The method uses a half-silvered mirror to merge the visual outer surface of the patient with a simultaneous scan of the patient's interior without requiring a head-mounted display or tracking. A viewpoint-independent virtual image is reflected precisely into its actual location. When applied to ultrasound, we call the resulting RTTR device the sonic flashlight. We previously implemented the sonic flashlight using conventional two-dimensional ultrasound scanners that produce B-mode slices. Real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) ultrasound scanners recently have been developed that permit RTTR to be applied to slices with other orientations, including C-mode (parallel to the face of the transducer). Such slice orientation may offer advantages for image-guided intervention. ⋯ The extension of RTTR to matrix array RT3D ultrasound offers the ability to visualize in situ slices other than the conventional B-mode slice, including C-mode slices parallel to the face of the transducer. This orientation may provide a broader target, facilitating certain interventional procedures. Future work is discussed, including display of slices with arbitrary orientation and use of a holographic optical element instead of a mirror.
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Many computer applications have been developed in radiology and other medical disciplines to help physicians make decisions. Artificial intelligence (AI)--an approach to computer-based manipulation of symbols to simulate human reasoning--forms the basis of many of these systems. This article's goals are to: acquaint the reader with the motivations and opportunities for computer-based medical decision support systems; identify AI techniques and applications in radiology decision making; assess the impact of these technologies; and consider new directions and opportunities for AI in radiology. Among the exciting new directions is the use of AI to integrate radiology reporting, online decision support, and just-in-time learning to provide useful information and continuing education that is embedded within a radiologist's daily workflow.