The British journal of radiology
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Low back pain and neuralgia due to spinal pathology are very common symptoms debilitating numerous patients with peak prevalence at ages between 45 and 60 years. Intervertebral discs and facet joints act as pain sources in the vast majority of the cases. Diagnosis is based on the combination of clinical examination and imaging studies. ⋯ This article will report clinical and imaging findings for each pathology type and the association with treatment decision. In addition, we will describe in detail all possible treatment techniques for low back pain and neuralgia, and we will report recently published results of these techniques summarizing the data concerning safety and effectiveness as well as the level of evidence. Finally, we will try to provide a rational approach for the therapy of low back pain and neuralgia by means of minimally invasive imaging-guided percutaneous techniques.
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The role of lung ultrasound (LUS) integrated with chest X-ray (CXR) for the first-line diagnosis of paediatric pneumonia; to define its role during the follow-up to exclude complications. ⋯ The effective role of LUS in the diagnosis and follow-up of lung consolidations and pleural effusions in paediatric patients in an emergency setting.
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Comparative Study
Detection of bladder cancer: comparison of low-dose scans with AIDR 3D and routine-dose scans with FBP on the excretory phase in CT urography.
To prospectively compare the detection of bladder cancer between low-dose scans with adaptive iterative dose reduction three dimensional projection (AIDR 3D) and routine-dose scans with filtered back projection (FBP) on the excretory phase (EP) in CT urography. ⋯ Using AIDR 3D, the radiation dose may be reduced on the EP in CT urography for the detection of bladder cancer.
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Mobile devices, wireless networks and software have significantly evolved since the late 1990s and are now available with sufficient computing power, speed and complexity to allow real-time interpretation of radiology studies. Emergency radiology (ER)'s time-sensitive nature would seem to be an excellent match for study interpretation using mobile devices, allowing the radiologist to read studies anywhere, at any time. ⋯ In the ER setting, we suggest that the best use of mobile devices is to be available to consult directly with patients about their imaging findings and to the clinical team during rounds and at handover. This will bring the radiologist to the clinician and patient, helping us to better understand the patient's presentation, educate both the physician and patient and increase the visibility and value of the radiologist as a member of the clinical care team.
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Comparative Study
Utility of fat-suppressed sequences in differentiation of aggressive vs typical asymptomatic haemangioma of the spine.
While haemangiomas are common benign vascular lesions involving the spine, some behave in an aggressive fashion. We investigated the utility of fat-suppressed sequences to differentiate between benign and aggressive vertebral haemangiomas. ⋯ The use of quantitative fat-suppressed MRI in vertebral haemangiomas is demonstrated. Quantitative fat-suppressed MRI can have a role in confirming the diagnosis of aggressive haemangiomas. In addition, this application can be further investigated in future studies to predict aggressiveness of vertebral haemangiomas in early stages.