Radiology
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Comparative Study
Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of coronary arteries: comparison of intra- and extravascular contrast agents in swine.
To compare the efficacy of an intravascular contrast agent, gadomer-17, in improving magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of coronary arteries with that of an extravascular agent, gadopentetate dimeglumine, in pigs. ⋯ Gadomer-17 provided greater and more persistent CNR improvements than did gadopentetate dimeglumine; further evaluation of its utility for coronary imaging in humans is warranted.
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Thirty-two patients underwent periradicular corticosteroid injections with a lateral percutaneous approach under fluoroscopic guidance, to treat 34 foci of chronic cervical radiculopathy unresponsive to medical treatment alone. The mean evolutionary trends for radicular and neck pain relief were significant at 14 days (P <.001) and at 6 months (P <.001). The procedure did not produce any complications.
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To study factors that may influence pneumothorax and chest tube placement rate, especially needle dwell time and pleural puncture angle. ⋯ Longer dwell times do not correlate with pneumothorax and should not influence the decision to obtain more biopsy samples. A shallow pleural puncture angle may increase the pneumothorax rate.
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To evaluate the accuracy of screening abdominal ultrasonography (US) in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. ⋯ Abdominal US is useful in screening for injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, and its use represents a notable change in institutional practice. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is rarely performed, and CT is used when screening US findings are positive, when injury is clinically suspected despite negative US findings, or when US is not available.