Radiology
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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 evaluate the usefulness and limitations of the outer diameter of the vermiform appendix at cross-sectional ultrasonography to confirm or rule out acute appendicitis. ⋯ The outer appendiceal diameter of 6 mm or more as a sign of acute appendicitis provides high sensitivity but limited specificity. This diagnostic criterion is more useful in excluding acute appendicitis than in confirming it.
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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.