Lung nodule detection in pediatric chest CT: quantitative relationship between image quality and radiologist performance.

Purpose: To determine the quantitative relationship between image quality and radiologist performance in detecting small lung nodules in pediatric CT.

Methods: The study included clinical chest CT images of 30 pediatric patients (0-16 years) scanned at tube currents of 55-180 mA. Calibrated noise addition software was used to simulate cases at three nominal mA settings: 70, 35, and 17.

Evaluation of wedging of lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebral bodies in the pediatric population.

Objective: Anterior wedging of thoracolumbar vertebral bodies is often seen in children. The purpose of our study was to show whether mild anterior wedging of pediatric thoracolumbar junction vertebral bodies can be seen as a normal variant, rather than as the sequela of trauma.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was performed of pediatric abdomen and pelvis CT performed between January 2004 and March 2006, excluding children at high risk for compression fractures.

Basketball injuries in children.

Basketball is a popular, worldwide sport played outdoors and indoors year-round. Patterns of injury are related to abrupt changes in the athlete's direction, jumping, contact between athletes, the hard playing surface and paucity of protective equipment. Intensity of play and training in the quest of scholarships and professional careers is believed to contribute to an increasing occurrence of injury.

Pediatric MDCT: towards assessing the diagnostic influence of dose reduction on the detection of small lung nodules.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced tube current (dose) on lung nodule detection in pediatric multidetector array computed tomography (MDCT).

Materials And Methods: The study included normal clinical chest MDCT images of 13 patients (aged 1-7 years) scanned at tube currents of 70 to 180 mA. Calibrated noise addition software was used to simulate cases as they would have been acquired at 70 mA (the lowest original tube current), 35 mA (50% reduction), and 17.

Aberrant course of the umbilical vein in a newborn with Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Congenital anomalies of the umbilical vein are rare. We describe an aberrant course of the umbilical vein discovered by identifying an unusual umbilical venous catheter course on abdominal radiography in a patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. The umbilical vein bypassed the liver to insert directly into a right pelvic vein.

The radiology perspective: needs and tools for management of life-threatening events.

Studies have shown that life-threatening contrast agent reactions in adults are very rare, and even less common in children. The rarity of severe allergic reactions to contrast material challenges educators to achieve radiology resident competency in this setting. However, using a simulated anaphylactic contrast reaction paradigm, we have drawn two conclusions: (1) Residents are insufficiently prepared to recognize and manage these life-threatening events and (2) with an interactive, computer-based tool we can significantly improve resident performance in these situations.

Repair of congenital heart disease: a primer--Part 2.

This review, the second of two parts, describes the repair of aortic arch anomalies, left-to-right shunts, valvular disease, tetralogy of Fallot, and truncus arteriosus. Cardiac transplantation is also discussed. Advances in the surgical management of congenital heart disease have led to improved patient survival and quality of life.

Radiation doses from small-bowel follow-through and abdomen/pelvis MDCT in pediatric Crohn disease.

Background: The onset of Crohn disease (CD) can occur in childhood. Imaging, which often involves radiation, is frequent in CD both for disease diagnosis and follow-up. However, information regarding radiation dose for contemporary CT and fluoroscopy is not available for determining the cost/benefit ratio for imaging strategies.

Radiation doses from small-bowel follow-through and abdominopelvic MDCT in Crohn's disease.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to compare organ and effective doses for small-bowel follow-through (SBFT) and abdominopelvic MDCT in adults with Crohn's disease, to retrospectively evaluate the number of radiographic examinations performed for Crohn's disease indications, and to identify those patients undergoing serial examinations to better delineate the use of radiology in the diagnosis and clinical management of Crohn's disease.

Materials And Methods: Using an anthropomorphic phantom and metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeters, specific organ doses were measured for 5 minutes of continuous fluoroscopy (kVp, 120; mA, 0.6) of each of the following: right lower quadrant, central abdomen, and pelvis.