Consensus Statement of Society of Abdominal Radiology Disease-Focused Panel on Barium Esophagography in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Objective: The Society of Abdominal Radiology established a panel to prepare a consensus statement on the role of barium esophagography in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as recommended techniques for performing the fluoroscopic examination and the gamut of findings associated with this condition.

Conclusion: Because it is an inexpensive, noninvasive, and widely available study that requires no sedation, barium esophagography may be performed as the initial test for GERD or in conjunction with other tests such as endoscopy.

Barium esophagram: does it have a role in gastroesophageal reflux disease?

The barium esophagram is an integral part of the assessment and management of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) before, and especially after, antireflux procedures. While many of the findings on the examination can be identified with endosocopy, a gastric emptying study and an esophageal motility examination, the barium esophagram is better at demonstrating the anatomic findings after anti-reflux surgery, especially in symptomatic patients. These complementary examinations, when taken as a whole, fully evaluate a patient with suspected GERD as well as symptomatic patients after antireflux procedures.

An efficient algorithm for mapping imaging data to 3D unstructured grids in computational biomechanics.

Geometries for organ scale and multiscale simulations of organ function are now routinely derived from imaging data. However, medical images may also contain spatially heterogeneous information other than geometry that are relevant to such simulations either as initial conditions or in the form of model parameters. In this manuscript, we present an algorithm for the efficient and robust mapping of such data to imaging-based unstructured polyhedral grids in parallel.

Effect of altering automatic exposure control settings and quality reference mAs on radiation dose, image quality, and diagnostic efficacy in MDCT enterography of active inflammatory Crohn's disease.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine whether the MDCT enterography dose can be reduced by changing automatic exposure control (AEC) setting and quality reference milliampere-seconds (mAs) without altering subjective image quality or efficacy in active inflammatory Crohn's disease.

Subjects And Methods: This is a prospective study of 2,310 MDCT enterography procedures performed using 16- and 64-MDCT in three cohorts (original, intermediate, and final dose levels). For 16-MDCT, the original and intermediate dose level quality reference mAs was 200, and weight-based (1 pound [0.

MR imaging of the small bowel.

Cross-sectional imaging techniques are playing an increasing role in the evaluation of suspected small-bowel disorders, and a growing awareness of the risks of ionizing radiation exposure has prompted the exploration of alternative imaging techniques. Advantages of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging include a lack of ionizing radiation, the ability to provide dynamic information regarding bowel distention and motility, improved soft-tissue contrast, and a relatively safe intravenous contrast agent profile. Limitations of MR imaging include cost, imager access, variability in examination quality, and lower spatial and temporal resolution compared with those of computed tomography (CT).

Computed tomography enterography and magnetic resonance enterography: the future of small bowel imaging.

In the last 5 years, computed tomography enterography (CTE) and to a lesser extent magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) have supplanted the routine small bowel series and enteroclysis in the evaluation of many small bowel diseases, especially Crohn's disease. Both CTE and MRE use similar methods of bowel lumen opacification and distension and both have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Both have been most extensively studied in patients with Crohn's disease.

Computer-aided detection of colorectal polyps: can it improve sensitivity of less-experienced readers? Preliminary findings.

Purpose: To determine whether computer-aided detection (CAD) applied to computed tomographic (CT) colonography can help improve sensitivity of polyp detection by less-experienced radiologist readers, with colonoscopy or consensus used as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: The release of the CT colonographic studies was approved by the individual institutional review boards of each institution. Institutions from the United States were HIPAA compliant.

Intravenous iodinated contrast agents: risks and problematic situations.

Many of today's diagnostic imaging studies use intravenous contrast media to adequately evaluate disease processes. Although these agents are generally safe, their use poses some risks and, in some situations, is problematic. The risks include contrast-induced nephropathy.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: integrating the barium esophagram before and after antireflux surgery.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common medical problem in the United States. As a result, laparoscopic antireflux surgery is a common surgical procedure. At the authors' institution, the barium esophagram before and after antireflux surgery is a critical examination in patients with GERD.

Surgical approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease: what the radiologist needs to know.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined as gastroesophageal reflux resulting in symptoms or in injury to the esophageal epithelium. Although the medical management of GERD has improved, an increasing number of laparoscopic antireflux surgical procedures are being performed. Barium studies, endoscopy, manometry, and pH monitoring are all integral components of preoperative evaluation.

Laparoscopic management of congenital seminal vesicle cysts associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis.

Purpose: Congenital cysts of the seminal vesicles associated with ipsilateral renal abnormalities are rare. When they are symptomatic, open surgical excision has been the treatment of choice. We present our experience with laparoscopic management and provide a detailed literature review of this entity.