Coronary computed tomography angiography at 140 kV versus 120 kV: assessment of image quality and radiation exposure in overweight and moderately obese patients.

Background: Although a tube potential of 140 kV is available on most computed tomography (CT) scanners, its incremental diagnostic value versus 120 kV has been controversial.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the image quality and radiation exposure of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) performed at 140 kV in comparison to CCTA at 120 kV in overweight and moderately obese patients.

Material And Methods: Eighty-eight patients who were referred for CCTA between January 2010 and May 2012 were included.

Feasibility of aortic valve assessment with low dose prospectively triggered adaptive systolic (PTAS) cardiac computed tomography angiography.

Background: Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) is feasible for aortic valve evaluation, but retrospective gated protocols required high radiation doses for aortic valve assessment. A prospectively triggered adaptive systolic (PTAS) cardiac CT protocol was recently described in arrhythmia using second-generation dual-source CT. In this study, we sought to evaluate the feasibility of PTAS CTA to assess the aortic valve at a low radiation dose.

The prevalence of symptomatic and coincidental pulmonary embolism on computed tomography.

Purpose: To investigate the proportion of pulmonary embolism (PE) on computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and the proportion of coincidental PE on regular contrast-enhanced CT in oncological and nononcological patients.

Methods: This study received internal review board approval and was Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant. All consecutive adult patients who had contrast-enhanced chest CT or dedicated CTPA during January 2005 were studied.

Comparison of percutaneous and surgical approaches to renal tumor ablation: metaanalysis of effectiveness and complication rates.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness and complication rates of ablation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) performed with a percutaneous approach versus a surgical approach.

Materials And Methods: A search performed on PubMed identified series of renal tumor ablations. Keywords searched included "radiofrequency" (RF), "cryoablation", "cryosurgery", "cryotherapy", "ablation", "renal", "kidney", and "RCC".

Gas distribution in intraabdominal and pelvic abscesses on CT is associated with drainability.

Objective: Intraabdominal and pelvic abscesses are treated by percutaneous image-guided drainage, under sedation or general anesthesia. This study attempts to determine if the CT features of gas distribution are associated with "drainability." Our premise was that gas may be trapped deep in a collection as bubbles, if the material is thick.