Recommendations for the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernias using a modified Delphi technique.

Background: Occult inguinal hernias are inguinal hernias that are not felt on physical exam but can often be seen on imaging. Their diagnosis can be challenging, leading to unnecessary surgeon referrals, undue patient stress, and even unneeded surgery. The aim of this project was to develop recommendations for the diagnosis of occult inguinal hernias using a modified Delphi technique.

Correlating computed tomography pulmonary angiography signs of right ventricular strain in pulmonary embolisms to clinical outcomes.

Introduction: Right ventricular strain (RVS) in pulmonary embolism (PE) can be used to stratify risk and direct intervention. The clinical significance of computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA)-derived radiologic signs of RVS, however, remains incompletely characterized. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of persons with acute PE to determine which, if any, findings of RVS on CTPA correlate with clinical outcomes.

Importance of the physical exam: double-blind randomized controlled trial of radiologic interpretation of ventral hernias after selective clinical information.

Purpose: Increasingly, radiologic imaging is obtained as part of the pathway in diagnosing ventral hernias. Often, radiologists receive incomplete or incorrect clinical information from clinicians.

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine if clinical exam findings alter radiological interpretation of ventral hernias on CT.

Computed tomography in ventral hernia diagnosis: have we improved? A quality improvement initiative.

Background: Previous studies suggest that agreement between readers of computed tomography (CT) scans for the diagnosis of a ventral hernia (VH) is poor (32% agreement, κ = 0.21). Recommendations were developed by surgeons and radiologists after determining common reasons for disagreement among CT reviewers; however, the long-term effect of adoption of these recommendations has not been assessed.