[CT strategy for patients with suspected acute appendicitis; comparison of conditional and immediate CT].

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of conditional CT strategy, i.e. CT if ultrasound findings are negative or inconclusive, with immediate CT strategy for patients with suspected appendicitis.

Feasibility study of needle placement in percutaneous vertebroplasty: cone-beam computed tomography guidance versus conventional fluoroscopy.

Objective: To investigate the accuracy, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and dose area product (DAP) of needle placement during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) guidance versus fluoroscopy.

Materials And Methods: On 4 spine phantoms with 11 vertebrae (Th7-L5), 4 interventional radiologists (2 experienced with CBCT guidance and two inexperienced) punctured all vertebrae in a bipedicular fashion. Each side was randomization to either CBCT guidance or fluoroscopy.

The effects of dynamic isolated lumbar extensor training on lumbar multifidus functional cross-sectional area and functional status of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Study Design: A prospective single-arm trial.

Objective: To investigate whether dynamic isolated resistance training of global lumbar extensor muscles leads to changes in lumbar multifidus (LM) morphology in terms of cross-sectional muscle, and, if so, whether these changes are associated with observed changes in self-experienced functional status of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP).

Summary Of Background Data: LM morphology is associated with the recurrence of CNSLBP.

3D cone-beam CT guidance, a novel technique in renal biopsy--results in 41 patients with suspected renal masses.

Objective: To determine whether 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) guidance allows safe and accurate biopsy of suspected small renal masses (SRM), especially in hard-to-reach anatomical locations.

Materials And Methods: CBCT guidance was used to perform 41 stereotactic biopsy procedures of lesions that were inaccessible for ultrasound guidance or CT guidance. In CBCT guidance, a 3D-volume data set is acquired by rotating a C-arm flat-panel detector angiosystem around the patient.

Pulmonary masses: initial results of cone-beam CT guidance with needle planning software for percutaneous lung biopsy.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of percutaneous lung biopsy (PLB) findings using cone-beam computed tomographic (CT) guidance (CBCT guidance) and compared to conventional biopsy guidance techniques.

Methods: CBCT guidance is a stereotactic technique for needle interventions, combining 3D soft-tissue cone-beam CT, needle planning software, and real-time fluoroscopy. Between March 2007 and August 2010, we performed 84 Tru-Cut PLBs, where bronchoscopy did not provide histopathologic diagnosis.

Effective dose during needle interventions: cone-beam CT guidance compared with conventional CT guidance.

Purpose: To determine effective radiation dose to patients during needle interventions with cone-beam computed tomography (CT) guidance and compare it with the dose during conventional CT-guided interventions.

Materials And Methods: Cone-beam CT guidance is a recently developed technique with image acquisition on a flat-panel detector digital angiography system. It is based on a combination of acquired three-dimensional soft-tissue cone-beam CT, dedicated needle trajectory software, and fluoroscopy, providing stereotactic needle guidance.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showing complete resolution of subendocardial involvement in Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Churg-Strauss syndrome or allergic angiitis and granulomatosis is a rare systemic vasculitis. Cardiac involvement is the leading cause of mortality and includes eosinophilic endomyocarditis. We present a case of complete resolution of subendocardial involvement after high-dose corticosteroids, diagnosed by contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Imaging strategies for detection of urgent conditions in patients with acute abdominal pain: diagnostic accuracy study.

Objective: To identify an optimal imaging strategy for the accurate detection of urgent conditions in patients with acute abdominal pain.

Design: Fully paired multicentre diagnostic accuracy study with prospective data collection.

Setting: Emergency departments of two university hospitals and four large teaching hospitals in the Netherlands.

Digital chest imaging: selenium radiography versus storage phosphor imaging. Comparison of visualization of specific anatomic regions of the chest.

Rationale And Objectives: To compare selenium- versus phosphor-based digital chest imaging for visualization of various anatomic regions of the chest.

Methods: Thirteen observers analyzed pairs of posteroanterior (PA) and lateral chest radiographs of 63 patients. One radiograph in each pair was obtained with a digital selenium chest radiography system, and the other with a storage phosphor-based technique.