Organized Sources Are Spatially Conserved in Recurrent Compared to Pre-Ablation Atrial Fibrillation: Further Evidence for Non-Random Electrical Substrates.

Introduction: Recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablation is associated with reconnection of initially isolated pulmonary vein (PV) trigger sites. Substrates are often targeted in addition to PVI, but it is unclear how substrates progress over time. We studied if substrates in recurrent AF are conserved or have developed de novo from pre-ablation AF.

Computerized tomographic colonography: performance evaluation in a retrospective multicenter setting.

Background & Aims: No multicenter study has been reported evaluating the performance and interobserver variability of computerized tomographic colonography. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of computerized tomographic colonography for detecting clinically important colorectal neoplasia (polyps >or=10 mm in diameter) in a multi-institutional study.

Methods: A retrospective study was developed from 341 patients who had computerized tomographic colonography and colonoscopy among 8 medical centers.

Orbital, thyroid, and breast superficial radiation shielding for patients undergoing diagnostic CT.

Computed tomography (CT) now provides over 30% of all radiation received from medical imaging. Superficial radiosensitive organs, such as the thyroid, eyes, and breasts receive a greater proportion of this radiation because of increase scatter and the lack of overlying other tissues to partially absorb some of the dose. This article describes the use of bismuth radioprotective garments to shield these radiosensitive areas while preserving the overall quality of the diagnostic image.

Erdheim-Chester disease.

Background: Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.

Objective: This case report is presented to familiarize clinicians with Erdheim-Chester disease and its differential diagnosis.

Results And Conclusion: Erdheim-Chester disease presents with unique clinical and pathologic findings.

Correlation between presumed sinusitis-induced pain and paranasal sinus computed tomographic findings.

Background: The correlation between facial and/or head pain in patients clinically suspected of having sinusitis and actual localized findings on sinus computed tomographic (CT) imaging are poorly understood.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the relationship of paranasal sinus pain symptoms with CT imaging.

Methods: Two hundred consecutive patients referred by otolaryngologists and internists for CT of the paranasal sinuses participated by completing a questionnaire immediately before undergoing CT.

Comparison of electron-beam and ungated helical CT in detecting coronary arterial calcification by using a working heart phantom and artificial coronary arteries.

Purpose: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of cardiac gated electron-beam computed tomography (CT) and ungated helical CT in detecting and quantifying coronary arterial calcification (CAC) by using a working heart phantom and artificial coronary arteries.

Materials And Methods: A working heart phantom simulating normal cardiac motion and providing attenuation equal to that of an adult thorax was used. Thirty tubes with a 3-mm inner diameter were internally coated with pulverized human cortical bone mixed with epoxy glue to simulate minimal (n = 10), mild (n = 10), or severe (n = 10) calcified plaques.