Quality of chest radiograph reports.

Background: Examination requests and imaging reports are the most important communication instruments between clinicians and radiologists. An accurate and clear report helps referring physicians make care decisions for their patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the contents of initial and re-reported chest reports, assess the inter-observer agreement, and evaluate the clarity of the report contents from the viewpoint of the referring physicians.

Lung and pleural CT signs predict deaths: 10-year follow-up after lung cancer screening of asbestos-exposed workers.

Purpose: To work out the predictive value of pathological (HR)CT signs concerning long-term mortality among those screened for lung cancer.

Methods: Five hundred and eighty four construction workers (574 males, 10 females) were originally screened for lung cancer and found negative. Their images were also scored for several lung and pleural signs.

Clinical audits and regulatory inspections--double efforts and expenses for radiation protection?

Background: Clinical audit as a systematic examination of medical procedures improves the quality and outcome of patient care. The purpose of a regulatory inspection is to check and verify that the operation and facilities are in full conformance with all legal requirements.

Purpose: To examine the content of the clinical audits and regulatory inspections of radiological procedures and whether these overlap, and to evaluate the costs to radiological units.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis: outcome of patients undergoing restorative proctocolecetomy for ulcerative colitis.

Purpose: The prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) among patients with ulcerative colitis needing proctocolectomy is about 12%. The study aim was to evaluate the progression of the liver disease after surgery.

Methods: PSC progression in 68 patients with UC after restorative proctocolectomy was evaluated after a median follow-up of 11 years (range 0 to 21).

Reliability of the proposed international classification of high-resolution computed tomography for occupational and environmental respiratory diseases.

Purpose: We have developed a classification of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images for screening, surveillance and epidemiological studies of respiratory diseases caused by occupational and environmental factors. The proposed classification consists of three parts: a guideline explaining the elements of the classification scheme, a reading sheet, and reference films to aid in assessing thin-section CT films. We assessed the reliability of the proposed classification system by blinded, independent trial reading.

Association of findings in flow-volume spirometry with high-resolution computed tomography signs in asbestos-exposed male workers.

Introduction: Disorders of pulmonary tissue and pleura are visualized by findings in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and the impairment caused by these findings is assessed by pulmonary function tests. Our aim was to determine how some commonly used spirometric variables are related to certain HRCT signs, in order to find out which HRCT signs are associated with restrictive and which with obstructive ventilatory impairment.

Methods: Altogether 590 asbestos-exposed workers, 95% of whom were smokers or ex-smokers, were studied with HRCT; 19 pathological signs were scored.

Atherosclerotic and pleural calcifications are related among asbestos-exposed workers.

Methods: We studied the relationship between calcified chest atherosclerosis and pleural plaques among 505 construction workers with computed tomography. The extent and thickness of pleural plaques and the score of visceral pleural thickening were estimated, as was calcification of both pleural disease and chest atherosclerosis.

Results: Adjusted for age, BMI, smoking, and asbestos exposure, pleural calcification was associated with calcification in coronary arteries (P<0.

Season of birth and lung fibrosis among workers exposed to asbestos.

The season of birth has been suggested to influence the development of some diseases, but its role in lung fibrosis seems to not have been studied previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the season of birth and fibrotic abnormalities as detected radiologically in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) among workers exposed to asbestos. The HRCT examination was performed on 528 study subjects.

Utility of computed tomographic colonography in surveillance for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome.

Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is suggested to be an alternative to colonoscopy as a surveillance tool in subjects with a high risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). To evaluate the utility of CTC we successively examined 78 subjects, all with a DNA mismatch repair gene mutation, by CTC and colonoscopy. We detected altogether 37 polyps or tumors in 28 subjects (prevalence 35.

Impairment of lung function in asbestos-exposed workers in relation to high-resolution computed tomography.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the causes of impairment of ventilatory function and diffusing capacity in smoking asbestos-exposed workers (N=590) showing radiological pleural thickenings or pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and spirometry were performed, and diffusing capacity was measured. The workers were divided into five groups based on the HRCT scoring: pleural disease (N=190), pulmonary fibrosis (N=68), emphysema (N=148), combined fibrosis and emphysema (N=74), and marked adhesions (N=110).

Phase I-II trial of twice-weekly gemcitabine and concomitant irradiation in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: Define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), tolerability, and efficacy of gemcitabine given concomitantly with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methods And Materials: Patients were required to have locally advanced T1-T3 resectable pancreatic cancer. Gemcitabine, given twice weekly before irradiation as a 30-min infusion, was tested at 3 dose levels: 20, 50, and 100 mg/m(2).

Emphysema findings associated with heavy asbestos-exposure in high resolution computed tomography of finnish construction workers.

Asbestos fibers are known to cause lung fibrosis, but their role in emphysema is unclear. We wanted to evaluate the relationship between asbestos exposure and emphysema by using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Conventional and high resolution CT was performed on 600 smoking construction workers with an asbestos-related occupational disease.

Stress reaction in the carpal bones caused by breakdancing.

Stress reactions in the bones of the lower extremities are a common finding on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The primary finding in the bone marrow is nonspecific edema without any visible fracture line that may even mimic tumor or infection. Continuing stress may eventually lead to a stress fracture.

Anal incontinence: diagnosis by endoanal US or endovaginal MRI.

Preoperative evaluation was made of the diagnostic value of endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) and endovaginal magnetic resonance imaging (EVMRI) in diagnosing anal sphincter defects as the cause of anal incontinence. Nineteen female individuals with anal incontinence were examined clinically with EAUS and with EVMRI at 1.5 T using a prostatic coil.

Localization of local anesthetic solution by magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of local anesthetic solution by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after combined peribulbar and retrobulbar, superomedial retrobulbar, and sub-Tenon's injection in relation to clinical akinesia.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Participants: Fifteen patients scheduled for cataract surgery, 5 patients in each group.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver: true fast imaging with steady state free precession sequence facilitates rapid and reliable distinction between hepatic hemangiomas and liver malignancies.

Objective: To assess the capability of the true fast imaging with steady state free precession (true FISP) sequence in the distinction between hemangiomas and malignant liver lesions.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with 45 hemangiomas and 51 liver malignancies were included in this study. A 1.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of luminal patency after polylactide stent implantation: an experimental study in a rabbit aorta model.

Intravascular metallic stents cause magnetic field distortions, disturbing luminal detection. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of polylactic acid (PLA) stents on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Biodegradable double spiral helical PLA stents ( n=12) or stainless steel (SS) ( n=6) stents were implanted into the infrarenal aortas of New Zealand White rabbits.

Hyperandrogenism in girls with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Acne and hirsutism are common findings in girls with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL). A study on their hormonal status was conducted to investigate the mechanisms underlying these symptoms. Sixteen girls with JNCL entered the study.

MRI in the assessment of growth arrest.

Objective: To compare MRI with X-ray tomography in the assessment of bone bridges across the growth plate.

Materials And Methods: The investigation consisted of two parts. (1) Eleven children with 13 epiphyses suspected of physeal growth arrests were examined with conventional X-ray tomography and MRI.

Computed tomography screening for lung cancer in asbestos-exposed workers.

We conducted a computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer in a high-risk population. Six hundred and two workers (38-81 years, 97% smokers) with asbestos-related occupational disease were screened using spiral CT and chest radiography. The national cancer registry was checked for possible false negative cases.