Dealing with digital paralysis: Surviving a cyberattack in a National Cancer center.

Introduction: Cyberattacks represent a growing threat for healthcare delivery globally. We assess the impact and implications of a cyberattack on a cancer center in Ireland.

Methods: On May 14th 2021 (day 0) Cork University Hospital (CUH) Cancer Center was involved in the first national healthcare ransomware attack in Ireland.

Body Composition, Inflammation, and 5-Year Outcomes in Colon Cancer.

Importance: Obesity, particularly visceral obesity and sarcopenia, are poor prognostic indicators in colon cancer.

Objectives: To explore the association between body composition profiles and 5-year colon cancer outcomes and delineate the associated underlying inflammatory processes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter translational cohort study included patients with nonmetastatic colon cancer who did not have underlying chronic inflammatory disorders and were not receiving anti-inflammatory drugs referred to tertiary cancer centers from 2009 to 2015.

A comparison of embalming fluids on the structures and properties of tissue in human cadavers.

Cadaveric material has long been used to teach anatomy and more recently to train students in clinical skills. The aim of this study was to develop a systematic approach to compare the impact of four embalming solutions on the tissues of human cadavers. To this end, a formalin-based solution, Thiel, Genelyn and Imperial College London soft-preservation (ICL-SP) solution were compared.

Low-dose CT imaging of the acute abdomen using model-based iterative reconstruction: a prospective study.

Objectives: Performance of a modified abdominopelvic CT protocol reconstructed using full iterative reconstruction (IR) was assessed for imaging patients presenting with acute abdominal symptoms.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-seven patients (17 male, 40 female; mean age of 56.5 ± 8 years) were prospectively studied.

Sarcopenia and Post-Operative Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Purpose: Surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma is associated with significant post-operative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic significance of sarcopenia in patients undergoing resection for gastric adenocarcinoma with respect to post-operative morbidity and survival.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2008 and 2014.

Determination of a suitable low-dose abdominopelvic CT protocol using model-based iterative reconstruction through cadaveric study.

Introduction: Cadaveric studies provide a means of safely assessing new technologies and optimizing scanning prior to clinical validation. Reducing radiation exposure in a clinical setting can entail incremental dose reductions to avoid missing important clinical findings. The use of cadavers allows assessment of the impact of more substantial dose reductions on image quality.

An Assessment of the Quality of CT Radiation Dose Information on the Internet.

Objectives: Our goal was to ascertain the quality of health information related to CT radiation exposure using a simulated Internet search and from incident information that may be available during day-to-day Internet usage.

Methods: We entered 14 terms relating to information on CT dose into the most commonly used Internet search engine and analyzed the first 100 web page results for each. A Rich Search Site (RSS) feed search was also used to evaluate incidental information over a 12-week period in 2014.

Body composition determinants of radiation dose during abdominopelvic CT.

Objectives: We designed a prospective study to investigate the in-vivo relationship between abdominal body composition and radiation exposure to determine the strongest body composition predictor of dose length product (DLP) at CT.

Methods: Following institutional review board approval, quantitative analysis was performed prospectively on 239 consecutive patients who underwent abdominopelvic CT. DLP, BMI, volumes of abdominal adipose tissue, muscle, bone and solid organs were recorded.

CORK Study in Cystic Fibrosis: Sustained Improvements in Ultra-Low-Dose Chest CT Scores After CFTR Modulation With Ivacaftor.

Background: Ivacaftor produces significant clinical benefit in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with the G551D mutation. Prevalence of this mutation at the Cork CF Centre is 23%. This study assessed the impact of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulation on multiple modalities of patient assessment.

C-reactive protein and radiographic findings of lower respiratory tract infection in infants.

Aim: To evaluate the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) and radiological evidence of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants.

Methods: All patients aged less than 4 years who presented with suspected lower respiratory tract infection, who received a peri-presentation chest radiograph and CRP blood measurement over an 18-mo period were included in the study. Age, gender, source of referral, CRP, white cell count, neutrophil count along with the patients' symptoms and radiologist's report were recorded.

The impact of body composition parameters on ipilimumab toxicity and survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Background: Body composition is an important predictor of drug toxicity and outcome. Ipilimumab (Ipi), a monoclonal antibody used to treat metastatic melanoma, has specific toxicities. No validated biomarkers that predict Ipi toxicity and efficacy exist.

Computed tomography and patient risk: Facts, perceptions and uncertainties.

Since its introduction in the 1970s, computed tomography (CT) has revolutionized diagnostic decision-making. One of the major concerns associated with the widespread use of CT is the associated increased radiation exposure incurred by patients. The link between ionizing radiation and the subsequent development of neoplasia has been largely based on extrapolating data from studies of survivors of the atomic bombs dropped in Japan in 1945 and on assessments of the increased relative risk of neoplasia in those occupationally exposed to radiation within the nuclear industry.

Accurate tissue characterization in low-dose CT imaging with pure iterative reconstruction.

Introduction: We assess the ability of low-dose hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) and 'pure' model-based IR (MBIR) images to maintain accurate Hounsfield unit (HU)-determined tissue characterization.

Methods: Standard-protocol (SP) and low-dose modified-protocol (MP) CTs were contemporaneously acquired in 34 Crohn's disease patients referred for CT. SP image reconstruction was via the manufacturer's recommendations (60% FBP, filtered back projection; 40% ASiR, Adaptive Statistical iterative Reconstruction; SP-ASiR40).

Effects of oral contrast on dose in abdominopelvic computed tomography with pure iterative reconstruction.

Aim: To assess the effect of neutral (NC) and positive (PC) oral contrast use on patient dose in low-dose abdominal computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Low-dose clinically indicated CTs were performed on 79 Crohn's patients (35 = PC, 1 L 2% gastrografin; 44 = NC, 1.5 L polyethylene glycol).

Low-Dose Carotid Computed Tomography Angiography Using Pure Iterative Reconstruction.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess if a low-dose carotid computed tomography angiography (CTA) performed with pure iterative reconstruction (IR) is comparable to a conventional dose CTA protocol.

Methods: Twenty patients were included. Radiation dose was divided into a low-dose acquisition reconstructed with pure IR and a conventional dose acquisition reconstructed with 40% hybrid IR.

Cumulative radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging in intensive care unit patients.

Aim: To quantify cumulative effective dose of intensive care unit (ICU) patients attributable to diagnostic imaging.

Methods: This was a prospective, interdisciplinary study conducted in the ICU of a large tertiary referral and level 1 trauma center. Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, date of ICU admission, primary reason for ICU admission, APACHE II score, length of stay, number of days intubated, date of death or discharge, and re-admission data was collected on all patients admitted over a 1-year period.

Computed tomography dose optimisation in cystic fibrosis: A review.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease of the Caucasian population worldwide, with respiratory disease remaining the most relevant source of morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography (CT) is frequently used for monitoring disease complications and progression. Over the last fifteen years there has been a six-fold increase in the use of CT, which has lead to a growing concern in relation to cumulative radiation exposure.

Pure Iterative Reconstruction Improves Image Quality in Computed Tomography of the Abdomen and Pelvis Acquired at Substantially Reduced Radiation Doses in Patients With Active Crohn Disease.

Unlabelled: We assessed diagnostic accuracy and image quality of modified protocol (MP) computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis reconstructed using pure iterative reconstruction (IR) in patients with Crohn disease (CD).

Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients with CD were referred with suspected extramural complications. Two contemporaneous CT datasets were acquired in all patients: standard protocol (SP) and MP.

Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction in CT Enterography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance of pure model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in low-dose CT enterography.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-four patients with Crohn disease referred for CT enterography were included. Low-dose modified-protocol and conventional-protocol CT datasets were contemporaneously acquired.

Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in Connective Tissue Disease related Interstitial Lung Disease.

Background: Pulmonary complications of connective tissue disease are being identified more frequently with the advent of more sophisticated radiological investigations. Limited previous studies have suggested Rituximab (RTX), a chimeric monoclonal antibody with activity against CD-20, may benefit connective tissue disease patients with pulmonary complications. We performed a retrospective analysis of the efficacy and safety of RTX in patients attending a tertiary referral centre.

Comparison of MRI and high-resolution transvaginal sonography for the local staging of cervical cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography (TVS) with that of MRI in the local staging of cervical cancer.

Methods: All consecutive patients diagnosed with invasive carcinoma of the cervix over a 3-year period underwent MRI of the pelvis and TVS according to a standardized protocol.

Results: In total, 46 patients were recruited to the study.

Optimizing parameters of an open-source airway segmentation algorithm using different CT images.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) helps physicians locate and diagnose pathological conditions. In some conditions, having an airway segmentation method which facilitates reconstruction of the airway from chest CT images can help hugely in the assessment of lung diseases. Many efforts have been made to develop airway segmentation algorithms, but methods are usually not optimized to be reliable across different CT scan parameters.

Imaging of Ischemia, Obstruction and Infection in the Abdomen.

Intestinal ischemia is a serious condition that continues to be associated with mortalities in excess of 70%. Intestinal obstruction and gastrointestinal tract sepsis are common conditions, accounting for a large proportion of patients admitted to emergency departments with acute abdominal symptoms. This article discusses the imaging methods and key findings of these entities in the emergency radiology department.

Medical student perceptions of radiology use in anatomy teaching.

The use of radiology in the teaching of anatomy to medical students is gaining in popularity; however, there is wide variation in how and when radiology is introduced into the curriculum. The authors sought to investigate students' perceptions regarding methods used to depict and teach anatomy and effects of integrated radiology instruction on students' abilities to correctly identify imaging modalities and anatomical structures on radiological images. First-year medical students completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the first academic year that incorporated ten hours of radiologic anatomy teaching in the anatomy curriculum.

The role of pure iterative reconstruction in conventional dose CT enterography.

Purpose: Pure iterative reconstruction (Pure IR) has been proposed as a solution to improve diagnostic quality of low dose CT images. We assess the performance of model based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in improving conventional dose CT enterography (CTE) images.

Methods: 43 Crohn's patients (27 female) (38.