Patients' Radiation Exposure During Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background: To investigate associations between patient characteristics, intraprocedural complexity factors, and radiation exposure to patients during endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: Elective standard EVAR procedures between January 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics and intraprocedural data (i.

Radiation Exposure and Surgical Outcomes after Antegrade Sclerotherapy for the Treatment of Varicocele in the Paediatric Population: A Single Centre Experience.

Introduction: Antegrade sclerotherapy (Tauber) effectively treats varicocele. However, fluoroscopy exposes young males to ionizing radiation. We aimed to evaluate radiation exposure and surgical outcomes after the Tauber procedure.

Screening of women with aesthetic prostheses in dedicated sessions of a population-based breast cancer screening programme.

Background: Women with aesthetic prostheses must be included in the target population of mammography screening programmes. Breast implants are radiopaque and partially obscure the breast tissue. This can be avoided with the use of the Eklund technique, which causes an increased radiation exposure.

Italian inter-society expert panel position on radiological exposure in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Background: In the recent years, clinical progress and better medical assistance for pregnant women, together with the introduction of new complex technologies, has improved the survival of preterm infants. However, this result requires frequent radiological investigations mostly represented by thoracic and abdominal radiographs in incubators. This document was elaborated by an expert panel Italian inter-society working group (Radiologists, Paediatricians, Medical Physicists) with the aim to assist healthcare practitioners in taking choices involving radiation exposures of new-born infants and to provide practical recommendations about justification and optimization in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Clinical Comparison of Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy with Vacuum Cleaner Effect or with a Vacuum-Assisted Access Sheath: A Single-Center Experience.

To compare outcomes of two different miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) techniques: minimally invasive PCNL (MIP) with the vacuum cleaner effect and vacuum-assisted mini-PCNL (vmPCNL). Data from 104 (66.7%) patients who underwent vmPCNL and 52 (33.

Prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization for the management of major placenta previa.

Purpose: Placenta previa is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, associated to a high risk of peripartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy. We aimed to verify if prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization in patients with placenta previa and at least one additional risk of bleeding (major placenta previa), can reduce hemorrhage, need for blood transfusions, peripartum hysterectomy and maternal morbidity.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 76 patients with major placenta previa; a specific multidisciplinary protocol was designed for management, including ultrasound evaluation, hospitalization at 34 weeks, antenatal corticosteroids and scheduled cesarean section at 35-36 weeks.

Local Diagnostic Reference Levels in Interventional Radiology.

Purpose: Interventional cardiology procedures, during which live images are acquired, involve exposure to x-rays. The use of fluoroscopy can cause high radiation doses to patients and operators because of the prolonged duration of x-ray emission. For this reason, special attention and constant vigilance represent challenges for commissions and groups of experts in the field.

Analysis of a multicentre cloud-based CT dosimetric database: preliminary results.

Background: To manage and analyse dosimetric data provided by computed tomography (CT) scanners from four Italian hospitals.

Methods: A radiation dose index monitoring (RDIM) software was used to collect anonymised exams stored in a cloud server. Since hospitals use different names for the same procedure, digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) tags more appropriate to describe exams were selected and associated to study common names (SCNs) from a radiology playbook according to scan region and use of contrast media.

Impact of Surgical Experience on Radiation Exposure during Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Propensity-Score Matching Analysis.

Background: The impact of surgical experience on radiation exposure (RE) during endourological procedures has been poorly investigated.

Objective: To assess the impact of surgical experience on fluoroscopy time (FT) and RE during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS).

Design, Setting, And Participants: The study included 140 patients who underwent RIRS performed either by a senior surgeon (expertise of >100 RIRSs) (group A) or by two junior residents (expertise of <15 RIRSs) (group B) between January 2016 and May 2018.

Flat-panel CT versus 128-slice CT in temporal bone imaging: Assessment of image quality and radiation dose.

Objective: We compared the image quality and radiation dose of flat-panel CT (FPCT) and multi-slice CT (MSCT) performed respectively with an angiographic unit and a 128-slice CT scanner. We investigated whether the higher spatial resolution of FPCT translated into higher image quality and we sought to eliminate inter-subject variability by scanning temporal bone specimens with both techniques.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen temporal bone specimens were imaged with FPCT and MSCT.

Quantification of scatter radiation from radiographic procedures in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: In a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), preterm infants are often exposed to a large number of radiographic examinations, which could cause adjacent neonates, family caregivers and staff members to be exposed to a dose amount due to scatter radiation.

Objective: To provide information on scatter radiation exposure levels in a NICU, to compare these values with the effective dose limits established by the European Union and to evaluate the effectiveness of radiation protection devices in this setting.

Materials And Methods: Radiation exposure levels due to scatter radiation were estimated by passive detectors (thermoluminescent dosimeters) and direct dosimetric measurements (with a dose rate meter); in the latter case, an angular map of the scatter dose distribution was achieved.

Unindicated multiphase CT scans in non-traumatic abdominal emergencies for women of reproductive age: a significant source of unnecessary exposure.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of unindicated CT phases and the resultant excess of absorbed radiation doses to the uterus and ovaries in women of reproductive age who have undergone CT for non-traumatic abdomino-pelvic emergencies.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed all abdomino-pelvic CT examinations in women of reproductive age (40 years or less), between 1 June 2012 and 31 January 2015. We evaluated the appropriateness of each CT phase on the basis of clinical indications, according to ACR appropriateness criteria and evidence-based data from the literature.