Coxa pedis: can calcaneal pronation angle be considered a predictive sign of medial plantar arch overload?

Purpose: To assess whether a correlation between the calcaneal pronation angle and the presence of internal plantar arch overload signs (such as upper-medial spring ligament lesion, posterior tibial tendon tenosynovitis, etc.) could lead to a better understanding of coxa pedis pathology.

Material And Methods: One hundred ankle MRIs of consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed measuring the calcaneal pronation angle and either the presence or absence of internal plantar arch overload signs.

Characterisation of a Silicon Photomultiplier Based Oncological Brachytherapy Fibre Dosimeter.

Source localisation and real-time dose verification are at the forefront of medical research in brachytherapy, an oncological radiotherapy procedure based on radioactive sources implanted in the patient body. The ORIGIN project aims to respond to this medical community's need by targeting the development of a multi-point dose mapping system based on fibre sensors integrating a small volume of scintillating material into the tip and interfaced with silicon photomultipliers operated in counting mode. In this paper, a novel method for the selection of the optimal silicon photomultipliers to be used is presented, as well as a laboratory characterisation based on dosimetric figures of merit.

Postoperative analgesia and early functional recovery after day-case anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized trial on local anesthetic delivery methods for continuous infusion adductor canal block.

Background: This study assessed the effects of different local anesthetic delivery techniques for continuous adductor canal block, after arthroscopic day-case anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods: We enrolled 80 patients to randomly receive a ropivacaine 0.2% infusion 6 mL per hour through an adductor canal catheter by an electronic pump as follow: intermittent automatic bolus (intermittent group, N.

Magnetic resonance imaging in locally advanced rectal cancer: quantitative evaluation of the complete response to neoadjuvant therapy.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the discrimination of complete responder (CR) from the non-complete responder (n-CR) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing chemotherapy and radiation (CRT).

Material And Methods: Between December 2009 and January 2014, 32 patients (33 lesions: one patient had two synchronous lesions) were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients underwent a pre- and post-CRT conventional MRI study completed with DWI.

Ability of specific and nonspecific signs of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the diagnosis of blunt surgically important bowel and mesenteric injuries.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of MDCT in the evaluation of blunt surgically relevant bowel and/or mesenteric injuries (BMIs) using single specific CT signs together with specific pairs of nonspecific signs.

Methods: Fifty-four patients examined with MDCT were divided into two groups: a 'surgical' group of 20 patients-which underwent surgery for blunt BMIs-and a control group of 34 'nonsurgical' trauma patients. Two radiologists with different experience performed a double-blind retrospective evaluation of the images, classifying the patients in the two groups by using only single specific signs; then, the images were reviewed in consensus with a third radiologist and sensitivity and specificity were calculated.

The Evaluation of Aortic Diameter Changes During Long-Term Follow-Up After Endovascular Treatment of Acute Blunt Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injuries.

Purpose: To evaluate the variations in aortic diameters and long-term results in patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injuries (BTTAIs).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 23 patients with a mean age of 39 years (range: 17-74 years) who underwent TEVAR for BTTAI between October 2000 and November 2014. All of the patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) before hospital discharge as a baseline imaging for the subsequent follow-up examinations.

Role of MRI and added value of diffusion-weighted and gadolinium-enhanced MRI for the diagnosis of local recurrence from rectal cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the addition of gadolinium-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) improves T2 sequence performance for the diagnosis of local recurrence (LR) from rectal cancer and to assess which approach is better at formulating this diagnosis among readers with different experience.

Methods: Forty-three patients with suspected LR underwent pelvic MRI with T2 weighted (T2) sequences, gadolinium fat-suppressed T1 weighted sequences (post-contrast T1), and DWI sequences. Three readers (expert: G, intermediate: E, resident: V) scored the likelihood of LR on T2, T2 + post-contrast T1, T2 + DWI, and T2 + post-contrast T1 + DWI.

Point Shear Wave Elastography of the Spleen: Its Role in Patients with Portal Hypertension.

The goals of the study described here were to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of measuring spleen stiffness (SS) using point shear wave elastography in a series of cirrhotic patients and to investigate whether SS, liver stiffness (LS) and other non-invasive parameters are correlated with the presence of esophagogastric varices (EVs). Fifty-four cirrhotic patients with low-grade EVs or without EVs at esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy were enrolled. They underwent abdominal ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound of hepatic vessels simultaneously with p-SWE of the liver and spleen.

A Quantitative Method for the Evaluation of Spatial Resolution in Quality Control of B-mode Ultrasound Images.

The work describes a method to quantitatively evaluate spatial resolution in B-mode quality control images as radial modulation transfer function (MTF). The method is easy to use in in-field quality assurance programs in clinical institutions, as it is fast and can be performed with the help of phantoms that are already used for routine quality control. It uses a round insert with different echogenic characteristics compared with the phantom background.

Nonenhanced MRI Planning for Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Comparison With Contrast-Enhanced CT Angiography.

Background: To assess whether noncontrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (NC-MRI) is an alternative to contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) for aortoiliac measurements before endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: This study encompasses 30 patients admitted for elective EVAR (27 men and 3 women). Two expert readers (vascular radiologist and vascular surgeon) reviewed CTA images in consensus and chose the proper endograft for each patient.

Accuracy of Critical Care Pain Observation Tool and Behavioral Pain Scale to assess pain in critically ill conscious and unconscious patients: prospective, observational study.

Background: Critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) may suffer from different painful stimuli, but the assessment of pain is difficult because most of them are almost sedated and unable to self-report. Thus, it is important to optimize evaluation of pain in these patients. The main aim of this study was to compare two commonly used scales for pain evaluation: Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) and Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS), in both conscious and unconscious patients.

Cone beam computed tomography and its image guidance technology during percutaneous nucleoplasty procedures at L5/S1 lumbar level.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of percutaneous nucleoplasty procedures at L5/S1 level using cone beam CT (CBCT) and its associated image guidance technology for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 25 cases (20 men, 5 women) of LDH at L5/S1 levels. CBCT as guidance imaging was chosen after a first unsuccessful fluoroscopy attempt that was related to complex anatomy (n = 15), rapid pathological changes due to degenerative diseases (n = 7) or both (n = 3).

Factors predicting outcomes of microwave ablation of small hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate factors influencing effectiveness of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (<3 cm).

Materials And Methods: Between December 2007 and August 2015, 49 patients with 65 previously histological typed HCC were treated in a total of 61 sessions. Tumours were subdivided into central (>3 cm from the capsule) (n = 22) and peripheral (<3 cm from the capsule) (n = 43).

Evaluation of tablet ultrasound for routine abdominal interventional procedures.

Aim: The aim of the study was to establish if a novel tablet ultrasound (US) may replace a high-end US machine during routine interventional radiology activities.

Materials And Methods: Thirty consecutive patients were evaluated by two operators comparing the performance of the new US tablet system (VISIQ, Philips Healthcare) against a high-end US system (iU22, Philips Healthcare) using a curved probe (C5-2). A structured questionnaire was used to rank on a 4-point scale the ability of each system to locate a target as detected by previous examinations and visualize needles and path during an interventional procedure.

ON-FIELD EVALUATION OF OPERATOR LENS PROTECTIVE DEVICES IN INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY.

The recent publication of the Euratom Directive 2013/59, adopting the reduction of eye lens dose limits from 150 to 20 mSv y, calls for the development of new tools and methodologies for evaluating the eye lens dose absorbed by the medical staff involved in interventional radiology practices. Moreover, the effectiveness of the protective devices, like leaded glasses, which can be employed for radiation protection purposes, must be tested under typical exposure scenarios. In this work, eye lens dose measurements were carried out on an anthropomorphic phantom simulating a physician bound to perform standard interventional neuroradiology angiographic procedures.

Comparison of cone-beam CT-guided and CT fluoroscopy-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of lung nodules.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of cone-beam CT (CBCT)-guided and CT fluoroscopy (fluoro-CT)-guided technique for transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) of lung nodules.

Methods: The hospital records of 319 consecutive patients undergoing 324 TNBs of lung nodules in a single radiology unit in 2009-2013 were retrospectively evaluated. The newly introduced CBCT technology was used to biopsy 123 nodules; 201 nodules were biopsied by conventional fluoro-CT-guided technique.

The role of endovascular treatment of pelvic fracture bleeding in emergency settings.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of endovascular treatment for controlling haemorrhage in haemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic bone fractures and to relate clinical efficacy to pre-procedural variables.

Materials And Methods: From March 2009 through April 2013, 168 patients with major pelvic trauma associated with high-flow haemorrhage were referred to our emergency department and were retrospectively reviewed. Pelvic arteries involved were one or more per patient.

Ultrasound-guided alcohol injection for Morton's neuroma.

Background: Ultrasonography-guided alcohol injection (USGAI) of Morton's neuroma represents an alternative to operative treatment. Nonetheless, the literature only reports few small studies evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment. The aim of the present retrospective study was to assess the effectiveness of USGAI to treat Morton's neuroma in 508 patients at 2 medical centers.

Non-enhanced MR angiography of renal arteries: comparison with contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

Background: The main causes of renal artery stenosis (RAS) are atherosclerosis and fibromuscular dysplasia. Despite contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) being a safe and reliable method for diagnosis of RAS especially in young individuals, recently it has been possible to adopt innovative technologies that do not require paramagnetic contrast agents.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of steady-state free-precession (SSFP) non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) by using a 1.

Protective mechanical ventilation during general anesthesia for open abdominal surgery improves postoperative pulmonary function.

Background: The impact of intraoperative ventilation on postoperative pulmonary complications is not defined. The authors aimed at determining the effectiveness of protective mechanical ventilation during open abdominal surgery on a modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score as primary outcome and postoperative pulmonary function.

Methods: Prospective randomized, open-label, clinical trial performed in 56 patients scheduled to undergo elective open abdominal surgery lasting more than 2 h.

Slice-thickness evaluation in CT and MRI: an alternative computerised procedure.

Purpose: The efficient use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment necessitates establishing adequate quality-control (QC) procedures. In particular, the accuracy of slice thickness (ST) requires scan exploration of phantoms containing test objects (plane, cone or spiral). To simplify such procedures, a novel phantom and a computerised LabView-based procedure have been devised, enabling determination of full width at half maximum (FWHM) in real time.

Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation of the knee: mid-term and long-term follow-up by MR arthrography.

Objective: To define magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography imaging findings of matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) grafts of the knee in order to describe implant behaviour and to compare findings with validated clinical scores 30 and 60 months after MACI implant.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen patients were recruited (10 male, 3 female) with a total number of 15 chondral lesions. Each patient underwent an MACI procedure and MR arthrography 30 and 60 months after surgery.

In vitro evaluation of an active heat-and-moisture exchanger: the Hygrovent Gold.

Background: To improve the heat and humidification that can be achieved with a heat-and-moisture exchanger (HME), a hybrid active (ie, adds heat and water) HME, the Hygrovent Gold, was developed. We evaluated in vitro the performance of the Hygrovent Gold.

Methods: We tested the Hygrovent Gold (with and without its supplemental heat and moisture options activated), the Hygrobac, and the Hygrovent S.

Bcl-6 protein expression, and not the germinal centre immunophenotype, predicts favourable prognosis in a series of primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas: a single centre experience.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disease. The immunohistochemistry-based algorithms for the determination of the cell of origin of DLBCL have been proposed as a practical method to validate and surrogate results obtained by gene expression profiling. We studied 71 patients with primary nodal DLBCL at diagnosis, who received anthracycline-based therapy with or without rituximab.