Dual-Source Computed Tomography of the Chest in Blunt Thoracic Trauma: Reduced Aortic Motion Using a Novel Temporal Resolution Optimization Method.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of temporal resolution optimization (TR-Opt), a computed tomography (CT) postprocessing technique, in reducing aortic motion artifacts in blunt thoracic trauma patients.

Materials And Methods: This was an IRB-approved study of 61 patients with blunt thoracic trauma carried out between February 18 and September 6, 2014; the patients had been imaged using a standardized dual-source high-pitch (DSHP) CT protocol. Image raw data were retrospectively postprocessed using the TR-Opt algorithm (DSHP-TR-Opt) and compared with conventional images (DSHP).

CCTA in patients with positive troponin and low clinical suspicion for ACS: a useful diagnostic option to exclude obstructive CAD.

Purpose: It is uncertain whether patients with elevated troponin and non-classical presentation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) should receive coronary CT angiography (CCTA). A proportion of these patients will have no coronary artery disease (CAD) and would benefit from non-invasive investigations and expedited discharge. Objectives were to determine most common diagnoses and rate of ACS among patients with positive troponin and low clinical suspicion of ACS who received CCTA.

Dual-Energy CT in Evaluation of the Acute Abdomen.

Evaluation of the nontraumatic acute abdomen with multidetector CT has long been accepted and validated as the reference standard in the acute setting. Dual-energy CT has emerged as a promising tool, with multiple clinical applications in abdominal imaging already demonstrated. With its ability to allow characterization of materials on the basis of their differential attenuation when imaged at two different energy levels, dual-energy CT can help identify the composition of internal body constituents.

Evaluation of the proximal coronary arteries in suspected pulmonary embolism: diagnostic images in 51% of patients using non-gated, dual-source CT pulmonary angiography.

Purpose: This retrospective study reports the frequency and severity of coronary artery motion on dual-source high-pitch (DSHP), conventional pitch single-source (SS), and dual-source dual-energy (DE) CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) studies.

Methods: Two hundred eighty-eight consecutive patients underwent CTPA scans for suspected pulmonary embolism between September 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014. One hundred ninety-four at DSHP scans, 57 SS scans, and 37 DE scans were analyzed.

Low-Dose Computed Tomography for the Optimization of Radiation Dose Exposure in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the mainstay method for the radiological imaging of the small bowel in patients with inflammatory bowel disease without the use of ionizing radiation. There are circumstances where imaging using ionizing radiation is required, particularly in the acute setting. This usually takes the form of computed tomography (CT).

Virtual monoenergetic reconstruction of contrast-enhanced CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis at 40 keV improves the detection of peritoneal metastatic deposits.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) in the detection of peritoneal metastatic disease in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis and to compare this technique to the conventional 120 kV mixed dataset.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained with no informed consent required for this retrospective analysis. 43 consecutive patients with histopathologically confirmed peritoneal disease were scanned using a standard protocol on a 128-section dual-source, dual-energy CT system (100/140 keV).

Top 50 Highly Cited Articles on Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) in Abdominal Radiology: A Bibliometric Analysis.

This study aims to identify the 50 most highly cited articles on dual energy computed tomography (DECT) in abdominal radiology Thomson Reuters Web of Science All Databases was queried without year or language restriction. Only original research articles with a primary focus on abdominal radiology using DECT were selected. Review articles, meta-analyses, and studies without human subjects were excluded.

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.

Epiploic appendagitis: 7-year experience and relationship with visceral obesity.

Purpose: Location, size, and local inflammatory findings in primary epiploic appendagitis (EA) have not been reported outside of small studies. The association between EA and increased adiposity is controversial. The goals of this project are to compare demographics and imaging-based measurements of adiposity between patients with EA and patients with acute abdomen without EA, and to identify CT features of EA.

Detection of Bone Marrow Edema in Nondisplaced Hip Fractures: Utility of a Virtual Noncalcium Dual-Energy CT Application.

Purpose To quantify the sensitivity and specificity of dual-energy computed tomographic (CT) virtual noncalcium images in the detection of nondisplaced hip fractures and to assess whether obtaining these images as a complement to bone reconstructions alters sensitivity, specificity, or diagnostic confidence. Materials and Methods The clinical research ethics board approved chart review, and the requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. The authors retrospectively identified 118 patients who presented to a level 1 trauma center emergency department and who underwent dual-energy CT for suspicion of a nondisplaced traumatic hip fracture.

CT of the head for acute stroke: Diagnostic performance of a tablet computer prior to intravenous thrombolysis.

Introduction: The authors propose that tablet computers could benefit patients with acute stroke in the remote care setting, where time to and accuracy of CT interpretation greatly influences patient outcome.

Methods: One hundred and fifty consecutive patients who presented to the Emergency Department of a tertiary referral neurosciences centre within a time window suitable for intravenous thrombolytic therapy were included. Images were wirelessly transmitted to a tablet computer (iPad 3rd Generation, model = A1430, Apple, Cupertino, CA) and were reviewed by radiologists with three levels of experience for signs of intracranial haemorrhage, large vessel occlusion and parenchymal infarction.

Dual-Energy CT for the Musculoskeletal System.

The principal advantages of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) over conventional CT in the musculoskeletal setting relate to the additional information provided regarding tissue composition, artifact reduction, and image optimization. This article discusses the manifestations of these in clinical practice-urate and bone marrow edema detection, metal artifact reduction, and tendon analysis, with potential in arthrography, bone densitometry, and metastases surveillance. The basic principles of dual-energy CT physics and scanner design will also be discussed.

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).

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.

Virtual monoenergetic reconstruction of contrast-enhanced dual energy CT at 70keV maximizes mural enhancement in acute small bowel obstruction.

Purpose: In patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO), it is challenging to detect early ischemia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative benefits of virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) reconstruction in the assessment of small bowel mural enhancement on dual source dual energy computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained, for this retrospective analysis.

Emergency imaging after a mass casualty incident: role of the radiology department during training for and activation of a disaster management plan.

In the setting of mass casualty incidents (MCIs), hospitals need to divert from normal routine to delivering the best possible care to the largest number of victims. This should be accomplished by activating an established hospital disaster management plan (DMP) known to all staff through prior training drills. Over the recent decades, imaging has increasingly been used to evaluate critically ill patients.

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.

Getting the Most From Your Dual-Energy Scanner: Recognizing, Reducing, and Eliminating Artifacts.

Objective: Dual-energy CT (DECT) is an innovative imaging modality that allows superior detection of pulmonary embolism, enhanced detection of urate in gout, and improved assessment of metal prostheses when compared with conventional CT.

Conclusion: The primary aim of this review is to describe these DECT protocols and compare each to its respective diagnostic reference standards. Moreover, this review will describe how to recognize, reduce, and eliminate DECT artifacts, thereby maximizing its diagnostic capabilities.

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.

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.

Pearls for Interpreting Computed Tomography of the Cervical Spine in Trauma.

The high morbidity and mortality associated with cervical spine injuries makes identification and classification essential. It is important to have a systematic approach to evaluation, especially in the trauma setting with other distracting injuries. Understanding the anatomy and biomechanics enables rapid and accurate interpretation of images.

Dual-Energy Computed Tomography: Advantages in the Acute Setting.

The aim of this article is to inform and update emergency radiologists in respect of the clinically relevant benefits that dual-energy computed tomography (CT) contributes over conventional single-energy CT in the emergency setting using practical imaging examples. Particular emphasis will be placed on acute gout, bone marrow edema, acute renal colic, acute cardiovascular and neurovascular emergencies aswell as characterization of abdominal incidentalomas. The relevant scientific literature will be summarized and limitations of the technique also will be emphasized to provide the reader with a rounded concept of the current state of technology.

High pitch, low voltage dual source CT pulmonary angiography: assessment of image quality and diagnostic acceptability with hybrid iterative reconstruction.

Increased use of CT Pulmonary angiography in suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) has driven research to minimize radiation dose while maintaining image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Following institutional review board approval, we performed a retrospective comparison study in patients with suspected PE. Patients were scanned using an ultra high pitch dual source technique (pitch = 2.