Factors Influencing the Commitment of Students to Radiology as a Career Choice During Medical School Education.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the significance of specific factors in choosing radiology as a specialty compared to switching to/from a different specialty as reported in the Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) and Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) data provided by Association of American Medical Colleges.

Method And Materials: The study cohort included students who completed both the MSQ and GQ questionnaires in the span of 3-5 years. The cohort was divided into three groups-"Committed" (students who chose radiology in both the first and final year of medical school), "Switched Away" (students who chose radiology on the MSQ but later switched to a different specialty, and "Switched-To" (students who chose radiology on GQ after initially selecting an alternate specialty on the MSQ).

The Clinical Impact of a Web-Based Image Repository on Radiation Exposure in Injured Children.

Purpose: The long-term cancer risks for children exposed to radiologic images can be two to three times higher than for adults because children are more sensitive to radiation and have a longer lifetime in which to accumulate exposure from CT scans. Injured children often undergo repeat CT imaging if they are transferred from non-pediatric hospitals to a Level I pediatric trauma center (PTC). This study determined the impact of a statewide web-based image repository (WBIR) on repeat imaging among transferred injured children.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of hepatic cysts in early autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease: the Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease cohort.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatic cysts by age and gender in patients with early autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and to determine whether hepatic cyst volume is related to renal and renal cyst volumes by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 230 patients with ADPKD (94 men and 136 women) who were aged 15 to 46 yr and had relatively preserved renal function were studied. MRI images of the kidney and liver were obtained to measure renal, renal cyst, and hepatic cyst volumes.

Computerized tomographic angiography for renal donor evaluation leads to a higher exclusion rate.

Purpose: We compared the exclusion rate for potential living renal donors evaluated with computerized tomography angiography and radionuclide renal scintigraphy (renal scan) vs excretory urogram, renal scan and renal arteriography.

Materials And Methods: From March 2004 through February 2006, 603 consecutive patients were evaluated as potential living renal donors. From March 2004 through February 2005, 270 consecutive patients underwent evaluation with excretory urogram, renal scan and renal angiography (group 1).

Benign Renal Schwannoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Schwannomas are tumors arising from cells of the nerve sheath. While schwannomas are commonly found in peripheral nerves and cranial nerves, these tumors are rarely found within the kidney and may be difficult to differentiate from renal cell carcinoma. Few cases have been reported in the literature, and very little has been described regarding the imaging appearance of these rare renal tumors.

Cyst number but not the rate of cystic growth is associated with the mutated gene in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Data from serial renal magnetic resonance imaging of the Consortium of Radiologic Imaging Study of PKD (CRISP) autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) population showed that cystic expansion occurs at a consistent rate per individual, although it is heterogeneous in the population, and that larger kidneys are associated with more rapid disease progression. The significance of gene type to disease progression is analyzed in this study of the CRISP cohort. Gene type was determined in 183 families (219 cases); 156 (85.

Imaging procedures in adrenal pathology.

Imaging plays a vital role in the evaluation of adrenal pathology. The most widely used modalities are computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Alone or in conjunction with appropriate clinical and biochemical data, imaging can provide specific diagnoses that preclude the need for tissue sampling.

Coexisting angiomyolipoma and renal cell carcinoma in a kidney of an elderly woman: case report and review of the literature.

Angiomyolipoma is a well described but relatively uncommon benign renal neoplasm composed of varying admixtures of mature adipose tissue, smooth muscle, and thick-walled blood vessels. The incidence of angiomyolipoma is about 0.3% overall.

Diagnostic value of attenuation measurements of the kidney on unenhanced helical CT of obstructive ureterolithiasis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of attenuation measurements of the kidney on unenhanced helical CT in patients with obstructive ureterolithiasis.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive unenhanced helical CT scans of patients referred for acute unilateral renal colic were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with CT evidence of other urinary system diseases were excluded.

Adrenal gland hematomas in trauma patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of detection of trauma-induced adrenal gland hematoma in current practice by using computed tomography (CT) and to correlate presence of adrenal hematoma with quantitative clinical indicators of injury severity.

Materials And Methods: The radiology information system and the trauma registry were searched for cases of adrenal hematoma detected at trauma CT during a 54-month period. CT images depicting adrenal masses with the published characteristics of adrenal hematoma were reviewed by readers who were unblinded to the initial interpretations.

Double reading of barium enemas: is it necessary?

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness, clinical impact, and feasibility of double reading barium enemas.

Materials And Methods: Independent double readings of 1,003 consecutive barium enemas (822 double- and 181 single-contrast examinations) were prospectively performed. From this pool of 1,003 examinations, 994 were included in our study.

Imaging of renal trauma.

Trauma is a major cause of death and disability and renal injuries occur in up to 10% of patients with significant blunt abdominal trauma. Patients with penetrating trauma and hematuria, blunt trauma with shock and hematuria, or gross hematuria warrant imaging of the urinary tract specifically and CT is the preferred modality. If there is significant perinephric fluid, especially medially, or deep laceration, delayed images should be obtained to evaluate for urinary extravasation.

CT evaluation of urinary lithiasis.

Unenhanced CT has been demonstrated to be the most accurate and efficient diagnostic imaging means to evaluate urinary lithiasis, with capability of directing management, and has become well accepted by radiologists, urologists, and emergency department physicians such that it is now the standard of practice. It is the duty of the radiologist to be aware of proper technique and the details of interpretation. The radiologist also has a duty to be aware of the limitations of unenhanced CT for detection and evaluation of various nonstone disorders, particularly with poor patient selection, and to extend the examination if appropriate.

Renal structure in early autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD): The Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease (CRISP) cohort.

Background: Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by gradual renal enlargement and cyst growth prior to loss of renal function. Standard radiographic imaging has not provided the resolution and accuracy necessary to detect small changes in renal volume or to reliably measure renal cyst volumes. The Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies in Polycystic Kidney Disease (CRISP) is longitudinally observing ADPKD individuals using high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to determine if change in renal and cyst volumes can be detected over a short period of time, and if they correlate with decline in renal function early in disease.

Imaging of adrenal masses.

Adrenal pathology may be discussed based on hormonal functionality of the adrenals, appearances on imaging modality, or pathological determination. There are three main categories of adrenal function. Hyperfunctional states include Conn's or Cushing's syndrome.