Critical evaluation of chest computed tomography scans for blunt descending thoracic aortic injury.

Background: Although aortography has been the long-held "gold standard" for diagnosis of traumatic blunt aortic injury, advances in imaging technology offer less-invasive, more-rapid, and potentially more cost-effective evaluation. The purpose of this study was to review this hospital's experience with the screening and diagnosis of blunt aortic injury with emphasis on the critical evaluation of computed tomography (CT) scans for defining descending thoracic aortic injury.

Methods: A retrospective single-center analysis of all patients undergoing aortography to evaluate for blunt aortic injury between January 1, 1997, and August 31, 2004, was performed.

Traumatic injury of the internal mammary artery: embolization versus surgical and nonoperative management.

The purpose of the study was to compare the outcomes, complications, and effectiveness of embolization versus surgical and nonoperative management in patients with injury to the internal mammary artery. Eighteen cases of angiographically proven internal mammary artery injury were identified by a retrospective review. Patient age range was 17-71 years (mean 34 years).

Radiology resident selection: Objective Restructured Interview to assess five essential attributes.

Like in other medical fields, candidates seeking a career in Radiology requires special skills and aptitudes. Selecting candidates for radiology residency is made difficult by the fact that many of the essential qualities predictive of a good radiology consultant, such as interpersonal skills, recognition of limits, curiosity, conscientiousness, and confidence level, are "non-cognitive", and thus difficult to assess. This paper describes the selection procedure developed by the Department of Radiology of Baylor College of Medicine to measure, as objectively as possible, both the cognitive and non-cognitive qualities of candidates, based on a combination of traditional screening and Objective Structured Interviews.

Venous port salvage utilizing low dose tPA.

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of low dose tPA for catheter salvage in cases of fibrin sheath formation in patients with venous access ports. Prospective evaluation was accomplished in patients who had venous ports with catheter malfunction. There were a total of 50 patients and 56 occlusive events.