A comparison study of size-specific dose estimate calculation methods.

Background: The size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) has emerged as an improved metric for use by medical physicists and radiologists for estimating individual patient dose. Several methods of calculating SSDE have been described, ranging from patient thickness or attenuation-based (automated and manual) measurements to weight-based techniques.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of thickness vs.

Efficiency of combined blocking of aerobic and glycolytic metabolism pathways in treatment of N1-S1 hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of bumetanide (BU), a glycolytic metabolism pathway inhibitor, to arterial embolization improves tumor necrosis of N1-S1 hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: N1-S1 tumors were surgically implanted in the liver of 14 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided into three groups: In control group (n = 5), 1 ml of normal saline was injected intra-arterially.

Is Ultrasound Fusion a Reasonable Replacement for Computed Tomography in Guiding Abdominal Interventions?

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic yield, complication rate, and procedure length of ultrasound fusion-guided liver biopsy to the diagnostic yield, complication rate, and procedure length of computed tomography (CT)-guided liver biopsy; to measure the average ionizing radiation dose that patients are exposed to during a typical CT-guided liver biopsy procedure; and to present relevant and interesting cases of ultrasound fusion-guided abdominal interventions to describe the efficacious use of the technology.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 63 patients who had image-guided liver biopsies performed at our institution was completed. Patient records were divided into 2 groups according to the type of image guidance used during the procedure (ultrasound fusion versus CT), and data were compared by the χ(2) test, Student t test, and Mann-Whitney U test.

Successful Dose Reduction Using Reduced Tube Voltage With Hybrid Iterative Reconstruction in Pediatric Abdominal CT.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to assess radiation dose reduction, image quality, and diagnostic confidence using low tube voltage in combination with hybrid iterative reconstruction in contrast-enhanced pediatric abdominal CT.

Materials And Methods: CT examinations of 133 patients (median age, 10 years) were performed at sequentially reduced doses. The first group (group 1) was scanned using dimension-based protocols at 120 kV for all patient sizes.

The cost of doing business in academic radiology departments.

This study identifies the major sources of overhead fees/costs and subsidies in academic radiology departments (ARDs) in the US and determines the differences between them based on geographic location or the size of their affiliated hospital. ARDs in the Northeast had the highest level of financial support from their affiliated hospitals when compared to those in the South/Southwest; however, a greater number of Midwest ARDs receive high levels of funding for teaching from their medical schools when compared to the northeast. Significantly fewer ARDs affiliated with hospitals of less than 200 beds receive subsidies for their activities when compared to those affiliated with larger hospitals.

Impact of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on academic radiology departments' clinical, research, and education missions.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) generated significant media attention since its inception. When the law was approved in 2010, the U.S.

Utilization of dashboard technology in academic radiology departments: results of a national survey.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the most widely used financial, productivity, and accessibility metrics used by academic radiology departments (ARDs) in a dashboard format via a national survey. The results provide a guide to the selection of preferred or commonly used indicators to facilitate dashboard implementation and use.

Methods: The study met the criteria for an exemption from institutional review board approval.

A comparison of computer-aided detection (CAD) effectiveness in pulmonary nodule identification using different methods of bone suppression in chest radiographs.

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of computer-aided detection (CAD) software (OnGuard™ 5.2) in combination with hardware-based bone suppression (dual-energy subtraction radiography (DESR)), software-based bone suppression (SoftView™, version 2.4), and standard posteroanterior images with no bone suppression.

Neglecting to screen women between the ages of 40 and 49 years with mammography: what is the impact on breast cancer diagnosis?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare breast cancer stage at diagnosis in two groups of women between 40 and 49 years old: women undergoing screening mammography and women with a symptom needing diagnostic workup. This comparison is indicative of the impact of forgoing screening in this age group, as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review was used to collect the results of imaging-guided core needle biopsies performed in women between the ages of 40 and 49 years from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009.

Dual energy subtraction digital radiography improves performance of a next generation computer-aided detection program.

Purpose: Computer-aided detection (CAD) has shown potential to assist physicians in the detection of lung nodules on chest radiographs, but widespread acceptance has been stymied by high false-positive rates. Few studies have examined the potential for dual energy subtraction (DES) to improve CAD performance.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained, the requirement for informed consent was waived because the study was retrospective, and practices conformed to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations.