Publications by authors named "Virginia Planz"

This paper is a multi-institutional review of image-guided renal parenchymal biopsies. Among the topics covered are indications, preprocedural considerations, biopsy technique, complications, and postprocedural management. Both native kidney and transplant kidney biopsies are considered in this review.

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Objectives: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is used to definitively diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk. However, the user variability associated with CEUS LI-RADS has not been validated in North American and European patients. This study aims to evaluate the inter-reader agreements of CEUS LI-RADS features for, and final categorization of, HCC in patients at risk.

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Purpose: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of combining CEUS and CT/MRI LI-RADS major imaging features for the improved categorization of liver observations indeterminate on both CT/MRI and CEUS.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis using a database from a prospective study conducted at 11 centers in North America and Europe from 2018 to 2022 included a total of 109 participants at risk for HCC who had liver observations with indeterminate characterization (LR3, LR-4, and LR-M) on both CEUS and CT/MRI. The individual CEUS and CT/MRI LI-RADS major features were extracted from the original study and analyzed in various combinations.

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We aimed to measure cerebral, splanchnic, and renal transit times and the associated blood volumes using contrast ultrasound. In healthy individuals, regional transit times were calculated from time-intensity curves generated as ultrasound contrast passed through the associated inflow and outflow vessels. These included the internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein (brain), the superior mesenteric artery and portal vein (intestines), and the renal artery and renal vein (kidney).

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Emerging computational tools such as healthcare digital twin modeling are enabling the creation of patient-specific surgical planning, including microwave ablation to treat primary and secondary liver cancers. Healthcare digital twins (DTs) are anatomically one-to-one biophysical models constructed from structural, functional, and biomarker-based imaging data to simulate patient-specific therapies and guide clinical decision-making. In microwave ablation (MWA), tissue-specific factors including tissue perfusion, hepatic steatosis, and fibrosis affect therapeutic extent, but current thermal dosing guidelines do not account for these parameters.

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Background Splenic biopsy is rarely performed because of the perceived risk of hemorrhagic complications. Purpose To evaluate the safety of large bore (≥18 gauge) image-guided splenic biopsy. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included consecutive adult patients who underwent US- or CT-guided splenic biopsy between March 2001 and March 2022 at eight academic institutions in the United States.

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Background: Lung nodule incidence is increasing. Many nodules require biopsy to discriminate between benign and malignant etiologies. The gold-standard for minimally invasive biopsy, computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (CT-TTNB), has never been directly compared to navigational bronchoscopy, a modality which has recently seen rapid technological innovation and is associated with improving diagnostic yield and lower complication rate.

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Background And Aims: The objective of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the American College of Radiology Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System LR-5 characterization for HCC diagnosis in North American or European patients.

Approach And Results: A prospective multinational cohort study was performed from January 2018 through November 2022 at 11 academic and nonacademic centers in North America and Europe. Patients at risk for HCC with at least 1 liver observation not previously treated, identified on ultrasound (US), or multiphase CT or MRI performed as a part of standard clinical care were eligible for the study.

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Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption of virtual learning in medical education, including departmental grand rounds lectures in radiology. This retrospective study sought to assess the impact of an open access virtual grand rounds program. We tested the hypothesis that virtual grand rounds would advance learning equity by increasing access to learners outside of our institution.

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Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and are increasing in incidence owing to a rising rate of cesarean delivery. US is the primary imaging tool for evaluation of PAS disorders, which are most often diagnosed during routine early second-trimester US to assess fetal anatomy. MRI serves as a complementary modality, providing value when the diagnosis is equivocal at US and evaluating the extent and topography of myoinvasion for surgical planning in severe cases.

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The management of pregnant patients with cancer is complex and requires a multidisciplinary team to effectively diagnose, stage, and manage the cancer while also being cognizant of the potential harm that diagnosis and treatment may have on the maternal and fetal well-being. Beyond the complex clinical management of these patients is additional medicolegal consideration. Radiologists play a crucial role in the management of these patients as their knowledge of diagnostic and interventional radiology techniques allows for appropriate and safe imaging for both the mother and fetus.

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Thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry are emerging technologies that are gaining increasing acceptance in the medical field to evaluate the coagulation status of patients on an individual level by assessing dynamic clot formation. TEG has been proven to reduce blood product use as well as improve patient outcomes in a variety of medical settings, including trauma and surgery due to the expediated nature of the test as well as the ability to determine specific deficiencies present in whole blood that are otherwise undetectable with traditional coagulation studies. Currently, no guidelines or recommendations are in place for the utilization of TEG in interventional or diagnostic radiology although access to TEG has become increasingly common in recent years.

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Computational tools are beginning to enable patient-specific surgical planning to localize and prescribe thermal dosing for liver cancer ablation therapy. Tissue-specific factors (e.g.

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Purpose: To determine institutional practice requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) in cross-sectional interventional radiology (CSIR) procedures among a variety of radiology practices in the USA and Canada.

Methods: Members of the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) CSIR Emerging Technology Commission (ETC) were sent an eight-question survey about what PPE they were required to use during common CSIR procedures: paracentesis, thoracentesis, thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA), superficial lymph node biopsy, deep lymph node biopsy, solid organ biopsy, and ablation. Types of PPE evaluated were sterile gloves, surgical masks, gowns, surgical hats, eye shields, foot covers, and scrubs.

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Percutaneous pancreatic interventions performed by abdominal radiologists play important diagnostic and therapeutic roles in the management of a wide range of pancreatic pathology. While often performed with endoscopy, pancreatic mass biopsy obtained via a percutaneous approach may serve as the only feasible option for diagnosis in patients with post-surgical anatomy, severe cardiopulmonary conditions, or prior non-diagnostic endoscopic attempts. Biopsy of pancreatic transplants are commonly performed percutaneously due to inaccessible location of the allograft by endoscopy, usually in the right lower quadrant or pelvis.

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Purpose Of Review: The goal of this paper was to review the novel treatment modality of high-intensity transurethral directional ultrasound for prostate cancer.

Recent Findings: Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease with some patients electing for active surveillance and focal therapies instead of definitive treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. Prostate MRI has become a cornerstone of prostate cancer diagnosis, targeted biopsy, and treatment planning.

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Volumetric analysis is an objective three-dimensional assessment of a lesion or organ that may more accurately depict the burden of complex objects compared to traditional linear size measurement. Small changes in linear size are amplified by corresponding changes in volume, which could have significant clinical implications. Though early methods of calculating volumes were time-consuming and laborious, multiple software platforms are now available with varying degrees of user-software interaction ranging from manual to fully automated.

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Purpose: To describe and validate a novel CT approach using volumetric analysis for renal stone surveillance.

Materials And Methods: This prospective trial consisted of a standard low-dose non-contrast CT (SLD) of the abdomen and pelvis, immediately followed by an ultra-low-dose non-contrast CT (ULD) with reconstruction limited to the kidneys. A novel dedicated software tool was applied that automates stone volume, density, and maximum linear size.

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