Interventional radiology peer, a newly developed peer-review scoring system designed for interventional radiology practice.

Purpose: Existing diagnostic radiology peer-review systems do not address the specificities of interventional radiology (IR) practice. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a specifically developed interventional peer review method, IR Peer.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively encoded pilot database aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of IR Peer in a multiphysician practice was performed.

Real-time MR imaging guidance for percutaneous core biopsy of US- and CT-negative lesion.

Biopsies traditionally are performed under ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), or fluoroscopic guidance. In situations in which lesions are difficult to visualize with US or CT guidance, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging often can provide better imaging results. The authors describe a case in which a recurrent calf mass not well visualized under fluoroscopy, CT, or US was identified on MR imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the axial skeleton for detecting bone metastases in patients with high-risk prostate cancer: diagnostic and cost-effectiveness and comparison with current detection strategies.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance, costs, and impact on therapy of one-step magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the axial skeleton (MRIas) for detecting bone metastases in patients with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients And Methods: Sixty-six consecutive patients with high-risk PCa prospectively underwent MRIas in addition to the standard sequential work-up (SW) of bone metastases (technetium-99m bone scintigraphy [BS] completed with targeted x-rays [TXR] in patients with equivocal BS findings and with MRI obtained on request [MRIor] in patients with inconclusive BS/TXR findings). Panel review of initial and 6-month follow-up MRI findings, BS/TXR, and all available baseline and follow-up clinical and biologic data were used as the best valuable comparator to define metastatic status.

The influence of angiography table shields and height on patient and angiographer irradiation during interventional radiology procedures.

Purpose: To quantify the influence of angiography table height on patient and angiographer irradiation, as compared with other routine protective measures such as the use of protective shields hanging at the tableside and from the ceiling of angiography suites.

Methods: An experimental study was carried out in which a phantom (substitute for a human body) placed on the angiography table was irradiated by pulsed fluoroscopy. Entrance exposure rates were measured at the phantom surface (surrogate of patient skin exposure by incident X-ray beam) and at 60 cm from the phantom (analog to angiographer skin exposure by scatter).

Microcoil embolization for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Purpose: To assess outcomes after microcoil embolization for active lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Methods: We retrospectively studied all consecutive patients in whom microcoil embolization was attempted to treat acute lower GI bleeding over 88 months. Baseline, procedural, and outcome parameters were recorded following current Society of Interventional Radiology guidelines.

Percutaneous endovascular treatment for stenoses and occlusions of infrarenal aorta and aortoiliac bifurcation: midterm results.

Objective: evaluation and comparison of the endovascular treatment of isolated aortic and aortoiliac atherosclerotic lesions (stenoses and occlusions).

Methods: a percutaneous endovascular procedure was performed in 52 patients (38 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 25-85 years). The baseline angiogram showed 35 aortic lesions (31 stenoses, 4 occlusions) and 17 aortoiliac lesions (14 stenoses, 3 occlusions).

Middle mesenteric artery visualized by computed tomographic angiography.

The middle mesenteric artery, a third mesenteric artery arising from the aorta that principally feeds the transverse colon, is an extremely rare anomaly. We identified a middle mesenteric artery branching into the ileocolic artery and into the right, middle, and accessory middle colic arteries. It supplied the cecum and the entire ascending and transverse colon.