Breast Ultrasound for the Evaluation of Benign Breast Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewUnderstandably, a great deal of research is dedicated to the identification of sonographic manifestations of malignant breast disease. However, recognition of clinical and imaging characteristics that support benign diagnoses is equally integral to accurate, cost-effective management of breast disease. Review of these characteristics is provided to enable more confident diagnosis and focused management.Recent FindingsAdvances in ultrasound utilization have extended its range to include screening and diagnosis. Coupled with updates to BI-RADS, current practices reflect the indispensable nature of ul...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - March 6, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Ultrasound Screening and Surveillance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
AbstractPurposeTo review the current state of the use of ultrasound in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance.FindingsDespite limitations in the evidence supporting the use of ultrasound in HCC surveillance, it has been formally recommended by a number of guidelines based on the best available evidence showing that it improves survival and is cost effective. However, ultrasound surveillance is inconsistently adopted and is prone to a number of practical and technical challenges. The recent introduction of ultrasound LI-RADS aims to standardize performance and reporting of these surveillance studies.SummaryDespite rema...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 14, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Prostate Cancer Detection and Diagnosis: Role of Ultrasound with MRI Correlates
AbstractPurpose of ReviewProstate cancer (PCA) detection and diagnosis has rapidly changed in recent years, with medical imaging playing an instrumental component. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has led to an alternative diagnostic pathway for patient triage and diagnosis. Ultrasound (US) is already essential to this pathway, and development of new US technologies ensures it will assume an even more important role.Recent FindingsConventional US is widely used for anatomic guidance during prostate biopsy, but has low PCA detection rates. Ultrasound elastography and contrast-enhanced US are promising for im...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 7, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: A Review of History, Pathophysiology, and Current Guidelines
AbstractPurpose of ReviewNephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a rare systemic disease with a high mortality. The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians with guidance regarding safe administration of GBCAs to patients with renal disease.SummaryDevelopment of NSF has been linked to the administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in patients with renal disease. Due to the wide variety of available GBCAs and recommendations regarding safe administration of these agents, it can be difficult for clinicians to choose the best GBCA for this patient population.Recent FindingsAlthough the current ACR guidel...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 4, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Intravascular Ultrasound in the Creation of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts: Review of the Literature and Future Directions
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement is a well-established interventional radiology procedure for treating sequelae of portal hypertension involving shunting portal blood flow to the hepatic vein bypassing the liver through a stent graft. Creating a TIPS can be a complex and radiation-intensive procedure due to the technically challenging step of cannulating the portal vein from the hepatic vein. As this is the most unpredictable step in TIPS creation, multiple techniques have been described for visualizing the portal vein to facilitate its access. The use of intravascular...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 4, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
State-of-the-Art Imaging in Cardiac Oncology
AbstractPurpose of ReviewImaging modalities play an important role in the diagnosis and management of cardiotoxicity and cardiac tumors. In this review, we provide an overview of the imaging modalities that are relevant to the field of cardio-oncology.Recent FindingsCardiac magnetic resonance provides comprehensive tissue characterization in the assessment of cardiac tumors and cardiomyopathy. The combination of positron emission tomography/computed tomography offers improved localization of lesions, staging, targeting of biopsy and therapy, and greater confidence in interpretation.SummaryOverall, cardiac imaging plays a c...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 4, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Quality Assurance in Interventional Radiology: Preprocedural Care
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo review best practices to improve the quality of patient service in the field of interventional radiology prior to performing the procedure.Recent FindingsWe highlight a checklist of elements that have a potential for improvement and contribution to overall quality of patient care from the time of taking the consult, until the time of the procedure. Our check list includes establishing appropriateness of the procedure, reducing waiting times, patient-centered care, patient education, shared decision making, establishing expectations, informed consent, managing the patient ’s medication list, pr...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 1, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Quality Assurance in Interventional Radiology: Post-procedural Care
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo review best practices to improve the quality of patient service in the field of interventional radiology after performing the procedure.Recent FindingsThe aim of this paper is to highlight aspects of post-procedural care such as effective communication, post-procedural management of the patient, handling of obtained specimens, post-procedural follow-up, tracking outcomes, and education to assist the interventionalist in providing comprehensive quality post-procedural care.SummaryPost-procedural communication, follow-up, and outcome tracking are essential elements in the quality assurance of an I...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - February 1, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Quality Assurance in Interventional Radiology: Intra-procedural Care
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo highlight elements that potentially improve the quality of patient care during the Interventional Radiology procedure.Recent FindingsThe success of an interventional radiology procedure is not merely dependent on the skill of the operator. Many other factors considerably influence the safety and therefore the outcome of the procedure. The following elements are discussed in depth: universal protocol, preprocedural checklist, physical environment, communication during the procedure, preventing infection, planning and executing the procedure, and radiation safety.SummaryIncorporating systems of sa...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - January 25, 2019 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Dual-Energy Imaging of the Pancreas
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDual-energy CT (DECT) is a recently introduced computed tomography (CT) technique with the ability to acquire data in multiple energies allowing energy-based material separation based on energy-dependent attenuation profiles of specific materials.Recent FindingsThere are several clinical applications of DECT that are relevant in pancreatic imaging which will be reviewed in this article. Pathologies of the pancreas can vary widely in their clinical significance and can be subtle and difficult to detect. In this article, we review the current literature on DECT in pancreatic imaging, specifically in ...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - October 31, 2018 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Beyond Annulus Size: Imaging for TAVR Planning
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe aim of this article is to review the role of imaging in pre-procedural assessment prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) —with a focus on relevant anatomic findings apart from the size of the aortic annulus.Recent FindingsPre-procedure imaging prior to TAVR heavily emphasizes assessment of the aortic annulus for appropriate valve sizing, with computed tomography angiography (CTA) emerging as the test of choice due to its ability to assess not only the aortic annulus but also the thoracoabdominal aorta and peripheral vasculature. Some patients with underlying kidney disease may...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - October 22, 2018 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Myocardial Imaging with CMR Parametric Mapping: Clinical Applications
This article provides a summary of the existing evidence for the clinical application of cardiac parametric mapping techniques. (Source: Current Radiology Reports)
Source: Current Radiology Reports - October 16, 2018 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Imaging of the Gallbladder with Multi-energy CT
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe goal of this review article is to provide an overview of applications of multi-energy CT as they pertain to gallbladder imaging. We discuss benefits and shortcomings of MECT of various gallbladder pathology, with an emphasis on the imaging of gallstones and cholecystitis. It also touches on promising areas that warrant further investigation.Recent FindingsMECT has demonstrated improved sensitivity for cholelithiasis compared to conventional single-energy CT, with added value of MECT reconstructions, particularly virtual monoenergetic reconstructions, to detect isoattenuating gallstones. MECT io...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - October 4, 2018 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Ballistic Injury Imaging: The Basics
This article seeks to increase radiologists ’ knowledge of the pathophysiology of GSW and will review the mechanism of ballistic injury and relate these to commonly encountered imaging findings.Important PointsBallistic injuries are a combination of the direct injury caused by the bullet along its path through the tissues and the shockwave created around that path as the bullet expends its energy. CT is the gold standard in ballistic injury assessment. MRI is not contraindicated in patients with retained ballistic fragments, but should be used with caution. The number of entry/exit wound and the number of retained ballis...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - October 4, 2018 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
Imaging of the Gallbladder with Multi-energy CT
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe goal of this review article is to provide an overview of applications of multi-energy CT as they pertain to gallbladder imaging. We discuss benefits and shortcomings of MECT of various gallbladder pathology, with an emphasis on the imaging of gallstones and cholecystitis. It also touches on promising areas that warrant further investigation.Recent FindingsMECT has demonstrated improved sensitivity for cholelithiasis compared to conventional single-energy CT, with added value of MECT reconstructions, particularly virtual monoenergetic reconstructions, to detect isoattenuating gallstones. MECT io...
Source: Current Radiology Reports - October 4, 2018 Category: Radiology Source Type: research
