Thoracic injuries are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. These injuries account for approximately 25% of trauma-related deaths in the United States, second only to head injuries. Radiologic imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of blunt chest trauma. In addition to conventional radiography, multidetector computed tomography (CT) is increasingly being used, since it can quickly and accurately help diagnose a wide variety of injuries in trauma patients. Furthermore, multiplanar and volumetric reformatted CT images provide improved visualization of injuries, increased understanding of trauma-related diseases, and enhanced communication between the radiologist and the referring clinician.
After restrictive guidelines regarding GBCA administration were instituted, no new cases of NSF were identified among 52,954 contrast-enhanced MR examinations, including those performed in patients with an eGFR lower than 60 mL/min/m(2).
The rates of acute adverse reactions to gadopentetate dimeglumine and gadobenate dimeglumine were 0.14% and 0.28%, respectively. The overall adverse reaction rate was 0.16% in our patient sample. Direct comparison of adverse reaction rates of the two agents was not possible because of the retrospective uncontrolled study design.
NSF is a potentially lethal disorder that occurs in patients with reduced kidney function. Current evidence suggests a strong association with gadolinium-based contrast agents--mostly used in MRI--in this patient group. This has urged the radiology community to emphasize careful screening for the presence of renal dysfunction among patients for whom gadolinium-enhanced MRI is contemplated. Appropriate selection of gadolinium-based contrast agent type, avoidance of nonstandard dosage, patient education, and informed consent have been recommended by authorities.
Fractures and dislocations of the carpal bones are more common in young active patients. These injuries can lead to pain, dysfunction, and loss of productivity. Conventional radiography remains the primary imaging modality for evaluation of suspected carpal fractures and dislocations. However, multidetector computed tomography (CT) is playing an increasingly important role, especially in the following situations: (a) when results from initial radiographs are negative in patients with suspected carpal fractures, (b) when initial radiographic findings are indeterminate, and (c) when knowledge of the extent of carpal fractures or dislocations is required before surgical treatment. The advantages of multidetector CT include quick and accurate diagnosis with availability in most emergency centers. Multidetector CT can easily display the extent of carpal fractures and dislocations, often depicting fractures that are occult at radiography. In addition, with multiplanar (two-dimensional) and volumetric (three-dimensional) reformation, pathologic conditions and anatomic relationships are better perceived. This information can be easily conveyed to orthopedic and trauma surgeons and can be crucial for surgical treatment and planning.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) are financial and nonfinancial measures that are used to define and evaluate the success of an organization. KPIs differ, depending on the nature of the organization and the organizational strategy; they are devised to help evaluate the progress of an organization toward achieving its long-term goals and fulfilling its vision. In healthcare organizations, performance assessment is especially critical for the development of best practices that can lead to improved outcomes in patient care, and KPIs have been incorporated into many healthcare management systems. In the future, radiology-specific KPIs such as those in use at the authors' institution may help provide a framework for measuring performance in radiology practice.
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