Relationship between anxiety level and radiological investigation. Comparison among different diagnostic imaging exams in a prospective single-center study

Abstract

submitted to MR, 18 % to breast imaging, 10 % to X-ray, 22 % Computer Tomography and 19 % to ultrasound, as previously described. 41 % of patients were submitted to the examination because of an oncologic disease, while 59 % because of non-oncological disease. Therefore, it was found that high levels of anxiety were present in most (about 91 %) of the patients and the scores varied according to the imaging examination and to the examination's reason: anxiety level was higher in non-oncological patients (54 %) and in patients waiting to undergo to MRI exams (29 %). Conclusion Our data suggest that the diagnostic exams are stressful events for the patient, also in non-oncological patients. So, it is important to adequate the radiological staff to receive the patient, to inform him and perform AbstractObjective Every patient could feel anxious when he waits in a radiological department to undergo diagnostic exams. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of the radiological exams on patient anxiety. Materials and methods

Imaging Assessment of Paediatric Crohn’s Disease: a Literature Review

“…In small bowel follow-through, 200 to 300 mL of barium is orally administered, unless contra-indicated, such as in cases of suspected perforation or predisposition for airway penetration due to dysphagia, because it increases the risk of granuloma formation. 23 Small bowel loops are studied under fluorographic evaluation, until the contrast medium reaches the terminal ileum and cecum. This process may take 2 to 3 hours, and may be diagnostically ineffective, because natural overlapping of the bowel loops can prevent accurate intestinal evaluation.…”

“…Although small bowel follow-through affords a better study of the small bowel transit time and detecting motility disorders, small bowel enteroclysis is superior for evaluating the mucosal and transmural bowel wall features of CD. [23][24][25] In small bowel enteroclysis, a nasojejunal tube is positioned beyond the duodenojejunal junction under fluoroscopic guidance. After this, barium (usually 300 mL 40/60 P/V) to coat the bowel and 0.5% of methylcellulose solution (1500 mL) or air to distend the bowel lumen are injected.…”

“…25 Multiple films are obtained with the patient in supine position, during different degrees of rotation and after compression, thus evaluating bowel mobility and flexibility. 23,[25][26][27][28] Small bowel enteroclysis can detect functional signs of CD, such as hyper-or hypo-mobility and the presence of intraluminal exudate, which results in barium flocculation appearing as blurred interfaces between the intraluminal barium and the mucosa. 25 Small bowel enteroclysis can also detect organic signs, including thickened straightened or nodular mucosal folds due to submucosal oedema secondary to lymphatic obstruction; pseudopolyps, presenting as well-defined round or oval filling defects; aphthous ulcers, presenting as shallow depressions (1-2 mm in diameter) with a surrounding radiolucent halo; or a combination of these features, giving a "cobblestone appearance".…”

“…In paediatric patients and their relatives, it is also important to consider the anxiety level and stress induced by radiological examinations. [19][20][21][22][23] Moreover, because of the lifetime course of the disease and the need to evaluate medical therapy response, patients frequently require repeated imaging, resulting in greater cumulative lifetime radiation dose. 3,10,24 Radiologists play a pivotal role in the early diagnosis and management of CD.…”

A Permutation Disalignment Index-Based Complex Network Approach to Evaluate Longitudinal Changes in Brain-Electrical Connectivity

“…It is still very difficult to make a diagnosis of MCI that degenerates into dementia, both because it is very difficult to keep MCI subjects actively involved in the follow-up program and because the currently available diagnostic tools are subjective and based on the medical history of the patient and on the administration of cognitive tests such as Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [9]. Another diagnostic tool is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) [7]; however, many patients badly tolerate it and refuse to undergo it [10], except the first scanning that is mainly performed to rule out the presence of lesions or other causes of MCI. An EEG-based diagnostic tool would be particularly suitable for this purpose since it is well tolerated, low-cost and widespread.…”