Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A F Scarsbrook.
This is the seventh in a series of short reviews of internet-based radiological educational resources and will focus on oncological radiology. What follows is a list of carefully selected websites to save you time searching them out for yourself. Most of the sites cater for trainee or non-specialist radiologists but may also be of interest to oncology trainees and specialists for use in teaching. Hyperlinks are available in the electronic version of this article.
There is a wide variety of free (open-source) software available via the Internet which may be of interest to radiologists. This article will explore the use of open-source software in radiology to help streamline academic workflow and improve general efficiency and effectiveness by highlighting a number of the most useful applications currently available. These include really simple syndication applications, e-mail management, spreadsheet, word processing, database and presentation packages, as well as image and video editing software. How to incorporate this software into radiological practice will also be discussed.
Radionuclide imaging of the lymphatic system has a major role in the management of two main patient groups. First, pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy is a highly accurate method of sentinel node localization and can help guide minimally invasive surgery in a variety of tumour groups. Second, lymphoscintigraphy can play a pivotal role in assessing the cause of extremity swelling. This is the first of two pictorial essays on radionuclide imaging of the lymphatic system and will focus on sentinel node imaging in malignant melanoma. Regional nodal sampling is routinely performed in an increasing number of tumour groups and is well established in malignant melanoma and breast carcinoma. Careful attention to technical performance and image interpretation is essential to maximize the clinical utility of the test. This article provides a pictorial review of the interpretative pearls and pitfalls of sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy in malignant melanoma patients.
This is the second of two pictorial essays on radionuclide imaging of the lymphatic system and will focus on evaluation of extremity lymphoedema using lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoedema results from anatomical or functional obstruction of the lymphatic system. Lymphoscintigraphy is the imaging modality of choice for assessing lymphoedema. The technique plays a pivotal role in determining the aetiology of extremity swelling and helps guide treatment. The diagnostic utility of radionuclide imaging in lymphoedema depends upon careful technical performance and accurate image interpretation. We present a pictorial review emphasising the technical and interpretative pearls and pitfalls of radionuclide evaluation of lymphoedema.
Venous thromboembolic disease is a leading cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy. Early and accurate radiological diagnosis is essential as anticoagulation is not without risk and clinical diagnosis is unreliable. Although the disorder is potentially treatable, unnecessary treatment should be avoided. Most of the diagnostic imaging techniques involve ionizing radiation which exposes both the mother and fetus to finite radiation risks. There is a relative lack of evidence in the literature to guide clinicians and radiologists on the most appropriate method of assessing this group of patients. This article will review the role of imaging of suspected venous thromboembolic disease in pregnant patients, highlight contentious issues such as radiation risk, intravenous contrast use in pregnancy and discuss the published guidelines, as well as suggesting an appropriate imaging algorithm based on the available evidence.
Most radiologists need to give a lecture, present research or speak at a scientific meeting at some stage in their career. In our technologically advanced world, electronic presentations have become the norm and are almost universally expected. Microsoft PowerPoint is by far and away the most commonly used computer-based presentation package. As a result most radiologists have developed at least a modicum of PowerPoint expertise but many lack the time or inclination to develop these skills further. The purpose of this article is to explain how to expand the use of PowerPoint with freely available resources from the internet, to highlight websites where useful information on advanced PowerPoint techniques can be found, and to discuss extended functions of PowerPoint likely to be of interest to radiologists such as poster design.
This is the fifth in the series of short reviews of internet-based radiological learning resources and will focus on gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary radiology. Below are details of a few of the higher quality resources currently available. Most of the sites cater for medical students and trainee or non-specialist radiologists, but may be also be of interest to specialists, especially for use in teaching. Hyperlinks are available in the electronic version of this article and were all active at the time of going to press (May 2006).
The internet has become an essential part of daily life for almost all radiologists and yet few fully understand how this works or how best to harness the technology within the workplace. This article will explore the basics of computer networking which has allowed the internet to become a valuable resource. In addition, the process of designing and implementing a website or intranet site for the benefit of radiology departmental administration and education will be discussed. The options of how to develop a website, what to include, and how to achieve this using easy to use, freely available and low-cost software will also be explored.
The digital revolution in radiology continues to advance rapidly. There are a number of interesting developments within radiology informatics which may have a significant impact on education and training of radiologists in the near future. These include extended functionality of handheld computers, web-based skill and knowledge assessment, standardization of radiological procedural training using simulated or virtual patients, worldwide videoconferencing via high-quality health networks such as Internet2 and global collaboration of radiological educational resources via comprehensive, multi-national databases such as the medical imaging resource centre initiative of the Radiological Society of North America. This article will explore the role of e-learning in radiology, highlight a number of useful web-based applications in this area, and explain how the current and future technological advances might best be incorporated into radiological training.
This is the sixth in a series of short reviews of internet-based radiological learning resources and will focus on genitourinary (GU) and breast radiology. Below are details of a few of the higher quality resources currently available. Most of the sites cater for medical students and trainee or non-specialist radiologists, but may be also be of interest to specialists, especially for use in teaching. Hyperlinks are available in the electronic version of this article and were all active at the time of going to press (July 2006).
AIM: to determine the effectiveness of a new imaging algorithm in the investigation of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A new imaging algorithm for suspected PE was introduced following the installation of a multisection computed tomography (CT) machine at our institution. Before its installation, patients with suspected PE were evaluated with ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy. Subsequently, patients were triaged according to chest radiography (CR) and respiratory history to either lung scintigraphy or CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Patients with a normal CR and no history of lung disease were evaluated using perfusion (Q) scintigraphy [ventilation (V) scintigraphy was no longer performed]. Patients with an abnormal CR, asthma or chronic lung disease were evaluated using CTPA. All V/Q images in a continuous 3-year period before the introduction of the new imaging algorithm and all Q images performed in a 3-year period after its introduction were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging reports were categorized into normal, non-diagnostic (low or intermediate probability) or high probability for PE. Patients in the later group who subsequently underwent CTPA, were also reviewed. RESULTS: After the policy change the percentage of normal scintigrams significantly increased (39 to 60%; p<0.001). There was a non-significant increase in the percentage of high probability scintigrams (15 to 18%; p=0.716). Overall the diagnostic yield of lung scintigraphy improved significantly (54 to 78%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: the diagnostic performance of lung scintigraphy can be improved by careful triage of patients to either Q scintigraphy or CTPA based on clinical history and CR findings. Q scintigraphy remains a valuable diagnostic test in the investigation of suspected PE in carefully selected patients.
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Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious complication of chronic immunosuppression following solid organ transplantation. Clinical presentation is non-specific and almost any organ can be affected. Early diagnosis is associated with a better prognosis but requires tissue sampling to ascertain the histopathological subtype of disease which cannot be predicted on imaging features alone. The radiologist has a key role in detecting the disorder, guiding biopsy and monitoring response to treatment which often only involves a reduction in immunosuppressive therapy. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the wide spectrum of imaging features in PTLD and emphasize the more specific findings which allow the diagnosis to be suggested at an early stage.
A wealth of cardiothoracic websites exist on the internet. What follows is a list of the higher quality resources currently available which should save you time searching them out for yourself. Many of the sites listed cater for undergraduates and trainee or non-specialist radiologists, nevertheless these may also be of interest to specialists in thoracic radiology, particularly for use in teaching. Hyperlinks are available in the electronic version of this article and were all active at the time of going to press (April 2005).
The quantity of radiological educational resources available via the internet is enormous and is constantly increasing. The quality is variable, and much time can be wasted trying to find what is required. Web-based learning is highly attractive as it is widely available, cheap, accessible at any time and frequently updated (in contrast to conventional study materials). We present an introduction to the scope and diversity of educational websites in radiology. Effective evaluation of web-based material is essential to maximize the benefit to the user: a suitable method of evaluating radiological educational websites is described.
Radiologists are collectors of interesting films for teaching purposes or for use in presentations and publications. Traditionally, hard copies of films have been stored in an organized fashion, usually in a filing cabinet or film library. This system has inherent limitations, such as the physical space required. Many of the shortcomings can be circumvented by development of an electronic teaching file. Whereas the implementation of an institutional radiological digital image database can require significant developmental effort and programming expertise, there are a number of web-based solutions which are freely available and can be relatively easily employed to establish a contemporary electronic image library. This article will review the various options and discuss the process of developing a digital image database.
This is the second in a series of short reviews of internet-based radiological educational resources, and will focus on neuroradiology. Most of the sites cater for medical students and trainee or non-specialist radiologists, but may also be of interest to specialists, especially for use in teaching. Hyperlinks are available in the electronic version of this article and were all active at the time of going to press (August 2005). If your computer has high-level internet security settings or does not accept cookies, you may not be able to access all of the sites listed; this may be the case on some hospital-based systems. All websites should be fully accessible from other computers with less stringent security settings, e.g. a PC at home.
Digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) is the standard image file format used by radiological hardware devices. This article will provide an overview of DICOM and attempt to demystify the bewildering number of image formats that are commonly encountered. The characteristics and usefulness of different image file types will be explored and a variety of freely available web-based resources to aid viewing and manipulation of digital images will be reviewed. How best to harness DICOM technology before the introduction of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) will also be described.