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Biomedical subjects

Mark S Frank

Publications and source records attributed to Mark S Frank.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Routine isotropic computed tomography scanning of chest: value of coronal and sagittal reformations.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the usefulness of coronal and sagittal reformations from isotropic chest computed tomography (CT) examinations. METHODS: A total of 30 chest CT examinations were reconstructed into 2 sets of axial source images: 0.9-mm slice width with 0.45-mm reconstruction interval (isotropic) and 4-mm slices with 3-mm reconstruction interval. The isotropic dataset was reformatted into coronal and sagittal stacks with 4-mm slices. Three readers reviewed the image sets with 4-mm slice widths. Coronal and sagittal reformations were compared at the same sitting to axial images for depiction of anatomy and disease in the aorta, pulmonary arteries, hilar regions, mediastinum, lung parenchyma, pleura, diaphragm, thoracic spine, ribs, and trachea. A 5-point scale was used to determine whether nonaxial reformations showed anatomy and disease significantly better, somewhat better, same, somewhat worse or significantly worse than equivalent thickness axial source images. A 3-point scale was used to score if nonaxial image sets showed no, some, or significant additional information compared with the axial plane regarding the main diagnosis. RESULTS: There was better visualization of the hilar regions, diaphragm, spine, and trachea on the coronal reformations compared with source axial images (P < 0.05). Sagittal reformations scored better than axial source images for aorta, pleura, diaphragm, spine, and ribs (P < 0.05). The coronal and sagittal series showed significant additional information in 11% and 9% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Radiologists should consider the use of one or both of coronal and sagittal planes in addition to the axial series in routine interpretation of chest CT.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A solution for transferring 35-mm slide collections into a digital teaching-file database system.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to develop a convenient yet comprehensive process for transferring 35-mm radiology slides into a digital teaching-file system capable of delivering online educational content and serving also as a general-purpose digital media repository. CONCLUSION: We believe this approach provides a feasible solution for converting radiologists' educational 35-mm slides into well-organized, high-quality digital media suitable for both online education and speaker-led presentations.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗
PubMed2004

New opportunities for the use of digital video in on-line radiologic curricula.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To explore techniques to conveniently and self-sufficiently create high-quality, web-ready instructional digital video snippets suitable for routine use in on-line radiologic curricula. MATERIALS: A commercially available digital camera with an 8-megapixel image receptor and the capability to record web-ready digital video and audio at a resolution of up to 640 x 480 pixels and a frame rate of up to 30 per second was used to obtain video snippets intended for inclusion in on-line curricula. Hand-held and tripod techniques were compared. Evaluation focused on the types of snippets deemed most likely to be used within on-line educational content, ranging in length from 10 seconds to 2 minutes. Additionally, basic postprocessing functions to experiment with combinations of video-file size, format, transmission efficiency, and image quality were used. RESULTS: The overall video quality was considered by participating radiologists to be good to excellent for its intended purposes. For most situations tested, a matrix size of 320 x 240 pixels provided a good balance of visual quality versus file size and transmission overhead. The 640 x 480 format was occasionally optimal, but was usually larger than necessary and resulted in substantially larger files, especially at a rate of 30 frames per second. A rate of 15 frames per second was considered adequate for most situations, regardless of matrix size, although it did add some barely discernible choppiness to the display. For all but very short snippets, a tripod or some other form of stabilization was necessary to eliminate distracting "camera shake" associated with free-hand acquisition. With a tripod, appropriate ambient lighting, and a favorable acoustical environment, videos of excellent quality when using the highest settings available on the camera (640 x 480, 30 frames/sec) could be self-sufficiently produced. However, such high-quality video with its associated large file size was rarely the optimal fit for the needs of this curricula. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that newer-generation digital cameras are useful for quickly and inexpensively producing high-quality, web-ready digital video suitable for use in on-line education.

Curriculum↗
PubMed2003

2003 AUR Joseph E. And Nancy O. Whitley Award. Developing tomorrow's academic radiologists: a 3-month residency elective in education.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The shortage of academic radiologists reveals an urgent need to attract more residents into academic careers. A great deal of attention has been focused on research, but few programmatic initiatives have addressed the development of the next generation of radiology educators. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a new 3-month residency elective in education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A large academic radiology department developed a 3-month education elective, during which two residents would be relieved of clinical duties and focus full-time on tasks related to their development as educators, including the completion of a major educational project. RESULTS: Two residents, in their 3rd year and 4th year of residency, respectively, proposed to collaborate in developing a Web-delivered tutorial for the department's senior medical student clerkship. At the end of 3 months, their radiology tutorial was introduced. In its 1st month, it received a mean rating of 4.3 on a five-point scale. The residents stated that the elective had enabled them to develop important skills in instructional technology, put into practice their enhanced understanding of learning psychology, and substantially strengthened their overall commitment to academic careers. CONCLUSION: It is vital that residency programs focus on developing the next generation of radiology educators. This ongoing education elective represents one successful model.

Career Choice↗