The malpractice liability of radiology reports: minimizing the risk.

The art and science of interpreting radiologic examinations, an ability that is acquired over years of training, is on display in every radiology report. It is vital that these reports be crafted so as to both reflect the radiologist's expertise and capability and eliminate any factors that might result in unintended harm to the patient. Unfortunately, a deficient report may result in legal action against the radiologist; thus, a thorough understanding of the litigious potential of the language used in radiology reports is crucial. It is important that ambiguous vocabulary, undefined modifiers, double negatives, and generalizations be avoided. Errors in radiology reports may result from inappropriate terminology, transcription mistakes, or deficient or inadequately documented communication. Critical findings that may have an immediate impact on patient management must be promptly communicated to the referring physician and such communication fully documented. A meticulous and well-written report is the best way for radiologists to care for their patients. In addition, a well-worded report can be the deciding factor in a successful defense against a malpractice claim. Understanding the legal implications of radiology reports will enable radiologists to develop strategies for avoiding malpractice suits.

ABCs of the degenerative spine.

Degenerative changes in the spine have high medical and socioeconomic significance. Imaging of the degenerative spine is a frequent challenge in radiology. The pathogenesis of this degenerative process represents a biomechanically related continuum of alterations, which can be identified with different imaging modalities. The aim of this article is to review radiological findings involving the intervertebral discs, end plates, bone marrow changes, facet joints and the spinal canal in relation to the pathogenesis of degenerative changes in the spine. Findings are described in association with the clinical symptoms they may cause, with a brief review of the possible treatment options. The article provides an illustrated review on the topic for radiology residents. TEACHING POINTS: • The adjacent vertebrae, intervertebral disc, ligaments and facet joints constitute a spinal unit. • Degenerative change is a response to insults, such as mechanical or metabolic injury. • Spine degeneration is a biomechanically related continuum of alterations evolving over time.

[Cu(HF2)(pyz)2]BF4 (pyz = pyrazine): long-range magnetic ordering in a pseudo-cubic coordination polymer comprised of bridging HF2- and pyrazine ligands.

[Cu(HF2)(pyz)2]BF4 consists of rare mu(1,3) bridging HF2- anions and micro-pyrazine ligands leading to a 3D pseudo-cubic framework that antiferromagnetically orders below 1.54(1) K.

The observation of magnetic excitations in a single layered and a bilayered brownmillerite.

We describe the results of an inelastic neutron scattering measurement of the magnetic excitations in SrCaGaMnO(5+δ), a quasi-two-dimensional compound whose structure consists of layers of MnO(6) octahedra separated by layers of GaO(4) tetrahedra (the brownmillerite structure), and Ca(2.5)Sr(0.5)Mn(2)GaO(8), a bilayered brownmillerite. In both materials, a band of magnetic scattering appears below the magnetic ordering temperature which can be associated with magnon excitations. Our measurements allow us to provide an estimate for the intraplane exchange constant in both materials, which we find to be 3.4(4) meV for SrCaGaMnO(5+δ) and 2.2(4) meV for Ca(2.5)Sr(0.5)Mn(2)GaO(8).

Ca(2.5)Sr(0.5)GaMn2O8: diamagnetic Ga in control of the structural and electronic properties of a bilayered manganate.

The temperature dependence of the crystal structure and electronic properties of brownmillerite-like Ca(2.5)Sr(0.5)GaMn(2)O(8) has been studied by neutron powder diffraction and muSR spectroscopy. The results show that short-range 2D magnetic order begins to develop within the perovskite-like bilayers of MnO(6) octahedra approximately 50 K above the 3D Néel temperature of approximately 150 K. The bilayers show a structural response to the onset of magnetism throughout this temperature range whereas the GaO(4) layers that separate the bilayers only respond below the 3D ordering temperature. XANES spectroscopy shows that the sample contains Mn(3+) and Mn(4+) cations in a 1:1 ratio, and the behavior in the region of the Néel transition is interpreted as a local charge ordering. Electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy have been used to show that the local microstructure is more complex than the average structure revealed by neutron diffraction, and that microdomains exist in which the GaO(4) tetrahedra show different orientations. It is argued that the bonding requirements of diamagnetic gallium control the electronic behavior within the perovskite-like bilayers.