RESUMO
Use of lumbar spine films was evaluated in a retrospective review of 1,095 lumbar radiological examinations in 871 patients. Patients' histories and physical examination findings were correlated with four groups of radiological findings: (1) radiologically normal, (2) incidental findings unrelated to patients' complaints, (3) diagnostic films compatible with symptoms, and (4) radiological findings of questionable clinical significance. The high percentage of nondiagnostic and questionable results suggests overuse of lumbar spine films. Forty-six percent of all studies in this investigation were normal or had incidental findings, and an additional 31.8% had radiological findings of questionable clinical significance. Three hundred seventy-five follow-up examinations (64.2%) demonstrated no radiological interval changes. Radiation exposure and medical cost of noncontributory studies may be substantially reduced by judicious consideration of the potential diagnostic yield of the examination and by careful selection of repeated or follow-up studies.
Assuntos
Vértebras Lombares/diagnóstico por imagem , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Gônadas/efeitos da radiação , Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doenças Musculares/diagnóstico por imagem , Exame Físico , Radiografia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Doenças da Coluna Vertebral/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias da Coluna Vertebral/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
The experiences of the radiology department at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine during the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant accident are presented. Emergency plans are reviewed.
Assuntos
Planejamento em Desastres , Departamentos Hospitalares/organização & administração , Reatores Nucleares , Centrais Elétricas , Serviço Hospitalar de Radiologia/organização & administração , Descontaminação , Desastres , Hospitais com 300 a 499 Leitos , Humanos , Radioisótopos do Iodo , Pennsylvania , Monitoramento de Radiação , TriagemRESUMO
Administration of cimetidine prior to pertechnetate imaging in two patients with Meckel's diverticulum resulted in demonstrating the abnormality with unusual clarity. This is presumed due to the cimetidine-mediated retention of pertechnetate in the gastric mucosa. Pertechnetate imaging in two normal subjects with and without cimetidine administration disclosed a marked difference in retention of the radionuclide in the gastric mucosa and its subsequent transit into the intestinal tract. Pertechnetate imaging in conjunction with cimetidine administration appears to result in markedly improved identification of Meckel's diverticulum.