Social determinants of health and the prediction of missed breast imaging appointments.

BACKGROUND: Predictive models utilizing social determinants of health (SDH), demographic data, and local weather data were trained to predict missed imaging appointments (MIA) among breast imaging patients at the Boston Medical Center (BMC). Patients were characterized by many different variables, including social needs, demographics, imaging utilization, appointment features, and weather conditions on the date of the appointment. METHODS: This HIPAA compliant retrospective cohort study was IRB approved. Informed consent was waived. After data preprocessing steps, the dataset contained 9,970 patients and 36,606 appointments from 1/1/2015 to 12/31/2019. We identified 57 potentially impactful variables used in the initial prediction model and assessed each patient for MIA. We then developed a parsimonious model via recursive feature elimination, which identified the 25 most predictive variables. We utilized linear and non-linear models including support vector machines (SVM), logistic regression (LR), and random forest (RF) to predict MIA and compared their performance. RESULTS: The highest-performing full model is the nonlinear RF, achieving the highest Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) of 76% and average F1 score of 85%. Models limited to the most predictive variables were able to attain AUC and F1 scores comparable to models with all variables included. The variables most predictive of missed appointments included timing, prior appointment history, referral department of origin, and socioeconomic factors such as household income and access to caregiving services. CONCLUSIONS: Prediction of MIA with the data available is inherently limited by the complex, multifactorial nature of MIA. However, the algorithms presented achieved acceptable performance and demonstrated that socioeconomic factors were useful predictors of MIA. In contrast with non-modifiable demographic factors, we can address SDH to decrease the incidence of MIA.

Quantification of bone marrow edema using dual-energy CT at fracture sites in trauma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to analyze the change in water and fat density within the bone marrow using the GE Revolution dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) platform using two-material decomposition analyses at extremity, spine, and pelvic fracture sites compared to normal bone marrow at equivalent anatomic sites in adult patients who sustained blunt trauma. METHODS: This retrospective study included 26 consecutive adults who sustained blunt torso trauma and an acute fracture of the thoracolumbar vertebral body, pelvis, or upper and lower extremities with a total of 32 fractures evaluated. Two-material decomposition images were analyzed for quantitative analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired t-test and Shapiro-Wilk test for normality. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the water and fat densities in the bone marrow at the site of an extremity, vertebral body, or pelvic fracture when compared to the normal anatomic equivalent (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, DECT basis material images, using water (calcium) and fat (calcium) decomposition illustrated significant differences in water and fat content between fracture sites and normal bone in a variety of anatomical sites.

American Society of Emergency Radiology Multicenter Blunt Splenic Trauma Study: CT and Clinical Findings.

Background Treatment of blunt splenic trauma (BST) continues to evolve with improved imaging for detection of splenic vascular injuries. Purpose To report on treatments for BST from 11 trauma centers, the frequency and clinical impact of splenic vascular injuries, and factors influencing treatment. Materials and Methods Patients were retrospectively identified as having BST between January 2011 and December 2018, and clinical, imaging, and outcome data were recorded. Patient data were summarized descriptively, both overall and stratified by initial treatment received (nonoperative management [NOM], angiography, or surgery). Regression analyses were used to examine the primary outcomes of interest, which were initial treatment received and length of stay (LOS). Results This study evaluated 1373 patients (mean age, 42 years ± 18; 845 men). Initial treatments included NOM in 849 patients, interventional radiology (IR) in 240 patients, and surgery in 284 patients. Rates from CT reporting were 22% (304 of 1373) for active splenic hemorrhage (ASH) and 20% (276 of 1373) for contained vascular injury (CVI). IR management of high-grade injuries increased 15.6%, from 28.6% (eight of 28) to 44.2% (57 of 129) (2011-2012 vs 2017-2018). Patients who were treated invasively had a higher injury severity score (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.05; P < .001), lower temperature (OR, 0.97; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.00; P = .03), and a lower hematocrit (OR, 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93, 0.99; P = .003) and were more likely to show ASH (OR, 8.05; 95% CI: 5.35, 12.26; P < .001) or CVI (OR, 2.70; 95% CI: 1.64, 4.44; P < .001) on CT images, have spleen-only injures (OR, 2.35; 95% CI: 1.45, 3.8; P < .001), and have been administered blood product for fewer than 24 hours (OR, 2.35; 95% CI: 1.58, 3.51; P < .001) compared with those chosen for NOM, after adjusting for key demographic and clinical variables. After adjustment, factors associated with a shorter LOS were female sex (OR, 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.96; P = .009), spleen-only injury (OR, 0.72; 95% CI: 0.6, 0.86; P < .001), higher admission hematocrit (OR, 0.98; 95% CI: 0.6, 0.86; P < .001), and presence of ASH at CT (OR, 0.74; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.88; P < .001). Conclusion Contained vascular injury and active splenic hemorrhage (ASH) were frequently reported, and rates of interventional radiologic management increased during the study period. ASH was associated with a shorter length of stay, and patients with ASH had eight times the odds of undergoing invasive treatment compared with undergoing nonoperative management. © RSNA, 2021 See also the editorial by Patlas in this issue.

Liver trauma: hepatic vascular injury on computed tomography as a predictor of patient outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate hepatic vascular injury (HVI) on CT in blunt and penetrating trauma and assess its relationship to patient management and outcome. METHOD AND MATERIALS: This retrospective study was IRB approved and HIPAA compliant. Informed consent was waived. Included were patients ≥ 16 years old who sustained blunt or penetrating trauma with liver laceration seen on a CT performed at our institution within 24 h of presentation over the course of 10 years and 6 months (August 2007-February 2018). During this interval, 171 patients met inclusion criteria (123 males, 48 females; mean age 34; age range 17-80 years old). Presence of HVI was evaluated and liver injury was graded in a blinded fashion by two radiologists using the 1994 and 2018 American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) liver injury scales. Hospital length of stay and treatment (angioembolization or operative) were recorded from the electronic medical record. Multivariate linear regressions were used to determine our variables' impact on the length of stay, and logistic regressions were used for categorical outcomes. RESULTS: Of the included liver trauma patients, 25% had HVI. Patients with HVI had a 3.2-day longer length of hospital stay on average and had a 40.3-fold greater odds of getting angioembolization compared to those without. Patients with high-grade liver injury (AAST grades IV-V, 2018 criteria) had a 3.2-fold greater odds of failing non-operative management and a 14.3-fold greater odds of angioembolization compared to those without. CONCLUSION: HVI in liver trauma is common and is predictive of patient outcome and management. KEY POINTS: • Hepatic vascular injury occurs commonly (25%) with liver trauma. • Hepatic vascular injury is associated with increased length of hospital stay and angioembolization. • High-grade liver injury is associated with failure of non-operative management and with angioembolization.

Pancreatic Trauma: Imaging Review and Management Update.

Traumatic injuries of the pancreas are uncommon and often difficult to diagnose owing to subtle imaging findings, confounding multiorgan injuries, and nonspecific clinical signs. Nonetheless, early diagnosis and treatment are critical, as delays increase morbidity and mortality. Imaging has a vital role in diagnosis and management. A high index of suspicion, as well as knowledge of the anatomy, mechanism of injury, injury grade, and role of available imaging modalities, is required for prompt accurate diagnosis. CT is the initial imaging modality of choice, although the severity of injury can be underestimated and assessment of the pancreatic duct is limited with this modality. The time from injury to definitive diagnosis and the treatment of potential pancreatic duct injury are the primary factors that determine outcome following pancreatic trauma. Disruption of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) is associated with higher rates of complications, such as abscess, fistula, and pseudoaneurysm, and is the primary cause of pancreatic injury-related mortality. Although CT findings can suggest pancreatic duct disruption according to the depth of parenchymal injury, MR cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography facilitate direct assessment of the MPD. Management of traumatic pancreatic injury depends on multiple factors, including mechanism of injury, injury grade, presence (or absence) of vascular injury, hemodynamic status of the patient, and associated organ damage. ©RSNA, 2020 See discussion on this article by Patlas.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the pericholecystic hepatic parenchyma for distinguishing acute and chronic cholecystitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to measure the performance of restricted diffusion of the pericholecystic hepatic parenchyma for distinguishing between acute and chronic cholecystitis. METHODS: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study. Two hundred sixty-six patients presenting with acute right upper quadrant pain between 10/3/2010 and 11/28/2012 undergoing MR within 48 h of equivocal utility of ultrasound (US) were included. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences (b = 0, 600 s/mm2, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps) were reviewed and graded in a blinded fashion by two abdominal fellowship-trained radiologists for the presence of restricted diffusion in the pericholecystic hepatic parenchyma and the gallbladder wall. Sensitivity, specificity, and inter-observer agreement for individual imaging signs were calculated using surgical pathology as the reference standard for acute cholecystitis. RESULTS: Of the 266 patients, 113 were treated conservatively and 153 underwent cholecystectomy. Restricted diffusion of the pericholecystic hepatic parenchyma showed low sensitivity (reviewer 1, 40%; reviewer 2, 30%) and moderately high specificity (reviewer 1, 84%; reviewer 2, 75%) for distinguishing acute and chronic cholecystitis. Restricted diffusion in the gallbladder wall showed low sensitivity (reviewer 1, 30%; reviewer 2, 7%) and high specificity (reviewer 1, 93%; reviewer 2, 97%) for distinguishing acute and chronic cholecystitis. CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted imaging of the pericholecystic hepatic parenchyma shows moderately high specificity for distinguishing between acute and chronic cholecystitis.

Effect of an Institutional Triaging Algorithm on the Use of Multidetector CT for Patients with Blunt Abdominopelvic Trauma over an 8-year Period.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of an institutional clinical triaging algorithm on the rate of multidetector computed tomography (CT) utilization in blunt abdominopelvic trauma (BAPT) over an 8-year period at an urban level 1 trauma center. Materials and Methods Adult patients (n = 13 096; mean age, 42 years; age range, 15-95 years) admitted with BAPT from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2013, were included. Patients with BAPT were divided into two groups: those admitted before (referred to as the prealgorithm group, from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2010) and after (referred to as the postalgorithm group, from July 1, 2010, to December 31, 2013) the implementation of an institutional clinical triaging algorithm. The following parameters were recorded from abdominopelvic CT study reports for the pre- and postalgorithm groups: number of abdominopelvic CT examinations at admission, number of abdominopelvic CT examinations with positive BAPT-related findings, injury severity score, length of hospital stay, and number of mortalities. The unpaired t test and χ2 analysis were used to determine significant differences. Results The percentage of patients admitted for BAPT who underwent an abdominopelvic CT study was 76.7% (5900 of 7688) in the prealgorithm group and 44.6% (2413 of 5408) in the postalgorithm group, a 32.1% decrease in use of CT (P < .001). The mean injury severity score increased from 10.1 ± 9.1 (standard deviation) to 13.3 ± 11.9 after implementation of the algorithm in patients admitted for BAPT who underwent abdominopelvic CT examination (P < .001). The percentage of abdominopelvic CT examinations with BAPT-related findings increased from 17.1% (1007 of 5900) to 19.8% (479 of 2413) (P = .003). There was a significant difference in average length of stay, from 4.8 days ± 7.0 to 4.2 days ± 6.2 (P < .001). Mortality decreased from 3.1% (242 of 7688) to 2.7% (148 of 5408) after implementation of the algorithm (P = .19). Conclusion The implementation of a clinical triaging algorithm resulted in decreased use of multidetector CT in patients who presented with BAPT to the emergency department. © RSNA, 2016.

Multidetector CT of Surgically Proven Blunt Bowel and Mesenteric Injury.

Blunt traumatic injury is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Unintentional injury represents the leading cause of death in the United States for all persons between the ages of 1 and 44 years. In the setting of blunt abdominal trauma, the reported rate of occurrence of bowel and mesenteric injuries ranges from 1% to 5%. Despite the relatively low rate of blunt bowel and mesenteric injury in patients with abdominal and pelvic trauma, delays in diagnosis are associated with increased rates of sepsis, a prolonged course in the intensive care unit, and increased mortality. During the past 2 decades, as multidetector computed tomography (CT) has emerged as an essential tool in emergency radiology, several direct and indirect imaging features have been identified that are associated with blunt bowel and mesenteric injury. The imaging findings in cases of blunt bowel and mesenteric injury can be subtle and may be seen in the setting of multiple complex injuries, such as multiple solid-organ injuries and spinal fractures. Familiarity with the various imaging features of blunt bowel and mesenteric injury, as well as an understanding of their clinical importance with regard to the care of the patient, is essential to making a timely diagnosis. Once radiologists are familiar with the spectrum of findings of blunt bowel and mesenteric injury, they will be able to make timely diagnoses that will lead to improved patient outcomes. ©RSNA, 2017.

Extremity CTA for penetrating trauma: 10-year experience using a 64-detector row CT scanner.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of CT angiography (CTA) in the evaluation of penetrating vascular trauma to the extremities in a large cohort of patients at our level I trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective, IRB-approved review of consecutive CTAs for the evaluation of penetrating trauma to the extremities in 446 patients (M/F = 396:50, mean age = 27 years) from 1/1/2005 to 5/1/2015 was performed. Medical records were reviewed to correlate diagnostic imaging findings with clinical history and subsequent interventions. Image quality was quantified by measurement of CT attenuation coefficients in the major arteries of the extremities. The Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the relationships between the presence and type of vascular injury and subsequent clinical management. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-one (29.4 %) of 446 patients with penetrating trauma demonstrated major vascular injury on CTA, 35 (26.7 %) of whom underwent subsequent surgical repair. None of the patients without vascular injury on CTA underwent subsequent vascular intervention. Fisher's exact test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in management and requirement for vascular repair in those patients with a vascular injury on CTA when compared to those without a vascular injury (p < 0.0001). The mean attenuation values achieved in upper and lower extremity CTAs in this population exceeded 250 HU. CONCLUSION: Extremity CTA is found to be an accurate tool for surgical triage in patients having sustained penetrating vascular trauma.

Utility of MDCT findings in predicting patient management outcomes in renal trauma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of computed tomography (CT) in predicting clinical outcomes in renal trauma. MATERIALS/METHODS: This retrospective study was IRB approved and HIPAA compliant; informed consent was waived. One-hundred-sixty-two, trauma-related renal injuries (157 adults) from January 01, 2006 to December 31, 2013 were included in this retrospective study. CT findings of vascular and collecting system (CS) injuries were recorded, and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) renal injury grades were assigned. Fisher's exact test evaluated correlations between AAST grade and active hemorrhage, AAST grade and surgical/endovascular therapy, active hemorrhage and surgical/endovascular therapy, and size of perinephric hematomas and CS injuries. The unpaired t test correlated to the size of perinephric hematomas in CS injuries diagnosed on initial versus repeat imaging. RESULTS: AAST grades were as follows: 120 grades I-III and 42 grade IV/V. Active hemorrhage was diagnosed in 25 (15%) patients and CS injury in 22 (14%) patients. Seven (8%) patients received surgical/endovascular therapy. There were statistically significant correlations between AAST grade and active hemorrhage (p = 0.003), active hemorrhage and surgical/endovascular therapy (p < 0.0001), and large perinephric hematomas (>2 cm) and CS injuries (p < 0.0001). There was no significant correlation between AAST grade and surgical/endovascular therapy (p = 0.08). Of the CS injuries (50%), 11/22 had no evidence of CS injury on initial imaging, being detected on follow-up CT. These "masked cases" demonstrated significant differences in perinephric hematoma size when compared to CS injuries diagnosed on initial imaging (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Active hemorrhage in renal trauma is a significant predictor of surgical/endovascular therapy, in contradistinction to the AAST grade. In collecting system injuries, a large fraction was not detectable on initial CT, supporting the need for repeat imaging in cases with large perinephric hematomas.

CT of Major Vascular Injury in Blunt Abdominopelvic Trauma.

Blunt abdominopelvic trauma remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality nationwide. Delays in diagnosis can be catastrophic, underscoring the crucial importance of prompt injury detection. Identification of vascular injuries in the setting of blunt abdominal trauma can pose a diagnostic challenge, as detection is reliant on appropriate multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanning protocols and familiarity with the various imaging presentations of vessel injury. The advent of multidetector CT and fine-tuning of department protocols has led to fast, accurate, and efficient diagnosis of the broad spectrum of major vascular injuries that can result from blunt abdominopelvic trauma. CT allows timely diagnosis, differentiation between various types of major vascular injury, identification of associated findings, and specific localization of the source of bleeding. Accurate and early diagnosis of major abdominopelvic vascular injuries is fundamental to initiation of appropriate treatment strategies and improvement of clinical outcomes in this patient population. (©)RSNA, 2016.

Suboptimal CT pulmonary angiography in the emergency department: a retrospective analysis of outcomes in a large academic medical center.

Optimal CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is a prerequisite for accurate diagnosis and management of suspected venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) in the emergency department (ED). However, a certain proportion of CTPA studies are diagnostically limited or non-diagnostic due to various technical causes. In this study, we analyze the incidence and cause of suboptimal CTPA studies in the ED and assess the need for additional imaging. Reports of 1444 consecutive CTPAs performed in an ED on adult patients over a 25-month period beginning November 30, 2011, were reviewed. The observed suboptimal CTPA rate was 4.2 % (60/1444). The most common causes of limited or non-diagnostic CTPA in the ED were related to timing of contrast bolus or IV infiltration (26/60, 43.4 %), respiratory motion (16/60, 26.7 %), multifactorial causes (10/60, 16.7 %), and patient motion (8/60, 13.3 %). Of the 60 studies included, only 7 patients (11.7 %) underwent additional diagnostic imaging during the same hospital visit for VTE, while 3 patients (5.0 %) underwent additional imaging for suspected VTE over the next 2 months. A total of 2/60 (3.4 %) patients had documented acute PE on additional imaging performed either on the same hospital visit or within 2 months. Regardless of the factors contributing to suboptimal CTPA, only a very small proportion of patients receive additional imaging to evaluate for VTE, either on the same visit or during the next 2 months (16.7 %, 10/60 patients). A small number (3.4 %) of these patients have documented acute PE within 2 months when additional imaging tests were performed.

Damage control surgery: use of diagnostic CT after life-saving laparotomy.

Damage control surgery (DCS) is a limited exploratory laparotomy that is performed in unstable trauma patients who, without immediate intervention, would acutely decompensate. Patients usually present with shock physiology and metabolic derangements including acidosis, hypothermia, and coagulopathy. Delayed medical correction of these metabolic derangements leads to an irreversible state of coagulopathic hemorrhagic shock and inevitable patient demise. Therefore, once a patient meets DCS criteria, a limited exploratory laparotomy is performed to stabilize life-threatening injury and expedite initiation of medical resuscitation in the intensive care unit (ICU). The surgeon plans to return to the operating room for definitive surgical treatment once the patient is hemodynamically stabilized and the metabolic derangements have been corrected. DCS patients are frequently sent to the ICU with an open abdomen and purposefully retained surgical equipment. The lack of response to resuscitation efforts, persistent hypotension, tachycardia, and/or the development of sepsis are common indications for this patient population to undergo CT imaging. The indications and findings of multi-detector CT (MDCT) in patients post-DCS have not been thoroughly evaluated in the radiology literature. A radiologist's knowledge of the DCS protocol and pre-imaging surgical interventions helps optimize the MDCT protocol. This enhances the radiologist's ability to evaluate for failure of surgical interventions performed prior to imaging and to search for injuries in areas that were not explored or that were missed during the initial surgical exploration.

CT imaging signs of surgically proven bowel trauma.

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and interobserver agreement of individual CT findings as well as the bowel injury prediction score (BIPS) in surgically proven bowel injury after blunt abdominal trauma. This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study was IRB approved and consent was waived. All patients 14 years or older who sustained surgically proven bowel injury after blunt abdominal trauma between 1/1/2004 and 6/30/2015 were included. Admission trauma MDCT scans were independently interpreted by two abdominal fellowship-trained radiologists who recorded the following CT findings: intraperitoneal fluid, mesenteric hematoma/fat stranding, bowel wall thickening/hematoma, active intravenous contrast extravasation, free intraperitoneal air, bowel wall discontinuity, and focal bowel hypoenhancement. Subsequently, the electronic medical records of the included patients, admission abdominal physical exam results, admission white blood cell count, and findings at exploratory laparotomy of the included patients were recorded. Thirty-three patients met the inclusion criteria. The incidence and interobserver agreement of the CT findings were as follows: intraperitoneal fluid 93.9 %, kappa = 0.784 (good); mesenteric hematoma/fat stranding 84.8 %, kappa = 0.718 (good); bowel wall thickening/hematoma 42.4 %, kappa = 0.491 (moderate); active IV contrast extravasation 36.3 %, kappa = 1.00 (perfect); free intraperitoneal air 21.2 %, kappa = 0.904 (very good), bowel wall discontinuity 6.1 %, kappa = 1.00 (perfect); and focal bowel hypoenhancement 6.1 %, kappa = 0.468 (moderate). An absence of the specified CT findings was encountered in 9.1 % with surgically proven bowel injuries (kappa = 1.00, perfect). In our study, 9/16 patients or 56.3 % had a bowel injury prediction score (BIPS) of 2 or more as defined by McNutt et al. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg 78(1):105-111, 2014). The presence of intraperitoneal fluid and mesenteric hematoma/fat stranding are the most common CT findings in bowel injuries proven at laparotomy. A small percentage of patients have no abnormal CT findings. This grading system did not prove to be useful in our study likely due to our inherently small patient population; however, the use of BIPS deserves further investigation as it may help in identifying blunt bowel and mesenteric injury patients with often subtle or nonspecific CT findings.

Diagnosing acute appendicitis using a nonoral contrast CT protocol in patients with a BMI of less than 25.

The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy for the diagnosis of appendicitis in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute, nontraumatic abdominal pain and a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 before and after the implementation of a nonoral contrast computed tomography (CT) protocol with intravenous contrast. The IRB approved this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study; informed consent was waived. This study included 736 adult patients with a BMI of less than 25 presenting to our ED with acute, nontraumatic abdominal pain over two distinct 6-month time periods. An oral and intravenous contrast-enhanced protocol was utilized in the first cohort (group A), and an intravenous contrast-enhanced protocol without oral contrast was utilized in the second cohort (group B). Three abdominal fellowship-trained readers retrospectively reviewed all CT studies and electronic medical records, including surgical/pathology reports that served as reference standards. Group A consisted of 359 patients; 41 patients had surgically proven appendicitis. The sensitivity and specificity of the readers for diagnosing appendicitis in group A ranged from 95.2-100 and 98.1-99.5 %, respectively. Group B consisted of 372 patients; 39 had surgically proven appendicitis. The sensitivity and specificity of the readers in group B ranged from 92.0-100 and 98.6-100 %, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in sensitivity or specificity for CT scans performed in groups A and B. In patients with a BMI of less than 25, an intravenous contrast-enhanced CT protocol without oral contrast demonstrates similar accuracy to an intravenous contrast-enhanced protocol with oral contrast for diagnosing acute appendicitis.

The utility of CT for predicting bile leaks in hepatic trauma.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of CT to predict the development of bile leaks in hepatic trauma. This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study was IRB approved and consent was waived. All patients who sustained hepatic trauma between January 1, 2006, and January 31, 2012, and who underwent CT and hepatobiliary scans during the same hospital admission were included. One hundred and thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. Comparison between the presence of biliary injury relative to American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) hepatic injury grade and mean distance of the hepatic laceration to the inferior vena cava (IVC) was made. The ability of free fluid to predict bile injury was analyzed. Forty-one (31 %) of the 132 patients had positive hepatobiliary scans. Of these 41 patients, seven (17 %) sustained low-grade and 34 (83 %) sustained high-grade hepatic injury compared with the 37 (41 %) low-grade and 54 (59 %) high-grade hepatic injuries in the negative hepatobiliary scan group. The mean distance to the IVC was 2.4 cm (SD 2.9 cm) and 3.6 cm (SD 3.3 cm) in patients with and without bile leaks, respectively. A statistically significant difference in the proportion of high-grade injuries and the mean distance from the IVC between the two groups was identified. The presence of free fluid on CT is sensitive, but not specific, for detecting a bile leak. CT findings, including AAST liver injury grade and location of the liver laceration, are able to predict which patients are at risk for developing bile leaks as seen on hepatobiliary scintigraphy, whereas the presence of free fluid is not.

Active hemorrhage and vascular injuries in splenic trauma: utility of the arterial phase in multidetector CT.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the addition of arterial phase computed tomography (CT) to the standard combination of portal venous and delayed phase imaging increases sensitivity in the diagnosis of active hemorrhage and/or contained vascular injuries in patients with splenic trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study; the requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. The study included all patients aged 15 years and older who sustained a splenic injury from blunt or penetrating trauma and who underwent CT in the arterial and portal venous phases of image acquisition during a 74-month period (September 2005 to November 2011). CT scans were reviewed by three radiologists, and a consensus interpretation was made to classify the splenic injuries according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma splenic injury scale. One radiologist independently recorded the presence of contained vascular injuries or active hemorrhage and the phase or phases at which these lesions were seen. Clinical outcome was assessed by reviewing medical records. The relationship between imaging findings and clinical management was assessed with the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria; 32 patients (22%) had active hemorrhage and 22 (15%) had several contained vascular injuries. In 13 of the 22 patients with contained injuries, the vascular lesion was visualized only at the arterial phase of image acquisition; the other nine contained vascular injuries were seen at all phases. Surgery or embolization was performed in 11 of the 22 patients with contained vascular injury. CONCLUSION: The arterial phase of image acquisition improves detection of traumatic contained splenic vascular injuries and should be considered to optimize detection of splenic injuries in trauma with CT.

Biliary imaging: multimodality approach to imaging of biliary injuries and their complications.

Although traumatic and iatrogenic bile leaks are rare, they have become more prevalent in recent years due to an increased propensity toward nonsurgical management of patients with liver trauma and an overall increase in the number of hepatobiliary surgeries being performed. Because clinical signs and symptoms of bile leaks are nonspecific and delay in the recognition of bile leaks is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, imaging is crucial for establishing an early diagnosis and guiding the treatment algorithm. At computed tomography or ultrasonography, free or contained peri- or intrahepatic low-attenuation (low-density) fluid in the setting of recent trauma or hepatobiliary surgery should raise suspicion for a bile leak. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy and magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiopancreatography with hepatobiliary contrast agents can help detect active or contained bile leaks. MR cholangiopancreatography with hepatobiliary contrast agents has the added advantage of being able to help localize the bile leak, which in turn can help determine if endoscopic management is sufficient or if surgical management is warranted. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may provide diagnostic confirmation and concurrent therapy when nonsurgical management is pursued. A multimodality imaging approach is helpful in diagnosing traumatic or iatrogenic biliary injuries, accurately localizing a bile leak, and determining appropriate treatment.

The Public Perception of CT Colonography Versus Colonoscopy via Sentiment Analysis of Social Media.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the public perception of CT colonography (CTC) in comparison with optical colonoscopy as a colorectal cancer screening technique. METHODS: In this observational study, all English-language tweets from January 1, 2015, until September 1, 2021, containing terms related to CTC and terms related to optical colonoscopy were collected. The tweets were given sentiment scores using Twitter-roBERTa-base, a natural language processing model. These scores were then used to classify tweets into positive, neutral, and negative categories. The numbers of negative, positive, and neutral tweets were tabulated. RESULTS: A total of 4,709 tweets from 2,194 users relating to CTC were collected. Of these tweets, 9.81% were negative, 68.52% were neutral, and 21.63% were positive. In comparison, a total of 445,969 tweets from 261,209 users were collected relating to optical colonoscopy. Of these tweets, 31.8% were negative, 51.3% were neutral, and 16.9% were positive. CONCLUSIONS: The public awareness of CTC remains limited in comparison with optical colonoscopy, with Twitter volume relating to CTC being about 1% the volume for optical colonoscopy. There was a higher proportion of negative tweets regarding colonoscopy. The lower proportion of negative tweets regarding CTC may be helpful in encouraging its use as an alternative to optical colonoscopy, with the aim of increasing uptake of colorectal cancer screening.