Pediatric minor head trauma: do cranial CT scans change the therapeutic approach?

OBJECTIVES: 1) To verify clinical signs correlated with appropriate cranial computed tomography scan indications and changes in the therapeutic approach in pediatric minor head trauma scenarios. 2) To estimate the radiation exposure of computed tomography scans with low dose protocols in the context of trauma and the additional associated risk. METHODS: Investigators reviewed the medical records of all children with minor head trauma, which was defined as a Glasgow coma scale ≥13 at the time of admission to the emergency room, who underwent computed tomography scans during the years of 2013 and 2014. A change in the therapeutic approach was defined as a neurosurgical intervention performed within 30 days, hospitalization, >12 hours of observation, or neuro-specialist evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 1006 children evaluated, 101 showed some abnormality on head computed tomography scans, including 49 who were hospitalized, 16 who remained under observation and 36 who were dismissed. No patient underwent neurosurgery. No statistically significant relationship was observed between patient age, time between trauma and admission, or signs/symptoms related to trauma and abnormal imaging results. A statistically significant relationship between abnormal image results and a fall higher than 1.0 meter was observed (p=0.044). The mean effective dose was 2.0 mSv (0.1 to 6.8 mSv), corresponding to an estimated additional cancer risk of 0.05%. CONCLUSION: A computed tomography scan after minor head injury in pediatric patients did not show clinically relevant abnormalities that could lead to neurosurgical indications. Patients who fell more than 1.0 m were more likely to have changes in imaging tests, although these changes did not require neurosurgical intervention; therefore, the use of computed tomography scans may be questioned in this group. The results support the trend of more careful indications for cranial computed tomography scans for children with minor head trauma.

Whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging versus FDG-PET/CT for initial lymphoma staging: systematic review on diagnostic test accuracy studies / Ressonância magnética de corpo total com difusão comparada à FDG-PET/CT no estadiamento inicial do linfoma: revisão sistemática de estudos de acurácia diagnóstica

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Positron emission tomography with [18]F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) has been advocated as the method of choice for lymphoma staging, since it enables whole-body analysis with high sensitivity for detection of affected areas and because it combines capacities for anatomical and functional assessment. With technological advances, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as an alternative to FDG-PET/CT. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to compare whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI (WB-MRI) with FDG-PET/CT for lymphoma staging. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review on diagnostic test accuracy studies conducted at a public university. METHODS: The Medline, Scopus, Embase and Lilacs databases were searched for studies published up to September 2013 that compared WB-MRI and FDG-PET/CT for lymphoma staging. The reference lists of included studies were checked for any relevant additional citations. RESULTS: Six studies that evaluated the initial lymphoma staging in 116 patients were included. WB-MRI and FDG-PET/CT agreed in 90.5% of the cases (κ = 0.871; P < 0.0001). In most of the studies, when there was disagreement between the methods, WB-MRI overstaged in relation to FDG-PET/CT. The sensitivity of WB-MRI and FDG-PET/CT, in comparison with the clinical-radiological standard, ranged from 59 to 100% and from 63 to 100% respectively. CONCLUSION: WB-MRI is a highly sensitive method for initial lymphoma staging. It has excellent agreement with FDG-PET/CT and is a great alternative for managing lymphoma patients, without using ionizing radiation or an intravenous contrast agent. .

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: A tomografia por emissão de pósitrons com 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxi-D-glicose (FDG-PET/CT) tem sido defendida como método de escolha para o estadiamento do linfoma por realizar o estudo do corpo inteiro com boa sensibilidade para detecção das áreas acometidas e por combinar as capacidades de avaliação anatômica e funcional. Com os avanços tecnológicos, a ressonância magnética tem se apresentando como alternativa à FDG-PET/CT. Esta revisão sistemática com metanálise visa comparar a ressonância magnética de corpo inteiro (WB-MRI) com difusão com a FDG-PET/CT no estadiamento do linfoma. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Revisão sistemática de estudos de acurácia diagnóstica conduzida em universidade pública. MÉTODOS: Foi conduzida uma busca nos bancos de dados Medline, Embase, Scopus e Lilacs por estudos publicados até setembro de 2013 comparando a WB-MRI com a FDG-PET/CT no estadiamento do linfoma. As referências bibliográficas dos estudos incluídos foram checadas com a finalidade de encontrar citações adicionais relevantes. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos seis estudos que avaliaram o estadiamento inicial do linfoma de 116 pacientes. A WB-MRI e a FDG-PET/CT concordaram em 90,5% dos casos (κ = 0,871; P < 0,0001). Na maioria dos estudos, quando houve discordância, a WB-MRI estabeleceu estadiamento superior à FDG-PET/CT. A sensibilidade da WB-MRI e da FDG-PET/CT, em relação ao padrão clínico-radiológico, variou de 59% a 100% e de 63% a 100%, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A WB-MRI apresenta alta sensibilidade no estadiamento inicial do linfoma, excelente concordância com a FDG-PET/CT e representa uma ótima alternativa no manejo de pacientes com linfoma, sem utilizar radiação ionizante ou meio de contraste intravenoso. .

Avaliação do conhecimento de médicos não radiologistas sobre aspectos relacionados à radiação ionizante em exames de imagem / Evaluation of non-radiologist physicians' knowledge on aspects related to ionizing radiation in imaging

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento dos médicos não radiologistas sobre a utilização da radiação ionizante em exames de imagem. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo transversal, utilizando questionário anônimo, aplicado a médicos de especialidades clínicas e cirúrgicas, dividido em duas partes: uma com questões sobre as características dos médicos, frequência de solicitação de exames e de participação em eventos de atualização profissional, e outra com questões de múltipla escolha, abordando conhecimentos gerais sobre radiação, princípios de otimização e radioproteção. Resultados: De 309 questionários distribuídos, 120 (38,8%) foram respondidos, 50% por médicos de especialidades cirúrgicas e 50% clínicas; 45% e 2,5% dos médicos responderam, respectivamente, que a ressonância magnética e a ultrassonografia utilizam radiação ionizante. No geral, a média das notas foi maior nas especialidades cirúrgicas, sem diferenças significativas, exceto na questão sobre exposição em grávidas (p = 0,047). Os médicos que se atualizam profissionalmente mostraram conhecimento sobre radiação ionizante estatisticamente superior aos demais, principalmente os que frequentam reuniões clínicas (p = 0,050) e participam de atividades de ensino (p = 0,047). Conclusão: O conhecimento dos médicos não radiologistas sobre radiação ionizante é heterogêneo e em alguns pontos precisa ser melhorado. Reuniões clínicas multidisciplinares e atividades de ensino são importantes formas de disseminar informações sobre o tema. .

Objective: To assess the non-radiologist physicians' knowledge on the use of ionizing radiation in imaging. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study utilizing an anonymous questionnaire responded by physicians in clinical and surgical specialties, divided into two parts as follows: one including questions about the physicians' characteristics, frequency of imaging studies requests and participation in professional updating events, and another part including multiple choice questions approaching general knowledge about radiation, optimization principles and radioprotection. Results: From a total of 309 questionnaires, 120 (38.8%) were responded, 50% by physicians in surgical specialties and 50% in clinical specialties; respectively 45% and 2.5% of physicians responded that magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography use ionizing radiation. Overall, the average grade was higher for surgical specialists with no significant difference, except for the question about exposure in pregnant women (p = 0.047). Physicians who are professionally updated, particularly those attending clinical meetings (p = 0.050) and participating in teaching activities (p = 0.047), showed statistically superior knowledge about ionizing radiation as compared with others. Conclusion: The non-radiologist physicians' knowledge is heterogeneous and in some points needs to be improved. Multidisciplinary clinical meetings and teaching activities are important ways to disseminate information on the subject. .

Associação entre achados ultrassonográficos e clínicos do quadril de pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil / Association between the ultrasonographic and clinical findings in the hips of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJETIVO: Descrever os achados ultrassonográficos do quadril em pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil (AIJ) e sua associação com sinais, sintomas e atividade da doença. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com 92 pacientes com AIJ. Foram avaliados os subtipos da doença, a idade de início, o tempo de evolução, a atividade da doença e as manifestações clínicas do envolvimento do quadril. A avaliação ultrassonográfica foi realizada na rotina dos pacientes, e as imagens foram analisadas por dois ultrassonografistas cegos em relação às condições clínicas dos pacientes. RESULTADOS: Do total de 92 pacientes, 69,6% eram meninas, com média de idade de 12,4 ± 5,1 anos. Trinta e três (35,9%) apresentaram subtipo oligoarticular persistente e trinta (32,6%) poliarticular com fator reumatoide negativo. Quarenta e quatro (47,8%) apresentaram sinal e/ou sintoma relacionado ao quadril. Vinte e nove (31,5%) apresentaram alterações ultrassonográficas, com sinovite subclínica em 34,4%. As alterações ultrassonográficas se associaram com presença de sinais e/ou sintomas do quadril (P = 0,021), especialmente limitação articular (P = 0,006), mas não com atividade (P = 0,948) ou subtipo de doença (P = 0,108). Sinovite clínica se associou com comprometimento poliarticular (P = 0,002) e atividade de doença (P = 0,017). Não houve associação entre sinovite subclínica e as variáveis estudadas. CONCLUSÃO: O acometimento clínico do quadril na AIJ, especialmente a limitação articular, está associado à sinovite na avaliação por US, independente do subtipo e da atividade da doença. Os profissionais de saúde devem estar atentos à possibilidade de doença silenciosa com sinovite subclínica, que pode contribuir para a deterioração da articulação do quadril.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the ultrasonographic (US) findings in the hips of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and the association between these findings and the signs, symptoms, and activity of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present retrospective study included 92 patients with JIA. The disease subtypes, age at disease onset, length of disease progression, disease activity, and clinical manifestations of the hip pathology were assessed. US examinations were routinely performed, and the images were analysed by two ultrasonographers who were blinded to the patients' clinical conditions. RESULTS: Of the 92 patients included in the study, 69.6% were girls, and the average age was 12.4 ± 5.1 years. Thirty-three (35.9%) participants exhibited the persistent oligoarticular subtype, and 30 (32.6%) exhibited the rheumatoid factor (RF)-negative polyarticular subtype. Forty-four participants exhibited signs and/or symptoms of hip pathology. Twentynine (31.5%) participants exhibited abnormal US findings, and 34.4% exhibited subclinical synovitis. The US alterations exhibited an association with subclinical synovitis in 34.4% of the cases. The US alterations bore a correlation with the presence of hip-related signs and/ or symptoms (P = 0.021), particularly joint limitations (P = 0.006), but were not correlated with the disease activity (P = 0.948) or subtype (P = 0.108). Clinical synovitis was associated with polyarticular involvement (P = 0.002) and disease activity (P = 0.017). Subclinical synovitis was not correlated with the investigated variables. CONCLUSION: Clinical affection of the hip in JIA, particularly joint limitation, is associated with synovitis (revealed by US assessment) independently of the activity and subtype of the disease. Therefore, healthcare professionals should consider the possible occurrence of silent disease and subclinical synovitis, which might contribute to hip deterioration.