Accelerated implementation of remote reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To assess, via a survey of UK radiological departments, if the COVID-19 pandemic led to a change in radiological reporting undertaken in a home environment with appropriate IT support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All imaging departments in the UK were contacted and asked about the provision of home reporting and IT support before and after the first wave of the pandemic. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-seven of the 217 departments contacted replied, producing a response rate of 61%. There was a 147% increase in the provision of remote access viewing and reporting platforms during the pandemic. Although 578 consultants had access to a viewing platform pre-pandemic, this had increased to 1,431 during the course of the first wave. CONCLUSION: This survey represents work undertaken by UK NHS Trusts in co-ordinating and providing increased home-reporting facilities to UK radiologists during the first wave of this global pandemic. The impact of these facilities has been shown to allow more than just the provision of reporting of both elective and emergency imaging and provides additional flexibility in how UK radiologists can help support and provide services. This is a good start, but there are potential problems that now need to be overcome.

A national UK audit for diagnostic accuracy of preoperative CT chest in emergency and elective surgery during COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To report on a snap audit of all departments in the UK as to the value of preoperative thoracic imaging, preferably computed tomography (CT), of patients undergoing any surgery to assess for changes consistent with COVID-19 preoperatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All Imaging departments in the UK were contacted and asked to record the number of preoperative CT examinations performed in patients being considered for both emergency and elective surgical intervention over a 5-day period in May 2020. RESULTS: Forty-seven percent of departments replied with data provided on >820 patients. Nineteen percent of additional preoperative CT was in patients undergoing elective intervention and 81% in patients presenting with surgical abdominal pain. There was a high rate of false positives in patients who tested negative for COVID-19, producing a sensitivity for thoracic CT of 68.4%. CONCLUSION: This UK-wide audit demonstrates that a large number of additional thoracic imaging examinations over a 5-day period were performed with a low sensitivity for the identification of COVID-19 in this preoperative group of patients. Given these findings, it is difficult to justify this additional examination in this group of patients.

Membrane transferrin receptor (TfR) and nuclear proliferation-associated Ki-67 expression in hemopoietic malignancies.

The expression of membrane transferrin receptors (TfRs), as defined by monoclonal antibody OKT9, and the nuclear proliferation-associated antigen Ki-67 were examined in 159 cases of hematological malignancy. Of the "chronic" B and T cell leukemias studied (n = 85), 61% showed less than 5% OKT9-positive cells and only 7% of cases were TfR+ (defined as greater than 20% positive cells). For comparison, the acute leukemias (n = 62) showed higher (p less than 0.001) TfR expression with 39% TfR+ cases, although there was considerable variation within diagnostic subgroups. Nuclear Ki-67 expression was generally insignificant (less than 1%) in chronic leukemias (78 of 88 cases), although two of eight B cell-type prolymphocytic leukemia and four of four cases of plasma cell leukemia showed greater than 10% Ki-67+ components. In contrast, 47% (31 of 66) acute leukemias had greater than 10% Ki-67+ cells, although there appeared to be no relationship between Ki-67 expression and leukemic type. Combined assessments of TfR and Ki-67 expression revealed a Ki-67- TfR- phenotype in 82% of chronic leukemias, compared with 28% of acute type, and a Ki-67+ TfR+ pattern was found in 27% of acute proliferations but not in any case of chronic leukemia. The determination of membrane TfR expression appears to have little value in the diagnostic differentiation of leukemias, whereas Ki-67 is considered to be a useful supplementary investigation in defining high grade tumors, in the recognition of prognostically poor cases of otherwise well defined low grade malignancy, and of potential value in resolving discrepancies between morphological and immunophenotypic features in leukemias of "intermediate" type.

The role of IDA scintigraphy in the follow-up of liver disease in patients with cystic fibrosis.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of N-(2,4,6 trimethyl-3-bromophenylcarbamoylmethyl) iminodiacetic acid (IDA; Mebrofenin) scintigraphy in follow-up assessments of the biliary system in patients with cystic fibrosis associated liver disease. Fourteen patients from a study published in 1996 were re-examined after a mean interval of 4.7 years from their initial study, in which diisopropylphenyl carboxymethyl iminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) was used. The results of ultrasound, liver function tests and clinical examination were also compared. Twelve of the patients had been treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and taurine in the interim. Five subjects' IDA examinations showed a slight improvement on follow-up, six deteriorated, two were unchanged, whilst one demonstrated a 'mixed picture'. Overall, nine patients deteriorated in one or more of the tests. No patient showed a decline in all four investigations and only two in three. There was poor correlation between the various follow-up examinations, with different patients showing a decline in some tests but not others. This may be due to the mixture of functional and anatomical studies utilized, their differing sensitivies, and the fact that deterioration in one did not necessarily affect another. In conclusion, follow-up of hepatobiliary disease in patients with cystic fibrosis cannot be encompassed by one method alone. If early detection of disease progression would affect management, patients will continue to require a number of investigations rather than a single test.

Local and regional anesthesia for functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

An effective topical and regional anesthetic technique using 25% cocaine paste combined with intravenous midazolam hydrochloride was used in 554 patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The operative fields were excellent and all procedures were completed with little patient disturbance. Patients recovered rapidly from sedation and were usually fit for discharge on the same day. There were no anesthetic complications. The major surgical complication rate was 0.5%.

Case report: the sonographic appearance of neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis.

This case report describes the sonographic appearances in a proven case of neonatal Herpes Simplex encephalitis. Both early and late phase appearances are discussed, and are compared with other reports of imaging in similar disease processes. A role for sonography in the management of neonatal Herpes Simplex encephalitis is suggested.

Gastroschisis: a radiological and clinical review.

A retrospective clinico-radiological review was undertaken of 66 consecutive cases of gastroschisis managed at our institution between August 1982 and February 1993. The condition's morbidity and mortality were reviewed, as were its radiological features and their impact upon management. All patients underwent surgery in the first 24 h of life, and the overall survival rate was 92 %. The finding of bowel atresia at operation was associated with a particularly poor outcome, with only two out of five infants surviving. A minority of infants developed serious complications including necrotizing enterocolitis, short-bowel syndrome, persistent small-bowel dysfunction and cholestatic jaundice. Investigation by plain films, contrast studies and ultrasound examinations was necessary and helpful in these patients. Plain film radiography commonly revealed bowel-wall thickening and luminal dilatation, frequently accompanied by generalised abdominal distension. Small-bowel enema was considered to be superior to the conventional follow-through in distinguishing mechanical from functional obstruction in infants with persistent bowel dilatation.

Case report: central venous catheter fracture due to compression between the clavicle and first rib.

A central venous catheter inserted via the subclavian route may be compressed by the clavicle and adjacent first rib. This appearance on a radiograph has been previously described as the 'pinch-off sign' and indicates the need to remove the catheter, due to a significant risk of subsequent fracture. A case and its management are presented, followed by discussion of the radiographic appearances and their cause.

Colonic wall thickness, pancreatic enzyme dose and type of preparation in cystic fibrosis.

Increased colonic wall thickness has been reported in patients exposed to large doses of high strength pancreatic enzyme preparations who did not develop fibrosing colonopathy. This has been interpreted as evidence for a spectrum of subclinical disease. The relation between sonographically measured colonic wall thickness and pancreatic enzyme preparation and dose was studied in 86 children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Colonic wall thickness of a control group was also measured. The average thickness in all colonic regions was higher in the CF group (overall average range 0.7-2.5 mm v 0.6-1.4 mm in the control group). There was no significant relation between colonic wall thickness and age, sex, total dose of lipase, or copolymer. Apart from one patient with an early colonic stricture, none of those exposed to high doses of lipase, or the methacrylic acid copolymer Eudragit L30 D55, showed evidence of subclinical damage to the colon. The reproducibility of the sonographic measurements was poor.

Venous patency after open central-venous cannulation.

To investigate the value of Doppler ultrasound scan (USS) assessment of internal jugular vein (IJV) patency after previous open central-venous cannulation (CVC), a prospective study of 66 consecutive children (median age 4.5 years; range 4 months-17 years) who had previously undergone open insertion of at least one indwelling IJV line and required further CVC for completion of therapy was undertaken. All underwent Doppler USS examination prior to surgery. Where patency of the previously cannulated vein was suggested ultrasonographically, the accuracy of this finding was confined at open surgical exploration. Initial CVCs were in situ for a median of 9 months (1 month-4 years) prior to removal. The median interval to repeated CVC was 11 months (3 weeks-45 months). In 79 Doppler USS, 70 (88.6%) veins appeared patent, 3 (4.2%) stenosed, and 6 (7.6%) obliterated. Of the 70 "USS patent" veins, 66 were explored. Patency was confirmed surgically in 59 (89.4%) and a new CVC successfully inserted. Seven (10.6%) apparently patent veins on USS were found to be obliterated at open exploration. Review of USS images in these cases suggested that enlarged collateral veins were usually responsible. Overall, successful recannulation was possible in 74.6% of all previously accessed veins. In children requiring repeated CVC, Doppler USS of neck veins is a valuable but not entirely reliable guide to the presence of underlying vessel patency and should be interpreted with caution. At least three-fourths of previously cannulated IJVs remain patent after catheter removal and can be reused for CVC.

Is the appendix where you think it is--and if not does it matter?

For over 100 years the recognized surface marking for the appendix has been McBurney's point (the junction of the lateral and middle thirds of a line joining the umbilicus with the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)). In order to test its validity, the relationship between McBurney's point and the appendix was determined on 275 double contrast barium enemas (DCBE). A wide spread of distribution of the site of the appendix base was seen. Only 35% of appendix bases were found to lie within 5 cm of McBurney's point, and 15% were more than 10 cm distant. Seventy-five per cent of appendix bases were below and medial to a line joining the umbilicus with the right ASIS. These findings are in agreement with world-wide studies conducted by the World Organisation of Gastroenterology which showed that less than half of all patients with appendicitis have tenderness maximal over McBurney's point. A record was also made in 93 cases of the position of the appendix in relation to the caecum. The importance of these results in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected appendicitis is discussed.

Oxygen tension on the skin of the gaiter area of limbs with venous disease.

We examined the levels of oxygen on the skin of the gaiter areas of limbs with venous disease using a Roche Transcutaneous pO2 Monitor to determine whether hypoxia contributes to the skin changes and ulceration associated with severe venous disease. We studied patients with superficial varicose veins and no skin changes (Group 1: n = 25), patients with skin changes and healed ulcers (Group 2: n = 15), and an age matched normal control group (controls: n = 25). TcpO2 measurements were taken 5 cm above the medial malleolus with the limb both horizontal and vertical using a Roche Transcutaneous pO2 Monitor. A standard heel-raising test using a Medisonics Photoplethysmograph indicated the degree of venous insufficiency present. Results show that Group 1 patients and controls have similar skin oxygen levels (Group 1: TcpO2 66.48 + 14.12 mmHg; controls: TcpO2 61.60 +/- 11.02 mmHg) whereas those with skin changes and ulceration have significantly lower oxygen levels (Group 2: TcpO2 46.57 +/- 9.70 mmHg, t = 4.29, P less than 0.001). Group 2 patients did not show a significant rise in TcpO2 levels in the standing position whereas Group 1 patients and controls did (t = 2.6, P less than 0.02). PPG post-exercise recovery times confirmed differences between the three groups. These findings show that significant skin hypoxia occurs on the gaiter area of limbs with severe venous disease and support the concept of an oxygen diffusion block.