[The Difference of CT Value Related to Monitor Position in the Head CT-angiography Bolus Tracking Method for Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage].

The head computed tomography-angiography (head CT-A) examination is excellent for the detection and diagnosis of cerebral artery aneurysm. If we use bolus tracking method when implementing this examination, we must choose a monitoring point. We investigated the influence which the monitoring point (MCA or carotid-A) exerts on the CT value. As for the result, MCA monitoring point method was more excellent than the carotid artery monitoring point method. The CT value was higher about 50 HU in the MCA monitoring point than in the carotid artery monitoring point (average;carotid artery: 349.6±57.8 HU, MCA: 413.2±67.9 HU). So, we conclude that in the bolus tracking method of monitoring point of head CTA, MCA monitoring point should be used.

[Efficacy of L-shaped Shielding in Interventional Radiology by Transradial Approach and Consideration of Methods for Appropriate Use].

The present study investigated how effective an L-shaped shield was, depending on its position, in reducing a doctor's exposure to radiation during catheterization to access the transradial approach (TRA). The shield's effectiveness was evaluated by measuring the air kerma where the doctor stood under four conditions: with and without the shield, and with and without the shield in conjunction with conventional protection. To enable the shield to be positioned correctly in clinical practice, an illustrated instruction decal affixable to the shield's doctor-facing surface was produced, and the effectiveness of the decal was verified by means of a crossover test in which, as subjects of the study, different nurses set up the shield with and without the decal affixed to it. In the test, in which a human body phantom was used, the C-arm set at the PA angle, and the shield positioned 10 cm from the axilla of the phantom, the shield's effectiveness at 100 cm, 130 cm, and 160 cm above the floor where the doctor stood was 55%, 77%, and 47%, respectively. The effectiveness increased when the shield was positioned closer to the axilla. A significant difference in the positioning of the shield by the subjects was observed depending on whether or not the decal was affixed ( p<0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), indicating that the use of the decal improved the positioning. It was concluded that, positioned correctly, the shield could effectively reduce the doctor's exposure to radiation during TRA.

[Examination of the Validity of the Abdominal Circumference Measurement Method Used for Visceral Fat Evaluation Using Computed Tomography].

PURPOSE: The effects of obesity, including metabolic syndrome, on health are of concern around the world. In Japan, if the abdominal circumference of a man is 85 cm or more and the abdominal circumference of a woman is 90 cm or more, the visceral fat area is equivalent to 100 cm2 or more. The evaluation of visceral fat by abdominal circumference is based on the influence of tissues other than visceral fat. The purposes of this study were to compare the abundance of visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area and to examine the validity of estimating the visceral fat area by the abdominal circumference measurement method. METHODS: We obtained data on visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area, and abdominal circumference of 822 subjects. Next, we investigated the correlation between the abdominal circumference and the visceral fat area, the abdominal circumference and the subcutaneous fat area, and the visceral fat area and the subcutaneous fat area of the subjects. RESULT: The abdominal circumference and visceral fat area were highly correlated, but the sum of visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area was more highly correlated. There was a low correlation between the visceral fat area and the subcutaneous fat area. When the abdominal circumference exceeded the standard value, there was no correlation between the visceral fat area and the subcutaneous fat area. We concluded that there is a correlation between abdominal circumference and BMI and visceral fat area, but when these are used for estimation of visceral fat area, they are not accurate due to many errors.