Ultrasound for Midgut Malrotation and Midgut Volvulus: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Midgut volvulus in association with malrotation is a pediatric surgical emergency. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is necessary to avoid bowel ischemia and necrosis, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Historically, the fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal series has been the preferred imaging modality for the evaluation of both midgut malrotation and volvulus, although the use of ultrasound (US) is increasing. In this Narrative Review, we describe the findings of midgut malrotation and volvulus on US, including practical tips for acquisition and interpretation; discuss the advantages and challenges of both imaging modalities; and propose a path and safeguards for possible transition to the use of US as the first-line modality for diagnosis based on our experience in imaging children with midgut malrotation and volvulus.

Portable abdomen radiography: moving to thickness-based protocols.

BACKGROUND: Default pediatric protocols on many digital radiography systems are configured based on patient age. However, age does not adequately characterize patient size, which is the principal determinant of proper imaging technique. Use of default pediatric protocols by inexperienced technologists can result in patient overexposure, inadequate image quality, or repeated examinations. OBJECTIVE: To ensure diagnostic image quality at a well-managed patient radiation exposure by transitioning to thickness-based protocols for pediatric portable abdomen radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We aggregated patient thickness data, milliamperes (mAs), kilovoltage peak (kVp), exposure index (EI), source-to-detector distance, and grid use for all portable abdomen radiographs performed in our pediatric hospital in a database with a combination of automated and manual data collection techniques. We then analyzed the database and used it as the basis to construct thickness-based protocols with consistent image quality across varying patient thicknesses, as determined by the EI. RESULTS: Retrospective analysis of pediatric portable exams performed at our adult-focused hospitals demonstrated substantial variability in EI relative to our pediatric hospital. Data collection at our pediatric hospital over 4 months accumulated roughly 800 portable abdomen exams, which we used to develop a thickness-based technique chart. CONCLUSION: Through automated retrieval of data in our systems' digital radiography exposure logs and recording of patient abdomen thickness, we successfully developed thickness-based techniques for portable abdomen radiography.

Effect of comfort pads and incubator design on neonatal radiography.

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing interest in patient dose reduction in neonatal intensive care units. Removing comfort pads for radiography has been identified as a potential means to decrease patient dose. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of comfort pads and support trays on detector entrance exposure (DEE) and image quality for neonatal radiography, and its implication for patient dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comfort pads and support trays from three incubator and warmer systems were examined. The attenuation of the primary beam by these structures was measured using a narrow beam geometry. Their effect on DEE and image quality was then assessed using typical neonatal chest radiography techniques with three configurations: 1) both the comfort pad and support included in the beam, 2) only the support tray included and 3) both the comfort pad and support tray removed. RESULTS: Comfort pads and support trays were found to attenuate the primary beam by 6-15%. Eliminating these structures from the X-ray beam's path was found to increase the detector entrance exposure by 28-36% and increase contrast-to-noise ratio by more than 21%, suggesting room for patient dose reduction when the same image quality is maintained. CONCLUSION: Comfort pads and tray support devices can have a considerable effect on DEE and image quality, with large variations among different incubator designs. Positioning the image detector directly underneath neonatal patients for radiography is a potential means for patient dose reduction. However, such benefit should be weighed against the risks of moving the patient.

Development of a neonate X-ray phantom for 2D imaging applications using single-tone inkjet printing.

PURPOSE: Inkjet printers can be used to fabricate anthropomorphic phantoms by the use of iodine-doped ink. However, challenges persist in implementing this technique. The calibration from grayscale to ink density is complex and time-consuming. The purpose of this work is to develop a printing methodology that requires a simpler calibration and is less dependent on printer characteristics to produce the desired range of x-ray attenuation values. METHODS: Conventional grayscale printing was substituted by single-tone printing; that is, the superposition of pure black layers of iodinated ink. Printing was performed with a consumer-grade inkjet printer using ink made of potassium-iodide (KI) dissolved in water at 1 g/ml. A calibration for the attenuation of ink was measured using a commercial x-ray system at 70 kVp. A neonate radiograph obtained at 70 kVp served as an anatomical model. The attenuation map of the neonate radiograph was processed into a series of single-tone images. Single-tone images were printed, stacked, and imaged at 70 kVp. The phantom was evaluated by comparing attenuation values between the printed phantom and the original radiograph; attenuation maps were compared using the structural similarity index measure (SSIM), while attenuation histograms were compared using the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence. A region of interest (ROI)-based analysis was also performed, where the attenuation distribution within given ROIs was compared between phantom and patient. The phantom sharpness was evaluated in terms of modulation transfer function (MTF) estimates and signal spread profiles of high spatial resolution features in the image. RESULTS: The printed phantom required 36 pages. The printing queue was automated and it took about 2 h to print the phantom. The radiograph of the printed phantom demonstrated a close resemblance to the original neonate radiograph. The SSIM of the phantom with respect to that of the patient was 0.53. Both patient and phantom attenuation histograms followed similar distributions, and the KL divergence between such histograms was 0.20. The ROI-based analysis showed that the largest deviations from patient attenuation values were observed at the higher and lower ends of the attenuation range. The limiting resolution of the proposed methodology was about 1 mm. CONCLUSION: A methodology to generate a neonate phantom for 2D imaging applications, using single-tone printing, was developed. This method only requires a single-value calibration and required less than 2 h to print a complete phantom.

Splenic cyst presenting as severe hydronephrosis in a pediatric patient.

Large cystic abdominal masses can represent a diagnostic dilemma despite advanced diagnostic and imaging techniques. We report a case of a large cystic mass initially managed as a giant ureteropelvic junction obstruction, but ultimately found to be a congenital splenic cyst. Focus is placed on the diagnostic evaluation of large cystic abdominal masses.

Urethral polyp in asymptomatic male infant with prenatal hydronephrosis.

Congenital posterior urethral polyps are rare, benign lesions of the posterior urethra. We report a 1-day-old newborn boy with a solitary fibroepithelial posterior urethral polyp who presented with a history of prenatal mild hydronephrosis, subsequently associated with bladder wall thickening on ultrasonography.