ABSTRACT
Background Chest tumors are often found incidentally on cardiac scans; we aimed to describe the findings of rubidium (Rb) in incidentally discovered extracardiac tumors. Materials and Methods We reviewed a database of cardiac Rb scans performed over a period of 11 years and identified those with a previously unsuspected malignancy seen on the plane of section. We then measured maximum standard uptake value for each of the tumors, as well as background lung, liver, mediastinum, and body wall. In cases where fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) was available, we compared Rb results with FDG PET/CT. Results We identified 63 patients meeting criteria including full visualization of a tumor of at least 1.0 cm with no prior treatment. Of these patients, 17 had breast, 36 had lung, and 10 had miscellaneous other tumors. We selected patients with either breast or lung tumors for further analysis. Overall uptake was relatively stable between rest and stress but lower than FDG PET/CT; it was generally low and similar to blood pool. There was a small but statistically significant correlation between estrogen receptor positivity and Rb uptake in breast tumors. There was a stable pattern of uptake in background tissues, with liver being greater than mediastinal blood pool, which in turn was more avid than lung, which was more avid than subcutaneous body wall tissues. Lung showed a noticeable tendency toward increased uptake in dependent regions, likely reflecting low-level atelectasis. Conclusion Uptake was stable between rest and stress but low relative to FDG PET/CT; some correlations with receptors suggest it may be useful in molecular imaging.
ABSTRACT
Our aim was to determine the effect of wearing a surgical mask on the number and type of dictation errors in unedited radiology reports. IRB review was waived for this prospective matched-pairs study in which no patient data was used. Model radiology reports (n = 40) simulated those typical for an academic medical center. Six randomized radiologists dictated using speech-recognition software with and without a surgical mask. Dictations were compared to model reports and errors were classified according to type and severity. A statistical model was used to demonstrate that error rates for all types of errors were greater when masks are worn compared to when they are not (unmasked: 21.7 ± 4.9 errors per 1000 words, masked: 27.1 ± 2.2 errors per 1000 words; adjusted p < 0.0001). A sensitivity analysis was performed, excluding a reader with a large number of errors. The sensitivity analysis found a similar difference in error rates for all types of errors, although significance was attenuated (unmasked: 16.9 ± 1.9 errors per 1000 words, masked: 20.1 ± 2.2 errors per 1000 words; adjusted p = 0.054). We conclude that wearing a mask results in a near-significant increase in the rate of dictation errors in unedited radiology reports created with speech-recognition, although this difference may be accentuated in some groups of radiologists. Additionally, we find that most errors are minor single incorrect words and are unlikely to result in a medically relevant misunderstanding.
