Safety of Radiographic Imaging in Pregnancy

There are many false assumptions, both in the general population and among physicians, regarding the influence of radiation on pregnant patients and the fetus during diagnostic procedures, in spite of scientific facts based on studies. These false assumptions are mostly based on the idea that every diagnostic procedure using ionizing radiation is a cause for serious concern and that artificial abortion as a possible solution might be considered. We analyzed data from counseling of pregnant patients exposed to ionizing radiation during diagnostic procedures in the Merkur University Hospital during a 4-year period. In this period, 26 patients presented for counseling after exposure to diagnostic ionizing radiation during pregnancy. Results showed most of these patients to have been exposed to radiation between the 2nd and 3rd week of gestation (36%), between the 4th and 5th week 32%, before the 2nd week 24%, and after the 6th week of gestation less than 8%. To provide reasonable estimate of fetal doses, Report No. 174 from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) was used. Data from the Report include estimate of the fetal dose from direct and indirect exposures. Th e mean doses were up to 0.01 cGy in 46.2%, 0.01-0.15 cGy in 19.2%, 0.2-1 cGy in 26.9% and 1 cGy or more in 7.7% of patients. None of the counseled patients had medical indication for abortion, even though in a small percentage of patients abortion was a personal subjective decision. Considering that there are no Croatian guidelines for counseling patients exposed to ionizing radiation during pregnancy, it is recommended to use the International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines in the management of pregnant patients exposed to ionizing radiation.

Patient radiation doses during coronary interventions in four Croatian hospitals: 4-y comparison.

The number of coronary interventions increased substantially in the recent years. Although of great benefit to patients, these procedures can subject patients to considerable radiation doses. There is a legal framework for patient dose measurements in Croatia during radiological procedures, but in practice, it applies only occasionally. A quality control manual, established at the University Hospital Osijek, was accepted by other major cardiology centres in Croatia; besides checking the technical characteristics of the device, it provides constant measurement and analysis of patient doses in interventional cardiology. It also includes patient examination for radiation skin injuries in case of dose of >2 Gy. The aim of the study was to determine and compare patient radiation doses during cardiological interventions measured within 4 y in four major cardiology centres with the values proposed by the European Commission and other professional bodies. The local reference dose levels were also set.

Ultrasound measurements of carotid intima-media thickness and plaque in HIV-infected patients on the Mediterranean diet.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of food habits, specifically adherence to the Mediterranean diet, on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the presence of plaques in HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and non-HIV-infected participants and to determine if HIV infection contributes independently to subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 110 HIV-infected patients on ART and 131 non-HIV-infected participants at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia, from 2009-2011. CIMT measurement and determination of carotid plaque presence was detected by ultrasound. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by a 14-point food-item questionnaire. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined by CIMT≥0.9 mm or ≥1 carotid plaque. RESULTS: In HIV-infected patients, subclinical atherosclerosis was associated with older age (Plt;0.001; Mann-Whitney test), higher body mass index (P=0.051; Mann-Whitney test), hypertension (Plt;0.001; χ(2) test), and a lower Mediterranean diet score (P=0.035; Mann-Whitney test), and in non-HIV-infected participants with older age (P lt; 0.001; Mann-Whitney test) and hypertension (P=0.006; χ(2) test). Multivariate analysis showed that decreased adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with higher odds of subclinical atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR] 2.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-4.72, P=0.027) as was current smoking (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.28-6.40), hypertension (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.41-6.57), and male sex (OR 2.35, 95% CI 0.97-5.70). There was a significant interaction of age and HIV status, suggesting that older HIV-infected patients had higher odds of subclinical atherosclerosis than controls (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.24-8.71, P=0.017 at the age of 60 years). CONCLUSION: We confirmed the association between lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet and increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and found that treated HIV infection was a risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis in older individuals.

Repeated presentation of Graves' disease as a manifestation of immune reconstitution syndrome in an HIV-infected patient taking HAART: case report.

An HIV-infected patient who experienced immune reconstitution after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (increase in CD4 T-cell count from 84/mm3 to 310/mm3) presented with severe Graves' disease twice, after commencing and recommencing HAART. At the first episode of Graves' disease, 21 months after the introduction of HAART, the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction vanished without any specific treatment, but were associated with termination of taking HAART. At the second episode, 5 years after recommencing HAART, the patient continued taking HAART and commenced antithyroid therapy with thiamazole. Graves' disease developed after a long period, while the patient was in good condition and when complications resulting from HAART were not expected. No features of any autoimmune disease were diagnosed before HAART initiation.

Image quality of mammography in Croatian nationwide screening program: comparison between various types of facilities.

PURPOSE: The study was aimed to provide objective evidence about the mammographic image quality in Croatia, to compare it between different types of MG facilities and to identify the most common deficiencies and possible reasons as well as the steps needed to improve image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 420 mammographic examinations collected from 84 mammographic units participating in the Croatian nationwide breast cancer screening program were reviewed in terms of four image quality categories: identification of patient and examination, breast positioning and compression, exposure and contrast, and artifacts. Those were rated using image evaluating system based on American College of Radiology and European Commission proposals. The results were compared among different types of mammographic units, and common image quality deficiencies were identified. RESULTS: Total image quality scores of 12.8, 16.1, 13.0 and 13.7 were found for general hospitals, university hospitals, private clinics and public healthcare centres, respectively. Average score for all mammographic units was 13.5 (out of 25 points). University hospitals were significantly better than all other mammography units in overall image quality, which was mostly contributed by better breast positioning practices. Private clinics showed the worst results in identification, exposure, contrast and artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: Serious deficiencies in identification and breast positioning, which might compromise breast cancer screening outcome, were detected in our material. They occur mainly due to subjective reasons and could be corrected through additional staff training and improvement of working discipline.

The possibilities and limitations of direct digital radiography, ultrasound and computed tomography in diagnosing pleural mesotelioma.

The goal of this study was to compare the possibilities and limitations of direct digital radiography of the chest (DDR), the use of ultrasound of the chest (US) and single slice computed tomography of the chest (CT) in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma. The study was conducted during the course of one year, on 80 patients who were successively referred to a specialized institution, under clinical suspicion of mesothelioma. The method of investigation was the comparison of findings, obtained by the reviewed methods of examination, with the pathohistologic results of a biopsy performed on each patient. The findings that were obtained by the enumerated methods were classified according to the radiologic signs that were found in each individual patient. We evaluated following radiological findings (signs), on each of the investigated methods: plaques, localized and generalized pleural thickenings, calcifications of the pleura, pleural effusions, parapneumonic effusions, pleural empyema, (round) atelectasis, pneumothorax, tumor mass or node, inflammatory infiltrate, elevation of the hemidiaphragm and osteolysis. The results of these were compared with pathohistologic findings and analyzed by means of standard statistical methods. The highest sensitivity was found for CT (94.4%), followed by US (92.6%), and by DDR (90.7%). The highest specificity was obtained with DDR (46.2%), followed by CT (35.5%) and US (23.8%). The comparison of these methods showed 90% diagnostic accuracy for DDR in relation to CT CT as an individual method best satisfied most of the criteria for diagnosing mesothelioma. No pathognomonic radiologic sign for mesothelioma was found.

Survey of mammography practice in Croatia: equipment performance, image quality and dose.

A national audit of mammography equipment performance, image quality and dose has been conducted in Croatia. Film-processing parameters, optical density (OD), average glandular dose (AGD) to the standard breast, viewing conditions and image quality were examined using TOR(MAM) test object. Average film gradient ranged from 2.6 to 3.7, with a mean of 3.1. Tube voltage used for imaging of the standard 45 mm polymethylmethacrylate phantom ranged from 24 to 34 kV, and OD ranged from 0.75 to 1.94 with a mean of 1.26. AGD to the standard breast ranged from 0.4 to 2.3 mGy with a mean of 1.1 mGy. Besides clinical conditions, the authors have imaged the standard phantom in the referent conditions with 28 kV and OD as close as possible to 1.5. Then, AGD ranged from 0.5 to 2.6 mGy with a mean of 1.3 mGy. Image viewing conditions were generally unsatisfying with ambient light up to 500 lx and most of the viewing boxes with luminance between 1000 and 2000 cd per m(2). TOR(MAM) scoring of images taken in clinical and referent conditions was done by local radiologists in local image viewing conditions and by the referent radiologist in good image viewing conditions. Importance of OD and image viewing conditions for diagnostic information were analysed. The survey showed that the main problem in Croatia is the lack of written quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. Consequently, equipment performance, image quality and dose are unstable and activities to improve image quality or to reduce the dose are not evidence-based. This survey also had an educational purpose, introducing in Croatia the QC based on European Commission Guidelines.

Patient dosimetry in interventional cardiology at the University Hospital of Osijek.

The interventional cardiology was recently implemented at the University Hospital of Osijek. Patients' absorbed doses during coronary angiography (CA) and the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures were measured and compared with published data and international standards. All patients undergoing CA or PTCA procedures during a 1-month period were included in the study. Patients' doses are expressed in terms of dose area product (DAP) per procedure. The patients' DAPs ranged from 2.6 to 210 Gy cm2 (average of 59 Gy cm2) during CAs, and from 61 to 220 Gy cm2 (average of 120 Gy cm2) during PTCAs. Patients' doses during CAs and PTCAs at the University Hospital of Osijek are in good agreement with the published ones. In complex cases, the radiochromic dosimetry films were used to show possible dose distributions across patient's skin. The film dosimetry showed a limitation of using only DAP values for the estimation of skin injuries risk.

Stenotic occlusive lesions of internal carotid artery in diabetic patients.

Diabetes deteriorates atherosclerotic changes in the arteries. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and localization of stenotic atherosclerotic lesions of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients with diabetes. A prospective analysis of angiography findings was carried out in 150 diabetic and 150 non-diabetic patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia using double-blind angiogram readings by two independent investigators. The degree of stenosis was determined using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) criteria. Stenoses of the proximal arterial segment accounted for the majority of extracranial ICA stenoses, being more frequent in diabetic (left ICA 50.7%, right ICA 58.0%) than in the non-diabetic patients (left ICA 29.3%, right ICA 32.7%). Diabetic patients revealed a more significant rate of unilateral tandem ICA stenoses (14.0-21.3%), as well as a statistically significantly higher prevalence of intracranial ICA stenoses (left ICA 24.0% and right ICA 17.3%) than did non-diabetic patients (left and right ICA 3.3% each). Our results confirm that there is a morphological basis in ICA for increased incidence of ICA lesions in patients with diabetes as compared to those without it. Data on the incidence of stenotic ICA lesions in diabetes suggest the importance of assessing overall ICA status using digital subtraction angiography. Such an assessment is a precondition for an optimal therapeutic approach, especially in diabetic patients who are at an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease.

[Care of military and civilian casualties during the war in Croatia]. / Analiza zbrinjavanja vojnih i civilnih ranjenika u ratnoj agresiji na Republiku Hrvatsku.

AIM: The Yugoslav People's Army as aggressor on Croatia was well organized and equipped with weapons and medical supplies. On the other hand, the Republic of Croatia as a new country had no army of nor medical corps of its own. At the beginning of aggression we decided to establish an integrated civilian-military medicine system. This system started as a civilian organization, to develop along with the army structure. The aim of the study was to analyze the overall result of such organization all over the Croatian territory throughout war period. METHOD: Data on 30,520 wounded were collected from all military and civilian hospitals. The registration of information on all hospitalized wounded was established at the beginning of war. For this analysis, a questionnaire was structured consisting of 150 data per person. Data were entered in digital form and analyzed by surgeons and general medicine specialists. RESULTS: The wounded were hospitalized at 58 institutions, 43 of them civilian hospitals adjusted to military purposes. In total, there were 7 163 wounded civilians (23.5%) and 23,351 wounded soldiers. Only 613 (2%) soldiers were registered as members of enemy units, most of them treated as civilians because they had enough time to remove their uniforms. Among civilian casualties, there were 1132 (15.8%) children and 1 985 (27.7%) women. The wounds were inflicted by artillery (n = 9 652, 31.6%), small arms (n = 7 302, 23.9%) and mines (n = 4587, 15.0%). First aid was administred at frontline to 5065, 25.5% soldiers), at echelon II-IV to the majority of them, while there are no data on 10,644 wounded. Among the wounded, 61.1% were evacuated within one hour and 76.3% within two hours. On admission, 313 patients were unconscious, and 1913 somnolent or disoriented. Pneumothorax was present in 740, respiratory insufficiency in 1570, and pulmonary edema in 48 patients. Hemorrhage of varying grade was present in 11,967 and hemodynamic shock in 1802 patients. The most common injuries were those involving the muscles in 26,339 (37.7%), bones in 19,452 (27.9%), abdominal region in 4312 (6.2%), neural system in 3809 (5.5%), thoracic organs in 2443 (3.5%) and cardiovascular system in 2164 (3.1%) patients. Only very simple diagnostic procedures were used. Standard radiography was performed in 25403 (83,2%) and contrast medium examination in 790 (2.6%) patients. Very useful methods in traumatology like CT and US were only used in 1277 (84.2%) and 1103 (3.6%) patients, respectively, due to the lack of modern diagnostic equipment. In total, 25,745 (84.4%) patients were surgically treated. A total of 42,239 operations were performed including one per patient in 15,611 cases, two per patient in 6 184 cases, and three per patient in 23,380 cases. Hospital treatment resulted in recovery or improvement in 20,777 (79.8%) patients, whereas 334 patients were transferred to another hospital. Data were not recorded for 1688 patients. In total, good results were achieved in 81% of all treated cases. The mortality was 3.9% (n = 284) in hospitalized civilians and 1.95% (n = 395) in soldiers, yielding a mean mortality of 2.22%. The mortality of enemy soldiers was similar (2.85%). Taking into account 15 000 wounded persons treated on outpatient basis, total mortality was 1.49%. DISCUSSION: The high number of civilian casualties (23.5%) was the result of the aggressor's war strategy. They surrounded a number of civil settlements including large towns bombing them for months or even years. The enemy strategy is best illustrated by the number of wounded children and women. Unfortunately, the mortality in civilians (3.9%) exceeded that in soldiers (1.95%), for several reasons, primarily age, distance from surrounded villages and number of destroyed hospitals. The favorable aspect of the organization was cooperation of the first aid teams at the battle field and transportation organized by medical corps, and excellent definitive treatment at the adapted civilian hospitals to serve as military hospitals. The relatively good status on the admission was the result of good preparation for transport performed by high qualified doctors dislocated very close to the frontline. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of diagnostic equipment and medical vehicles, and the availability of improvised military hospitals, good results were achieved in overall patient survival. The very high rate of success in hospital treatment and very low mortality rate were the result of excellent medical staff and integrated civilian-military medical service.

Is quadrant biopsy sufficient in men likely to have advanced prostate cancer? Comparison with extended biopsy.

We hypothesized that quadrant prostate biopsy (QPB) provides sufficient first-line pathological evaluation of patients with presumed advanced prostate cancer (PC). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the reduction of core number in first-line PB from 6-12 to 4 in patients with presumed advanced PC leads to loss of clinically relevant information. We retrospectively studied 113 men that underwent PB, classified in two groups: "H" (high) and "L" (low likelihood of having advanced PC), according to PSA, digital rectal and transrectal ultrasound findings. Pathological results of 6-12-core PB and QPB were retrospectively compared for the presence of malignancy, percentage of positive cores, Gleason score (GS), and the presence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN). PC detection rate was not impaired in group H but dropped significantly in group L, and the percentage of positive cores was not significantly changed in group H (p=0.39), but decreased in group L (p=0.04), due to sampling scheme reduction. No HGPIN was missed with QPB in group H, while 2 HGPINs were missed in group L. No significant change in GS in either group was observed (p=0.12, p=0.13) due to reduction to QPB. We conclude that in patients with presumed advanced PC, reduction of the number of cores in PB may be an acceptable diagnostic strategy, but further studies are needed to analyze the impact of PB scheme reduction on other relevant pathological information obtained from PB.

[Doppler ultrasonography of superficial lymph nodes]. / Dopler povrsinskih limfnih cvorova.

Normal lymph nodes (l.n.) are elongated and hypoechoic, with central echogenic hilum on B-mode, while color-doppler (CD) shows central hilar vascularization. Chronic inflammatory l.n. are elongated, with echogenic hilum, hilar vascularization on CD and resistance index (RI) 0.60-0.70. Acute lymphadenitis shows intensive hilar flow with RI<0.60; abscess of l.n. is anechoic with through transmission. Tuberculous l.n. are inhomogenously hypoechoic and rounded, with deformed hilar vascularization on CD, occasionally with centripetal flow. They may mimick malignant l.n. on CD due to vessel dislocation by granulomatous masses. L.n. in stage of micrometastasis are of similar structure as reactive l.n., with preserved hilar vascularization; as the metastasis grows, focal cortical expansion and/or destruction of intranodal structure with dislocation and compression of blood vessels may occur; vascular resistance is consecutively increased; in advanced stage of metastatic growth l.n. becomes rounded, hilum is not visible, cortex is heterogenous, occasionally with hyperechoic keratin deposits, unsharp nodal margin is the sign of extranodal neoplastic spread; mainly peripheral vascularization, with fragmentation, deformation and dislocation of intranodal vessels are seen on CD, with increased RI>0.80; necrotic areas are anechoic and avascular on CD. Lymphomatous nodes have preserved internal structure, sharp margins, hypoechoic cortex, frequently with through transmission; large arborized hilum may be displaced; abundant hilar flow is seen on CD, with normal or slightly increased vascular resistance. Although the sensitivity of B-mode and Doppler features of l.n. is mostly limited (false negative rate is significant), high specificity of some of them establishes sonography as a valuable complementary method in differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy: the presence of hilar vascularization with RI<0.40 accurately indicates acute lymphadenitis, while predominantly peripheral flow pattern and RI>0.80 are typical of metastatic l.n. High enddiastolic velocities (EDV>9 cm/s) are only rarely seen in metastases, while very low EDV<1 cm/s indicates metastatic lymphadenopathy. As sonography is very suitable imaging method for puncture guidance, B-mode and CD analysis of l.n. need to be combined with aspiration cytology whenever possible, as it may considerably improve the accuracy of non-invasive patient diagnostic work-up. Literature on sonography of l.n. was reviewed, and selection of most relevant articles was made.

[Diagnostic results of the carotid artery duplex ultrasonography performed in the private offices in Zagreb]. / Dijagnosticki rezultati dupleks ultrasonografije arterije karotis u privatnim ordinacijama grada Zagreba.

The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic value of duplex ultrasonography (DU) of the cerebral arteries in the patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency performed in private offices in Zagreb town. The investigation was performed for all patients referred to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) after DU examination performed in one of private offices (in total, 12 offices) during the period of three years. During mentioned period 127 patients were examined (100 male, 67 female, age 28-79 y, mean 62 y) according to DU exams performed in private offices. Other patients, who had DU examinations in offices other than private, were not examined in present investigation. The method of investigation was prospective comparison between DSA and DU findings, where DSA was used as the gold standard. The investigation was performed by three radiologists prospectively. They did not know DU findings before performing DSA. The pathological findings of the supraaortal arteries and especially significant stenoses (70%-99%) of the extracranial part of the carotid arteries, obliteration and ulcerated plaques were examined. For the significant stenoses of the carotid arteries, which are indication for operative treatment, DU showed sensitivity of only 63%, specificity 79%, positive predictive value 60% and negative predictive value 81%. The diagnostic difference between occlusion and subtotal stenosis of the carotid artery was also very important. DSA showed 18 occluded arteries, while DU presented 20, nine of them false positive and seven false negative (sensitivity 36%). DU diagnosed ulcerated plaque in only three out of 37 patients, including two false positive and 36 false negative results. According to results presented here, DU of the carotid arteries performed in analysed practices are not reliable and the price of DU presents expense without benefit. The insufficient education of the doctors and defective regulations of the private practices are the possible reasons for such results.

Usefulness of Doppler waveform analysis in differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy.

We compared Doppler spectral parameters in acute inflammatory, reactive, lymphomatous, and metastatic lymph nodes, and evaluated pulsed Doppler sonography as a method for distinguishing between different causes of cervical lymphadenopathy. Spectral Doppler analysis with measurements of resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) was performed in 197 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy. Results of Doppler analysis were compared with findings of cytology and histology or with clinical presentation and follow-up. Student's t-test was used to assess statistical significance of differences in Doppler parameters between groups of patients. Significant differences for RI and PI were shown between all groups of patients except between lymphomatous and reactive nodes. Specificity of 100% for metastatic nodal involvement was shown for cutoff values RI>0.80 and PI>1.80. A positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% for acute lymphadenitis was shown for cutoff values RI<0.50 and PI<0.60. An EDV>9 cm/s has 100% negative predictive value for nodal metastasis, and EDV<1 cm/s has 100% specificity and PPV for metastasis. Although there exist differences in RI, PI, PSV, and EDV between different nodal diseases, none of these parameters offer both good sensitivity and good specificity, and only extreme cutoff values may occasionally be helpful in differential diagnosis. Doppler spectral analysis is a valuable noninvasive adjunct which can help in differentiation between metastatic, lymphomatous, acute inflammatory, and reactive lymphadenopathy, but cannot obviate biopsy in the majority of cases.