Early detection of obstructive coronary artery disease in the asymptomatic high-risk population: objectives and study design of the EARLY-SYNERGY trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) burden for society is expected to steeply increase over the next decade. Improved feasibility and efficiency of preventive strategies is necessary to flatten the curve. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the main determinant of CAD-related mortality and morbidity, and predominantly occurs in individuals with more advanced stages of CAD causing subclinical myocardial ischemia (obstructive CAD; OCAD). Unfortunately, OCAD can remain subclinical until its destructive presentation with AMI or sudden death. Current primary preventive strategies are not designed to differentiate between non-OCAD and OCAD and the opportunity is missed to treat individuals with OCAD more aggressively. METHODS: EARLY-SYNERGY is a multicenter, randomized-controlled clinical trial in individuals with coronary artery calcium (CAC) presence to study (1.) the yield of cardiac magnetic resonance stress myocardial perfusion imaging (CMR-MPI) for early OCAD diagnosis and (2) whether early OCAD diagnosis improves outcomes. Individuals with CAC score ≥300 objectified in 2 population-based trials (ROBINSCA; ImaLife) are recruited for study participation. Eligible candidates are randomized 1:1 to cardiac magnetic resonance stress myocardial perfusion imaging (CMR-MPI) or no additional functional imaging. In the CMR-MPI arm, feedback on imaging results is provided to primary care provider and participant in case of guideline-based actionable findings. Participants are followed-up for clinical events, healthcare utilization and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: EARLY-SYNERGY is the first randomized-controlled clinical trial designed to test the hypothesis that subclinical OCAD is widely present in the general at-risk population and that early differentiation of OCAD from non-OCAD followed by guideline-recommended treatment improves outcomes.

Hip Resurfacing Implant Orientation Analysis: A Comparison of a Computer-Added Design Technique and Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: Accurate acetabular component orientation in hip resurfacing is mandatory. The aim of this study is to analyze if interpretation of pelvic radiographs with computer-added design (CAD) software is comparable to computed tomography (CT) in measurement of acetabular anteversion and inclination of a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) hip. METHODS: A consecutive series of 49 patients (50 hips) who underwent hip resurfacing arthroplasty between 2005 and 2007 with the BHR system were retrospectively included. The surgical procedure was performed by 1 orthopedic surgeon in the beginning of his learning curve. Computer-added design software was used to measure acetabular component orientation on an anteroposterior pelvic radiograph. These measurements were compared with CT measurements. We calculated the correlation between the CAD software and CT analysis. The degree of underestimation or overestimation was determined, and a Bland-Altman plot was created to visualize the agreement between CAD software and CT results. RESULTS: We analyzed 50 BHR hips with mean inclination of 54.6° and 55.6° and mean anteversion of 24.8° and 13.3° measured by CT and CAD, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient for inclination was 0.69 (P < .001) and for anteversion 0.81 (P < .001). Computer-added design showed a mean underestimated anteversion of 11.6° (P < .001). There was no significant underestimation or overestimation of inclination with CAD analysis compared to CT measurements. CONCLUSION: The CAD software is useful to assess acetabular inclination in hip resurfacing but underestimates anteversion.

Comparison of imaging strategies with conditional contrast-enhanced CT and unenhanced MR imaging in patients suspected of having appendicitis: a multicenter diagnostic performance study.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of imaging strategies with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomographic (CT) imaging in adult patients suspected of having appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained prior to study initiation, and patients gave written informed consent. In a multicenter diagnostic performance study, adults suspected of having appendicitis were prospectively identified in the emergency department. Consenting patients underwent ultrasonography (US) and subsequent contrast-enhanced CT if US imaging yielded negative or inconclusive results. Additionally, all patients underwent unenhanced MR imaging, with the reader blinded to other findings. An expert panel assigned final diagnosis after 3 months. Diagnostic performance of three imaging strategies was evaluated: conditional CT after US, conditional MR imaging after US, and immediate MR imaging. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated by comparing findings with final diagnosis. RESULTS: Between March and September 2010, 229 US, 115 CT, and 223 MR examinations were performed in 230 patients (median age, 35 years; 40% men). Appendicitis was the final diagnosis in 118 cases. Conditional and immediate MR imaging had sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of conditional CT, which resulted in 3% (three of 118; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1%, 7%) missed appendicitis, and 8% (10 of 125; 95% CI: 4%, 14%) false-positives. Conditional MR missed appendicitis in 2% (two of 118; 95% CI: 0%, 6%) and generated 10% (13 of 129; 95% CI: 6%, 16%) false-positives. Immediate MR missed 3% (four of 117; 95% CI: 1%, 8%) appendicitis with 6% (seven of 120; 95% CI: 3%, 12%) false-positives. Conditional strategies resulted in more false-positives in women than in men (conditional CT, 17% vs 0%; P = .03; conditional MR, 19% vs 1%; P = .04), wherease immediate MR imaging did not. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of conditional or immediate MR imaging was similar to that of conditional CT in patients suspected of having appendicitis, which implied that strategies with MR imaging may replace conditional CT for appendicitis detection.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Coronary Calcium Scoring in Stable Chest Pain Patients: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scanning allows for reliable coronary calcium score (CCS) calculation at a low radiation dose and has been well established as marker to assess the future risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) events in asymptomatic individuals. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value in symptomatic patients remains a matter of debate. This narrative review focuses on the available evidence for CCS in patients with stable chest pain complaints. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for literature using search terms related to three overarching categories: CT, symptomatic chest pain patients, and coronary calcium. The search resulted in 42 articles fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria: 27 articles (n = 38 137 patients) focused on diagnostic value and 23 articles (n = 44 683 patients) on prognostic value of CCS. Of these, 10 articles (n = 21 208 patients) focused on both the diagnostic and prognostic value of CCS. RESULTS: Between 22 and 10 037 patients were included in the studies on the diagnostic and prognostic value of CCS, including 43 % and 51 % patients with CCS 0. The most evidence is available for patients with a low and intermediate pre-test probability (PTP) of CAD. Overall, the prevalence of obstructive CAD (OCAD, defined as a luminal stenosis of ≥ 50 % in any of the coronary arteries) as determined with CT coronary angiography in CCS 0 patients, was 4.4 % (n = 703/16 074) with a range of 0-26 % in individual studies. The event rate for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) ranged from 0 % to 2.1 % during a follow-up of 1.6 to 6.8 years, resulting in a high negative predictive value for MACE between 98 % and 100 % in CCS 0 patients. At increasing CCS, the OCAD probability and MACE risk increased. OCAD was present in 58.3 % (n = 617/1058) of CCS > 400 patients with percentages ranging from 20 % to 94 % and MACE occurred in 16.7 % (n = 175/1048) of these patients with percentages ranging from 6.9 % to 50 %. CONCLUSION: Accumulating evidence shows that OCAD is unlikely and the MACE risk is very low in symptomatic patients with CCS 0, especially in those with low and intermediate PTPs. This suggests a role of CCS as a gatekeeper for additional diagnostic testing. Increasing CCS is related to an increasing probability of OCAD and risk of cardiac events. Additional research is needed to assess the value of CCS in women and patient management in a primary healthcare setting. KEY POINTS: · A CCS of zero makes OCAD in patients at low-intermediate PTP unlikely. · A CCS of zero is related to a very low risk of MACE. · Categories of increasing CCS are related to increasing rates of OCAD and MACE. · Future studies should focus on the diagnostic and prognostic value of CCS in symptomatic women and the role in primary care. CITATION FORMAT: · Koopman MY, Willemsen RT, van der Harst P et al. The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Coronary Calcium Scoring in Stable Chest Pain Patients: A Narrative Review. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194: 257 - 265.

Coronary calcium scoring as first-line test to detect and exclude coronary artery disease in patients presenting to the general practitioner with stable chest pain: protocol of the cluster-randomised CONCRETE trial.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying and excluding coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with atypical angina pectoris (AP) and non-specific thoracic complaints is a challenge for general practitioners (GPs). A diagnostic and prognostic tool could help GPs in determining the likelihood of CAD and guide patient management. Studies in outpatient settings have shown that the CT-based coronary calcium score (CCS) has high accuracy for diagnosis and exclusion of CAD. However, the CT CCS test has not been tested in a primary care setting. In the COroNary Calcium scoring as fiRst-linE Test to dEtect and exclude coronary artery disease in GPs patients with stable chest pain (CONCRETE) study, the impact of direct access of GPs to CT CCS will be investigated. We hypothesise that this will allow for early diagnosis of CAD and treatment, more efficient referral to the cardiologist and a reduction of healthcare-related costs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: CONCRETE is a pragmatic multicentre trial with a cluster randomised design, in which direct GP access to the CT CCS test is compared with standard of care. In both arms, at least 40 GP offices, and circa 800 patients with atypical AP and non-specific thoracic complaints will be included. To determine the increase in detection and treatment rate of CAD in GP offices, the CVRM registration rate is derived from the GPs electronic registration system. Individual patients' data regarding cardiovascular risk factors, expressed chest pain complaints, quality of life, downstream testing and CAD diagnosis will be collected through questionnaires and the electronic GP dossier. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: CONCRETE has been approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of the University Medical Center of Groningen. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR 7475; Pre-results.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: high prevalence in men over 59 years of age with TIA or stroke, a perspective.

Death resulting from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is potentially preventable. Screening for AAA is cost-effective, reducing risk of AAA-related death by 50%. For various reasons screening programs have not been implemented widely. Therefore, the need to identify subgroups with increased prevalence of AAA remains. Recently, men over 59 years of age presenting with stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) at the neurology department were found to have a doubled prevalence of AAA. This confirmed data of another study (SMART), which included broader inclusion criteria (either manifest atherosclerotic disease or only risk factors for atherosclerosis). Incorporation of an aortic ultrasonography into the neurological work up of these patients could result in an effective screening program. However, before that, several cost-effectiveness issues need to be resolved, such as growth rate of the detected aneurysms, risk of death by AAA rupture in this patient group with increased co-morbidity and decreased life expectancy, peri-operative risk of open or endovascular repair.

Screening for cardiovascular disease risk using traditional risk factor assessment or coronary artery calcium scoring: the ROBINSCA trial.

AIMS: Screening for a high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk followed by preventive treatment can potentially reduce coronary heart disease-related morbidity and mortality. ROBINSCA (Risk Or Benefit IN Screening for CArdiovascular disease) is a population-based randomized controlled screening trial that investigates the effectiveness of CVD screening in asymptomatic participants using the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) model or coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. This study describes the distributions in risk and treatment in the ROBINSCA trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Individuals at expected elevated CVD risk were randomized into screening arm A (n = 14 478; SCORE, 10-year fatal and non-fatal risk); or screening arm B (n = 14 450; CAC scoring). Preventive treatment was largely advised according to current Dutch guidelines. Risk and treatment differences between the screening arms were analysed. A total of 12 185 participants (84.2%) in arm A and 12 950 (89.6%) in arm B were screened. In total, 48.7% were women, and median age was 62 (interquartile range 10) years. SCORE screening identified 45.1% at low risk (SCORE < 10%), 26.5% at intermediate risk (SCORE 10-20%), and 28.4% at high risk (SCORE ≥ 20%). According to CAC screening, 76.0% were at low risk (Agatston < 100), 15.1% at high risk (Agatston 100-399), and 8.9% at very high risk (Agatston ≥ 400). CAC scoring significantly reduced the number of individuals indicated for preventive treatment compared to SCORE (relative reduction women: 37.2%; men: 28.8%). CONCLUSION: We showed that compared to risk stratification based on SCORE, CAC scoring classified significantly fewer men and women at increased risk, and less preventive treatment was indicated. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR6471.

Negative Predictive Value of Non-Echo-Planar Diffusion Weighted MR Imaging for the Detection of Residual Cholesteatoma Done at 9 Months After Primary Surgery Is not High Enough to Omit Second Look Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate non echo-planar diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (non-EP DW MRI) at 9 months after primary surgery to rule out residual cholesteatoma in patients scheduled before second-look-surgical exploration. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Secondary teaching hospital. PATIENTS/INTERVENTIONS: Patients who were scheduled for second-look-surgery after primary canal wall up repair of cholesteatoma underwent 1.5 T MRI including non-EP DWI and high-resolution coronal T1 and T2-FS SE sequences. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Imaging studies were evaluated for the presence of cholesteatoma by three independent observers. Intraoperative observations were regarded the standard of reference. Ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgeons were blinded for imaging findings. The primary outcome was the negative predictive value (NPV) of MR imaging, secondary outcomes were sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients underwent both MRI and surgery, among whom 22 had a cholesteatoma. Mean time between primary surgery and MRI was 259 days (standard deviation [SD] 108). NPV of non-EP DW MRI in detecting recurrent cholesteatoma was 53% (95% CI: 32-73%). Sensitivity and specificity were 59% (39-77%) and 91% (62-98%), respectively. The positive predictive value was 93% (69-99%). In five out of nine false-negative cases, recurrent cholesteatoma measured 3 mm or less. Using a 3 mm detection threshold, NPV increased to 79%. CONCLUSION: Non-EP DW MRI cannot replace second look surgery in ruling-out residual cholesteatoma at 9 months after primary surgery. It could be used in a follow-up strategy in low risk patients. Further research is needed which types of residual cholesteatoma are not revealed by MRI.

Encephalopathy and MRI abnormalities in fat embolism syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Fat embolization and fat embolism syndrome are poorly understood complications of skeletal trauma. Fat embolism syndrome is a clinical diagnosis, and patients typically present with a classic triad of petechial rash, pulmonary distress, and neurologic dysfunction. The incomplete form of the syndrome (i.e., cerebral fat embolism) is a more challenging clinical diagnosis in which brain magnetic resonance imaging may be a valuable tool. Fat embolism syndrome can be a life-threatening condition, but the latent form that occurs 24 to 72 hours after the trauma is frequently described as a self-limiting condition. CASE REPORT: In this report, we present the case of a 32-year-old man with fat embolism syndrome and a prolonged coma with persistent cerebral dysfunction. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple white and grey matter lesions suggestive of vasogenic edema and punctuate hemorrhage, consistent with a diagnosis of cerebral fat emboli. CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenesis and treatment options of fat embolism syndrome are reviewed based on available literature, and the usefulness of brain magnetic resonance imaging is discussed.

Low value of routine chest radiographs in a mixed medical-surgical ICU.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic efficacy (DE) and therapeutic efficacy (TE) of daily routine chest radiographs (CXRs), and to establish the impact of abandoning this CXR from daily practice on total CXR volume, ICU length of stay (LOS), readmission rate, and ICU mortality. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study in two parts. The first part comprised a 1-year period during which attending physicians were blinded for findings on daily routine CXRs and were only informed if something deemed important was seen by the radiologist (predefined major abnormalities) who reviewed all CXRs as usual. The second part comprised a half-year period during which daily routine CXRs were replaced by clinically indicated CXR. SETTING: Mixed medical-surgical ICU of a teaching hospital. RESULTS: Data on 1,780 daily routine CXRs in 559 hospital admissions were collected. DE of daily routine CXRs was 4.4%. The most frequent unexpected major abnormalities were new or progressive infiltrates (1.8%) and oropharyngeal tube malposition (0.7%). TE of daily routine CXRs was 1.9%. The most frequent intervention was oropharyngeal tube adjustment (0.6%). No relation was found for DE or TE and hospital admission type or intubation and mechanical ventilation. In the second study part, 433 CXRs were obtained in 274 admissions. Abandoning daily routine CXRs did not affect clinically indicated CXRs orders, or ICU LOS, readmission rate, and mortality. A total CXR volume reduction of 35% (which equaled 9,900 per bed per year [US dollars]) was observed after abandoning daily routine CXRs. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic and therapeutic value of the daily routine CXR is low. Daily routine CXRs can be safely abandoned in the ICU.

Chest radiography in general practice: indications, diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management.

BACKGROUND: Chest radiography (CXR) is frequently performed in Western societies. There is insufficient knowledge of its diagnostic value in terms of changes in patient management decisions in primary care. AIM: To assess the influence of CXR on patient management in general practice. DESIGN OF STUDY: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Seventy-eight GPs and three general hospitals in the Netherlands. METHOD: Patients (n = 792) aged > or =18 years referred by their GPs for CXR were included. The main outcome was change in patient management assessed by means of questionnaires filled in by GPs before and after CXR. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 57.3+/-16.2 years and 53% were male. Clinically relevant abnormalities were found in 24% of the CXRs. Patient management changed in 60% of the patients following CXR. Main changes included: fewer referrals to a medical specialist (from 26 to 12%); reduction in initiation or change in therapy (from 24 to 15%); and more frequent reassurance (from 25 to 46%). However, this reassurance was not perceived as such in a quarter of these patients. A change in patient management occurred significantly more frequently in patients with complaints of cough (67%), those who exhibited abnormalities during physical examination (69%), or those with a suspected diagnosis of pneumonia (68%). CONCLUSION: Patient management by the GP changed in 60% of patients following CXR. CXR substantially reduced the number of referrals and initiation or change in therapy, and more patients were reassured by their GP. Thus, CXR is an important diagnostic tool for GPs and seems a cost-effective diagnostic test.

[Referral for mammography often not according to guideline]. / Verwijzing voor mammogram vaak niet volgens richtlijn.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the percentage of women with a family history of breast cancer referred by general practitioners (GPs) for a screening mammography in accordance with the Dutch Breast Cancer Guideline produced by the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Centre (IKNL). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHOD: Women referred by their GP between December 2011 and December 2012 for mammography, with the indication "family history of breast cancer", were invited to take part in this study. A trained radiology laboratory assistant carried out a structured questionnaire to assess their risk on the basis of the categories of the 2008 IKNL guideline "Family history of breast/ovarian cancer". Based on the presence of certain risk factors, the women were allocated to one of the following groups: "referral for mammography", "referral to a clinical geneticist" or "no referral indicated". RESULTS: 242 women were referred by their GPs to the Radiology Department for mammography on the basis of family history; we included 210 women in our study. Their ages ranged from 25 to 77 years (mean age: 48 years). Forty-five patients (21%) were referred for mammography in accordance with the guideline. Twenty-two patients (10%) should have been referred to a clinical geneticist according to the guideline, whereas 143 patients (68%) did not meet the criteria for a screening mammography outside the screening programme. CONCLUSION: In only 21% of patients referred by their GPs for a screening mammography, with "family history" given as the reason, this referral was in accordance with the standard of the Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) or the IKNL guideline. Screening outside the breast cancer screening programme was not indicated according to the guideline for the majority of the women. Referral of 10% of the women referred should have been to a clinical geneticist; this figure rises to as many as 20% using the 2012 IKNL guideline.

Accuracy and interobserver agreement between MR-non-expert radiologists and MR-experts in reading MRI for suspected appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare accuracy and interobserver agreement between radiologists with limited experience in the evaluation of abdominal MRI (non-experts), and radiologists with longer MR reading experience (experts), in reading MRI in patients with suspected appendicitis. METHODS: MR imaging was performed in 223 adult patients with suspected appendicitis and read independently by two members of a team of eight MR-inexperienced radiologists, who were trained with 100 MR examinations previous to this study (non-expert reading). Expert reading was performed by two radiologists with a larger abdominal MR experience (>500 examinations) in consensus. A final diagnosis was assigned after three months based on all available information, except MRI findings. We estimated MRI sensitivity and specificity for appendicitis and for all urgent diagnoses separately. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using kappa statistics. RESULTS: Urgent diagnoses were assigned to 147 of 223 patients; 117 had appendicitis. Sensitivity for appendicitis was 0.89 by MR-non-expert radiologists and 0.97 in MR-expert reading (p=0.01). Specificity was 0.83 for MR-non-experts versus 0.93 for MR-expert reading (p=0.002). MR-experts and MR-non-experts agreed on appendicitis in 89% of cases (kappa 0.78). Accuracy in detecting urgent diagnoses was significantly lower in MR-non-experts compared to MR-expert reading: sensitivity 0.84 versus 0.95 (p<0.001) and specificity 0.71 versus 0.82 (p=0.03), respectively. Agreement on urgent diagnoses was 83% (kappa 0.63). CONCLUSION: MR-non-experts have sufficient sensitivity in reading MRI in patients with suspected appendicitis, with good agreement with MR-expert reading, but accuracy of MR-expert reading was higher.

[Transverse testicular ectopia confirmed by ultrasonography]. / Transverse testisectopie vastgesteld door echografie.

Two newborn boys aged 2 and 3 months with unilateral inguinal hernia and a contralateral impalpable, non-scrotal testis, and a third boy aged 2.5 years with an impalpable non-scrotal testis were found to have transverse testicular ectopia. This is an uncommon abnormality in which both gonads migrate toward the same hemiscrotum. We illustrate that unilateral cryptorchidism and a contralateral inguinal hernia may indicate the presence of a rare type of male pseudohermaphroditism: persistent müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS). This syndrome is characterized by the presence of a uterus and fallopian tubes associated with abdominal testes and frequently inguinal hernia in a phenotypically and genotypically normal male. This syndrome is often discovered during repair of inguinal hernia or non-descended testes (cryptorchidism). Pre-operative ultrasonography in children with impalpable non-scrotal testis and a contralateral inguinal hernia (patent processus vaginalis) may enable an early diagnosis of transverse testicular ectopia and proper surgical planning. Surgical orchidopexy was carried out and in the first two patients resection of the müllerian duct remnant (utriculus masculinus).

Septic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava treated with percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy.

The present report describes a patient with septic thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) related to a subhepatic abscess adjacent to the IVC. Despite prolonged antimicrobial therapy and systemic anticoagulation, sepsis and septic embolism persisted while the size of the thrombus increased. Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy was performed, resulting in removal of the infected thrombus and complete clinical recovery.

Upper abdominal ultrasound in general practice: indications, diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal ultrasound (US) is frequently performed in Western societies. There is insufficient knowledge of its diagnostic value in terms of changes in patient management decisions in primary care. OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of upper abdominal US on patient management in general practice. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with 76 GPs and three general hospitals in The Netherlands. A total of 395 patients aged >or=18 years referred by their GPs for upper abdominal US were included. The main outcome was change in anticipated patient management assessed by means of questionnaires filled in by GPs before and after abdominal US. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 54.0 +/- 15.8 years, 35% were male. Clinically relevant abnormalities were found in 29% of the abdominal US, mainly cholelithiasis. Anticipated patient management changed in 64% of the patients following abdominal US. Main changes included fewer referrals to a medical specialist (from 45 to 30%); and more frequent reassurance of the patient (from 15 to 43%). However, this reassurance was not perceived as such in almost 40% of these patients. A change in anticipated patient management occurred significantly more frequently in patients with a prior cholecystectomy (82%). CONCLUSION: Anticipated patient management by the GP changed in 64% of patients following upper abdominal US. Abdominal US substantially reduced the number of intended referrals to a medical specialist, and more patients could be reassured by their GP.

Overgrowth and correction of rotational deformity in 12 femoral shaft fractures in 3-6-year-old children treated with an external fixator.

We treated 11 young children (3-6 years old) who had uncomplicated femoral shaft fractures primarily with an external fixator. 9 children were available for follow-up and were evaluated for the amount of overgrowth and rotational deformity. All underwent a clinical examination and an MRI after mean 21 (13-25) months. The mean overgrowth was 0.4 (-0.3-1.1) cm and the anteversion angle showed a mean increase of 12 degrees, as compared to the contralateral femur. In 5 children with an anteversion angle difference of 10 degrees or more, a second MRI was done 4 years after the trauma. The mean anteversion angle difference of the femora in these 5 children had diminished from 15 degrees on the first MRI to 7.4 degrees on the second. 3 of the 5 children had a full correction of their rotational deformity. Growth did not correct the rotational deformity in the oldest child in this group.