Imaging suspected cervical spine injury: Plain radiography or computed tomography? Systematic review

Prevalence and Features of Incidental Findings in Veterinary Computed Tomography: A Single-Center Six-Years' Experience

Computed tomography (CT) is an advanced imaging technique that may lead to detect "incidentalomas", unexpected asymptomatic lesions found during unrelated examinations. Their clinical meaning and management are not clear for veterinarians, who risk unnecessary investigations that harm the patients. This study is a retrospective analysis that aims to investigate incidentalomas in CT exams and to describe their prevalence, location, types and follow-up, their correlations and associations with the species, breed, sex, and age of patients examined and with the kind and number of sites scanned. The reports of 561 CT scans performed in 512 dogs and 49 cats in a veterinary facility over six years were reviewed and compared to the clinical records of the patients. Eighty incidentalomas were found in 57 dogs and four cats. A significant positive correlation was found in dogs between age and the prevalence of incidentalomas. In dogs, the prevalence of incidentalomas was significantly higher in Boxers and in neck, thoracic, and abdominal scans. Spinal incidentalomas were the most common typologies in dogs. This study can represent a tool that allows clinicians to acquire greater awareness about incidentalomas and to carry out the evidence-based clinical management of them.

Trauma in CT: The Role of Severe Injury on Satisfaction of Search Revised

PURPOSE

The satisfaction-of-search (SOS) effect occurs when an abnormality on an image is missed because another is found. The aim of this experiment was to test whether severe distracting fractures control the magnitude of SOS on other fractures when both appear in a single CT image.

METHODS

The institutional review board approved this study. The experimental (SOS) condition included 35 cervical spine CT cases, all of which contained severe cervical spine injuries. For each of these cases, a similar case was found that had no injuries. Image modification software was developed to add simulated fractures to each pair of cases, with and without a major injury. Sixteen different minor fractures were added to 16 of the 35 pairs of images. The 35 cases without native injuries constituted a control (non-SOS) condition mixed in a random order. Twenty radiologists read 35 mixed cases in each of two sessions. False-positive evaluations were collected only for cases without simulated fractures.

RESULTS

An SOS effect on the detection of simulated fractures was not observed. There was a nonsignificant (P = .07) finding of poorer detection in the presence of cases with severe injuries. However, the magnitude of the effect was no greater than has been observed for less severe distracting injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome agrees with the results of two previous experiments that failed to yield an SOS effect associated with detecting severe injuries, suggesting that the severity of a distracting injury does not determine whether a second injury is discovered.

Best Practice in Diagnostic Imaging after Blunt Force Trauma Injury to the Cervical Spine: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate best practice in evidence-based clinical examinations to determine the diagnostic efficacy of plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a cervical spine injury after blunt force trauma.

METHODS

A systematic review of recent literature was performed, with the intention of analysing only original research articles focusing on at least two imaging modalities or clinical decision guidelines in relation to blunt force trauma injuries involving the cervical spine. The search used the following databases: ProQuest Central, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. A total of 18 studies were identified as suitable for review; these were further supported by relevant secondary studies.

RESULTS

It was found that the National Emergency X-Radiology Utilization Study and the Canadian C-Spine Rule are both highly sensitive methods for screening patients after cervical spine injuries. CT was shown to have a higher validity than plain radiography and MRI for the detection of a bony cervical spine injury. MRI is recommended for obtunded or unevaluable patients with suspected neurologic deficit.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the literature appears to suggest that individuals with a suspected high risk of injury after examination using clinical decision rules should undergo a cervical CT examination. For patients who are found to have a low risk of injury after clinical decision guidelines, good-quality plain radiography is recommended as sufficient.

Interventions to reduce anxiety, distress and the need for sedation in adult patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Adults undergoing MRI scans can experience anxiety, claustrophobia and fear during the scanning experience and, in some cases, require sedation. The aim of this systematic review was to determine what strategies are effective in reducing fear, anxiety and claustrophobia, and the need for sedation in adults undergoing MRI.

METHODS

A quantitative systematic review, according to the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute, was carried out. A systematic search of a number of databases was performed. Studies were then screened and critically appraised by two independent reviewers before being included in the review.

RESULTS

In total, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review, which assessed the following interventions: MRI design features, cognitive-behavioural strategies, prone positioning, information, fragrance administration and team training. All of these had some positive impact on outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare professionals working with adults undergoing MRI may consider some of the strategies included in this review to implement in their practice to reduce anxiety and increase patient comfort while reducing the need for sedation.

The effectiveness of interventions to reduce anxiety, claustrophobia, sedation and non-completion rates of patients undergoing high technology medical imaging

BACKGROUND

Advanced, high technology medical imaging, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), have seen significant increases in their use. A number of interventions have been developed with the aim of reducing anxiety, fear and claustrophobia prior to and during imaging.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of interventions aiming to improve the patient experience of high technology medical imaging.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Any patients who have undergone high technology (MRI, CT, PET, Nuclear medicine and SPECT) imaging in a medical imaging department. Interventional scans were not considered for inclusion.Considered interventions were: MRI scanner designs, quieter machines, information, psychological support, anxiety reduction protocols, mock MRI, team training, prone scanning, audiovisual (AV) systems, cognitive behavioural therapies, fragrance administration, guided imagery, patient positioning devices and paediatric preparation booklets.Experimental and observational studies were included in the review.Primary patient outcomes:Secondary patient outcome measures included: SEARCH STRATEGY: A comprehensive, three-step search strategy conducted during August to October 2011 aimed to find both published and unpublished English language studies across 14 major databases. No time restrictions.

METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY

Retrieved papers were assessed by two independent reviewers prior to inclusion in the review using standardised critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI).

DATA COLLECTION

Data was extracted from papers included in the review using the standardised data extraction tool from JBI-MAStARI.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Quantitative data was, where possible pooled in statistical meta-analysis using JBI-MAStARI. All results were subject to double data entry.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered to be of suitable methodological quality. The quality of the studies varied; however, all the studies included had at a minimum a comparison group. Of the final 38 studies, 29 assessed interventions for MRI, 8 Nuclear Medicine procedures, and one in CT. Meta-analysis was performed for two interventions; additional information and an AV system.Significantly fewer children (10-18 years) required sedation prior to a MRI scan when given an audiovisual intervention (n=1785) OR 0.42% (CI 0.25 - 0.70), compared with the control group. Open MRI, newer MRI scanners, quieter machines, information in combination with psychological support or an anxiety reduction protocol, mock MRI, team training, prone scanning, AV systems, cognitive behavioural therapies, fragrance administration, guided imagery, patient positioning devices and paediatric preparation booklets were all found to have some positive effect on at least one outcome, whilst the findings for additional information were mixed.

CONCLUSIONS

This review identified 38 studies that assessed interventions to reduce anxiety, claustrophobia, sedation and non-completions and improve satisfaction for patients undergoing medical imaging. The majority of the interventions studied had some positive effect on at least one outcome.Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential for patients undergoing medical imaging to experience anxiety, fear and claustrophobia during scanning. A number of interventions can be selected and tailored to the patient group.There is still a significant amount of research required to establish the effectiveness for a number of interventions aimed to reduce anxiety, fear and claustrophobia in medical imaging, particularly in CT.