Multidisciplinary team [MDT] meeting and Radiologist workload: a prospective review in a tertiary care hospital

Objective: To quantify the increase in workload associated with multidisciplinary team meetings for radiologists in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 15 months

Methods: Data was collected prospectively regarding number of multidisciplinary team meetings, number of clinical cases discussed, number of individual imaging studies reviewed, and preparation time of residents, senior registrar and consultants and the delivery time of meeting

Results: Total 223 meetings were held over 15 months [April 2014 to June 2015] for 12 clinical specialty areas. There were 1120 clinical case discussions and a total of 2759 documented individual imaging studies reviewed. Resident's preparation time was 74.6 hours/month, senior registrar's preparation time was 47.93 hours/month, consultant's preparation time was 18.67 hours/month and the total duration time for meetings was 18 hours/month

Conclusion: Multidisciplinary team meetings now represent a significant workload of radiology and has reduced the time for other academic activities within the department

Asymptomatic unilateral cerebellar hypoplasia in an adult patient - A unique presentation

Unilateral cerebellar hypoplasia is a relatively rare malformation. We report a case of 54 year old female patient who presented with single episode of sudden unconsciousness and slurring of speech. Imaging finding suggests the diagnosis of unilateral cerebellar hypoplasia. The patient recovered with conservative management probably because the symptoms were due to Transient ischemic attack not due to hypoplasia

Retained surgical sponge following abdominal surgery

Objective: To share the experience of gossypiboma cases, their presenting features, preoperative risk factors and post-operative outcome in terms of complications and recovery

Study Design: Retrospective study

Place and Duration of Study: Several government and private hospitals of Karachi, over an operative experience exceeding 35 years for the principal author and 15 years for the coauthors

Patient and Method:This study includes collective personal operative experience with patients having gossypibomas. It is compiled by two general surgeons and one gynecologist. Data of 14 cases with primary diagnosis of gossypiboma were reviewed and analyzed. Literature was searched for relevant information

Result: There were 11 female and 3 male patients. Mean age of the patients was 42 years [range 25 to 59 years]. Cesarean section was the commonest surgery performed in 5 patients followed by hysterectomies in 3 patients. Plain radiograph and CT scan abdomen were found to be helpful in diagnosis. Mean interval between initial and final surgeries was eight months [range one week to two years]. All patients recovered completely after surgical removal of gossypiboma

Conclusion: Retained sponge was more common in obstetrical procedures performed in emergency. Presence of abdominal mass or intestinal obstruction was the commonest presentation [93%]. Micro-air-bubbles in plain abdominal x-ray in a post laparotomy patient appeared to be a diagnostic feature of gossypiboma. CT scan was better than other radiological investigations in identifying the retained sponge