Properties of ultrasound-rapid MRI clinical diagnostic pathway in suspected pediatric appendicitis.

OBJECTIVE: to determine diagnostic accuracy of an US-MRI clinical diagnostic pathway to detect appendicitis in the emergency department (ED). STUDY DESIGN: prospective cohort study of 624 previously healthy children 4-17 years old undergoing US for suspected appendicitis and clinical re-assessment. Children with non-diagnostic USs and persistent appendicitis concern/conclusive US-reassessment discrepancies underwent ultra-rapid MRI (US-MRI pathway), interpreted as positive, negative or non-diagnostic. Cases with missed appendicitis, negative appendectomies, and CT utilization were considered clinically diagnostically inaccurate. Primary outcome was the proportion of accurate diagnoses of appendicitis/lack thereof by the pathway. RESULTS: 150/624 (24%) children had appendicitis;255 USs (40.9%) were non-diagnostic. Of 139 US-MRI pathway children (after 117 non-diagnostic and 22 conclusive USs), 137 [98.6%; 95% CI 0.96-1.00] had clinically accurate outcomes (1 CT, 1 negative appendectomy): sensitivity 18/18 [100%], specificity 119/121 [98.3%], positive predictive value 18/20 [90.5%], negative predictive value 119/119 [100%]. MRI imaging accuracy was 134/139 (96.4%); 3 MRIs were non-diagnostic (no appendicitis). In the overall algorithm, 616/624 [98.7% (0.97-0.99)] patients had accurate outcomes: 147/150 (98.0%) appendicitis cases had confirmatory surgeries (3 CTs) and 469/474 (98.9%) appendicitis-negative children had no surgery/CT. CONCLUSION: this study demonstrated high clinical accuracy of the US-rapid-MRI pathway in suspected pediatric appendicitis after non-diagnostic US.

Parenchymal echotexture changes as a predictor of viability in testicular torsion.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative test that can predict the salvageability of the torsed testis may add essential information to the surgeon managing testicular torsion (TT), this can assist with patients' and parents' expectations, particularly with nonviable testes. We aimed to examine if parenchymal echotexture changes in preoperative ultrasound can predict irreversible hemorrhagic necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative ultrasound studies of 154 patients with TT were reviewed by 3 raters (2 radiologists and 1 urologist). The raters were asked to categorize the affected testicular parenchymal echotexture into one of the following categories: (1) normal (identical to the contra-lateral testis), (2) homogenous hypoechoic, or (3) focal heterogeneous echotexture. Testis non-viability was defined macroscopically during surgical exploration and correlated with the US results. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predicting values of the proposed diagnostic test were calculated. Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to determine inter-rater agreement. RESULTS: A total of 54/154 patients had a nonviable testis. Mean of 59.5% cases was classified as category 1, 27.3% cases as category 2, and 13.2% cases as category 3. Testicular necrosis was 12%, 34%, and 92% in each category, respectively. Category 3 classified non-viability with a mean specificity of 99.3% and with a high inter-rater agreement level (Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.830). Mean positive predictive value of 97% and mean negative predictive value of 74.3%. The mean sensitivity of this test however was low 39.7%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound finding of focal parenchymal echotexture heterogeneous changes is highly specific although not sensitive, for nonviable testis. The presence of this finding reassures non-viability in over 99%.

Sensitivity of the Mount Fuji Sign After Evacuation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma in Nonagenarians.

BACKGROUND: The Mount Fuji sign (MFS) is a radiological sign on computed tomographic scans depicting air between the frontal lobes. Air in this location indicates tension pneumocephalus (TP), considered a neurosurgical emergency.We evaluate the correlation between the MFS and perioperative mortality attributed to TP in nonagenarians who have undergone evacuation of chronic subdural hemorrhage (cSDH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of nonagenarians who had cSDH evacuation between 2006 and 2015. Postoperative computed tomographic images were evaluated for findings consistent with the MFS. RESULTS: Of 45 patients, 15 patients (33%) had radiological MFS, and 3 patients (20%) with MFS required reoperation because of new blood collection. No patient required reoperation because of TP. Perioperative (30-day) mortality in patients demonstrating the MFS was 6.67% caused by cardiac arrhythmia versus 13.33% mortality in patients with no evidence of the MFS. CONCLUSION: Mount Fuji sign in nonagenarians after cSDH evacuation is not a specific sign of TP.

Radiologist Found Liable for Malpractice in Israel for Causing a Patient's Suicide by Sending a "Bad News" Report: Can This Happen in the United States?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to present an example of a non-U.S. lawsuit in which a radiologist was found negligent in the case of a psychiatric patient who died by suicide after reading a radiology report sent directly to him. CONCLUSION: Although the lawsuit and its outcome do not influence laws in the United States or any country other than the one in which the case was tried, it should stimulate the radiologic community into giving serious thought to the format and manner in which reports of radiologic examinations are communicated to patients.