ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between vertebral "end plate sclerosis" and neck pain. DESIGN: A retrospective study was carried out of lateral cervical spine radiographs with a Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS). PATIENTS: Two hundred patients' files were randomly assessed, comprising four equal groups, A to D. The mean ages of the patients were 62+/-7.4 years, 61+/-7.5 years, 40+/-5.6 years and 23+/-5.6 years respectively. In group A, all patients had symptoms of neck pain and a radiographic diagnosis of "end plate sclerosis" of the cervical spine. In groups B to D, asymptomatic patients were recruited and their age groups were 50-69, 30-49 and 10-29 years respectively. Using the PACS, the radiographic density and the sagittal diameter, thickness and area of the end plates at the C5 level were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in the radiographic density of the end plates either between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups (groups A and B), or between different age groups (groups B, C and D). A significant increase in end plate area and thickness was found, however, in both group B (P<0.005) and group C (P<0.01) in comparison with group D. This indicates that the extent of end plate sclerosis increases with age. Our results suggest that the radiographic density of cervical vertebral end plates correlates neither with neck pain nor with increasing age. The radiological sign of "end plate sclerosis" may be over-reported, further limiting its value in the assessment of patients with cervical spondylosis.
Subject(s)
Intervertebral Disc/pathology , Spinal Diseases/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Child , Female , Humans , Intervertebral Disc/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Neck Pain/diagnostic imaging , Neck Pain/etiology , Radiography , Radiology Information Systems , Retrospective Studies , Sclerosis/pathology , Spinal Diseases/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of performing iliac arterial stenting as an outpatient procedure. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of safety including all patients referred for elective iliac arterial stenting over a 1-year period. Sources of data for the analysis included pre- and post-stenting vascular surgical consultation records, hospital case notes, diagnostic and interventional angiography reports, computerized laboratory data, nursing records from our angiography holding area, and the results of routine post-stenting telephone follow-up. RESULTS: There were 29 outpatient iliac stenting procedures in 28 patients (19 men and 9 women, age range 41.0 to 79.8 years, mean age 66.1 years). Of these 29 procedures, 17 involved unilateral iliac stenting, and 12 involved bilateral iliac stenting. Adjunctive renal artery angioplasty was performed in 1 patient and internal iliac angioplasty and stenting were performed in 2 patients. A total of 51 stents were deployed through 42 femoral punctures via introducer sheaths ranging in size from 6 to 8 French. Percutaneous hemostatic closing devices were used in 6 punctures. Two patients required overnight inpatient observation for moderate-size hematomas; these had no clinical sequelae. All others were discharged safely 5 to 6 hours after sheath removal. No clinically significant sequelae were identified in any patient. CONCLUSION: Arterial stenting can be performed safely on an outpatient basis.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care , Angioplasty , Arteriosclerosis/therapy , Stents , Adult , Aged , Arteriosclerosis/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Iliac Artery/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Radiology, Interventional , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare picture archiving and communication system (PACS) image display in so-called stack mode with conventional image display, tile mode, in efficacy of analysis of three-dimensional structure on computed tomographic (CT) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A complex three-dimensional phantom composed of 20 entangled tubes was constructed and scanned. The resultant images were transferred to a PACS for analysis. Five experienced CT radiologists were asked to unravel the tubes by identifying their ends and to perform this task in both stack and tile modes. The time taken and any errors were recorded. RESULTS: All five radiologists performed considerably faster in stack mode than in tile mode; the speed varied by a factor of 3.2-5.7 times. The results of a paired t test showed this difference to be significant (P = .0002). Furthermore, no mistakes were made in stack mode, while two mistakes were made in tile mode. CONCLUSION: Stack mode facilitates analysis of three-dimensional structure depicted on CT scans.
