Pelvic vein embolization: an assessment of the readability and quality of online information for patients.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic congestion syndrome is a controversial topic. Pelvic vein embolization is a minimally invasive treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome. We aimed to assess the quality of information available on the Internet and determine how accessible information provided by the main IR societies was to patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The most commonly used term relating to pelvic vein embolization was searched across the five most-used English language search engines, with the first 25 web pages returned by each engine included for analysis. Duplicate web pages, nontext content and web pages behind paywalls were excluded. Web pages were analyzed for quality and readability using validated tools: DISCERN score, JAMA Benchmark Criteria, HONcode Certification, Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning-Fog Index. RESULTS: The most common applicable term was "Pelvic Vein Embolization". Mean DISCERN quality of information provided by websites is "fair". Flesh-Kincaid readability tests and Gunning-Fog Index demonstrated an average "college level" of reading ease. HON code certification was demonstrated in less than one third of web pages. Professional societies and scientific journals demonstrated the highest average JAMA and DISCERN scores, while for-profit organizations and healthcare providers demonstrated the lowest. Only information from 1 of 3 interventional societies was included in the first 25 search engine pages. CONCLUSION: The quality of information available online to patients is "fair" and outside of scientific journals the majority of web pages do not meet the JAMA benchmark criteria. These findings call for the production of high-quality and comprehensible content regarding interventional radiology, where physicians can reliably direct their patients for information.

Application of a Sub-set of Skinfold Sites for Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Adiposity and Percentage Body Fat Estimation in Athletes.

Body composition assessment is an integral feature of elite sport as optimization facilitates successful performance. This study aims to refine the use of B-mode ultrasound in the assessment of athlete body composition by determining suitable sites for measurement. 67 elite athletes recruited from the Human Performance Laboratory, University College Cork, Ireland, underwent dual measurement of body composition. Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness at 7 anatomical sites were measured using ultrasound and compared to percentage body fat values determined using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Multiple linear regressions were performed and an equation to predict percentage body fat was derived. The present study found subcutaneous adipose tissue depths at the triceps, biceps, anterior thigh and supraspinale sites correlated significantly with percentage body fat by X-ray absorptiometry (all p<0.05). Summation of the depths at these locations correlated strongly with percentage body fat by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (R²=0.879). The triceps, biceps, anterior thigh and supraspinale sites are suitable anatomical landmarks for the estimation of %BF using B-mode ultrasound. Use of B-mode ultrasound in the assessment of athlete body composition confers many benefits including lack of ionising radiation and its potential to be used as a portable field tool.

Ionizing radiation exposure as a result of diagnostic imaging in patients with lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Survival rates among patients with lymphoma continue to improve. Strategies aimed at reducing potential treatment-related toxicity are increasingly prioritized. While radiological procedures play an important role, ionizing radiation exposure has been linked to an increased risk of malignancy, particularly among individuals whose cumulative radiation exposure exceeds a specific threshold (75 millisieverts). METHODS: Within this retrospective study, the cumulative radiation exposure dose was quantified for 486 consecutive patients with lymphoma. RESULTS: The median estimated total cumulative effective dose (CED) of ionizing radiation per subject was 69 mSv (42-118). However, younger patients (under 40 years) had a median CED of 89 mSv (55-124). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the considerable radiation exposure occurring among patients with lymphoma as a result of diagnostic imaging. To limit the risk of secondary carcinogenesis, consideration should be given to monitoring cumulative radiation exposure in individual patients as well as considering imaging modalities, which do not impart an ionizing radiation dose.

Aetiology, epidemiology and management strategies for blunt scrotal trauma.

OBJECTIVES: To describe our experience of all patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 3 year time period with blunt scrotal trauma and to describe a methodical approach for managing this group of patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) of a level 1 trauma centre with blunt scrotal trauma from 2010 to 2013 inclusive. Inclusion criteria included a recent history of blunt scrotal trauma with associated pain and/or swelling of the affected testis on clinical examination. RESULTS: Twenty-seven male patients with a median age of 19 (range 8-65) years were included and all but 1 patient underwent scrotal ultrasonography upon presentation. Sixteen patients (59%) presented with scrotal trauma secondary to a sports related injury. Fifteen patients were managed conservatively and of the 12 who underwent urgent exploration 9 had a testicular rupture, including 1 who had an emergency orchidectomy due to a completely shattered testis. Four patients had >30% of the testis replaced by necrotic tissue/haematoma; of which 2 ultimately underwent orchidectomy and insertion of testicular prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the necessity for scrotal protection in sports that predispose to scrotal trauma should be reviewed. We also demonstrate the importance of scrotal ultrasonography for determining an appropriate management strategy (i.e., conservative versus surgical treatment) in this young patient cohort.