Invasive procedures in the female pelvis: value of transabdominal, endovaginal, and endorectal US guidance.

Transabdominal, endovaginal, and endorectal ultrasonographic (US) guidance is indispensable for a multitude of invasive procedures in the female pelvis. Transabdominal uterine US performed with a fluid-filled bladder is appropriate and convenient for guidance of difficult dilation and curettage procedures. Transabdominal intraoperative US can be employed to guide several procedures for which the more expensive intraoperative hysteroscopic procedure is now used. Aspiration of symptomatic ovarian cysts that appear benign at US with an endovaginally guided small-gauge needle is simple and effective. Simple noninfected pelvic fluid collections may be aspirated transvaginally for both diagnosis and therapy by using endovaginal guidance. Endovaginal US demonstrates the anatomic relationships of a pelvic abscess to adjacent structures, allowing safe access for transvaginal drainage. By using an endovaginal transducer with a needle guide, cervical and vaginal cuff masses may be easily sampled. An obstructed uterus may be accessed by puncturing obstructive tissue with a trocar-containing needle guided by an endorectal probe. US guidance for placement of a central brachytherapy tandem is performed via the abdominal approach after the bladder has been distended with sterile water. Endorectal US transducers may be effectively used to guide placement of interstitial brachytherapy needles in pelvic soft-tissue masses.

Breast imaging trends in Wisconsin.

UNLABELLED: This survey was performed to determine what breast imaging services are being offered in Wisconsin and compare this information to a similar survey performed in 1997 looking for any developing trends. METHODS: A survey of participants at the University of Wisconsin Mammography Update Continuing Education Conference of 1999 was performed. Of the 135 questionnaires distributed, 68 were returned fully completed and 2 partially completed. RESULTS: The majority of sites were located in Wisconsin with 59 diagnostic facilities and 57 screening facilities surveyed (some participants were involved with more than one facility). Overall there has been a marked increase in the number of sites having some type of women's imaging center and there has been an increase in the volume and type of breast interventions performed by medical imagers. CONCLUSION: Breast imaging and breast interventions are increasing rapidly with increased involvement of the medical imager in the diagnosis and management of breast disease.

Radiology faculty evaluation: bi-institutional implementation of an experimental appraisal instrument.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the reliability and validity of an experimental radiology faculty appraisal instrument. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Residents from the University of Wisconsin (UW) and Indiana University (IU) were asked to use a previously developed behaviorally based, 53-item experimental faculty appraisal instrument. Twenty UW residents evaluated 29 UW faculty members and 37 IU residents evaluated 31 IU faculty members by using the experimental instrument. Residents also evaluated faculty by using their institution's existing appraisal instrument. RESULTS: Correlations between existing and experimental forms were .69 and .87 for UW and IU, respectively. Existing form reliabilities were .89 and .94 and experimental form reliabilities were .98 and .98 for UW and IU, respectively. Experimental form length was reduced to 30 items by eliminating the questions that correlated the least with section scores. Reliabilities of scores on the shortened form were .97 and .98 and correlated .65 and .88 with scores on the longer form for UW and IU, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ratings obtained with the existing forms correlated substantially with the experimental form, attesting to the experimental form's validity. Shortening the experimental form had a minimal effect on the reliability and validity of the data obtained. The behavior-based form was used to rate behaviors that residents believed discriminated between effective and ineffective instructors, enabling an objective and relevant assessment to be made.

Mammography facility trends across Wisconsin.

This paper summarizes the survey results obtained from the University of Wisconsin Mammography Update CME conference. This survey queried participants regarding the breast imaging services they offer. From 147 questionnaires distributed, 110 were returned. The majority of sites were in Wisconsin and were hospital based (57%). Thirty three percent were in clinic settings and 11 percent were "other" settings-clinics specializing in women's health and breast imaging. The survey addressed coordinated breast physical examinations, prior mammographic studies, self-referral, communication of mammographic results, patient call-backs for additional studies, breast compression, breast implants, scheduling, definitions of screening and diagnostic mammograms, presence of an on-site radiologist, and time allotted for the examinations. This survey attempted to gather useful information about the trends and practices of multiple diverse mammography facilities across Wisconsin and in surrounding states.

Development of a radiology faculty appraisal instrument by using critical incident interviewing.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To develop a valid and reliable radiology faculty appraisal instrument based on scientific methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen radiology residents participated in critical incident interviewing. During a 1-hour interview, a resident was asked to describe five incidents each of effective and ineffective faculty behavior. Two investigators independently listened to the tape-recorded interviews, and two different investigators sorted the incidents into broad categories. A faculty appraisal instrument was developed by listing similar incidents under broad categories. A five-point rating scale was applied to each item. Content validity was assessed by resident and faculty critique of the appraisal instrument. RESULTS: A total of 168 incidents of faculty behavior were generated. The frequency with which similar incidents were reported was recorded. The most common behaviors reported were related to staff expertise and teaching. Interjudge reliability was good, as determined by computing K indices of agreement (overall K = 0.59). There was good agreement regarding instrument content validity among residents but not among faculty. CONCLUSION: Residents supported the use of the new appraisal instrument, but further tests of validity and reliability and faculty acceptance of the instrument will determine its usefulness as a tool for monitoring faculty teaching performance and making decisions regarding faculty promotion.

Imaging of pancreas transplants.

The pancreas transplant is difficult to monitor both clinically and by imaging. Complications such as thrombosis, infection, pancreatitis, bleeding, anastomotic leak, or rejection may quickly progress to transplant failure. Ultrasound, CT, MR imaging, fluoroscopy, nuclear scintigraphy, and angiography may be used to help define the etiology of transplant compromise; however, all have marked limitations, and none has proved to be the study of choice. The surgeon and radiologist must carefully coordinate clinical suspicion with the strengths of the various modalities to optimize a timely diagnosis.

Utility of axillary views in postmastectomy patients.

This study was performed to determine the utility of routine axillary radiography in postmastectomy patients. The records of 185 postmastectomy patients who had undergone axillary radiography were retrospectively reviewed. Of 499 views obtained, only 10 (2%) were reported as abnormal. Only one of the 10 patients with abnormal studies had a demonstrated recurrence that corresponded to the mammographic finding. This patient also had positive physical examination results at that time. Eight of the 185 patients developed local recurrences, four of which were in the axilla of the affected side. These four cases were all detected at physical examination; two patients underwent relatively concurrent axillary radiography. One of these two patients with abnormal physical examination results had a positive axillary view obtained in the same month. The other of these two patients with abnormal physical examination results had a negative axillary view obtained 3 months earlier. The authors conclude that routine axillary radiography is not useful in postmastectomy patients.

Reversed or absent hepatic arterial diastolic flow in liver transplants shown by duplex sonography: a poor predictor of subsequent hepatic artery thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the value of absent or reversed diastolic flow in the hepatic artery, shown by duplex sonography of recently transplanted livers, in predicting subsequent hepatic artery thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of liver transplantations performed in adults during a 3-year period at our institution. Duplex Doppler studies were done within 24 hr after transplantation and subsequently reviewed. The clinical course of all patients with absent or reversed diastolic flow in the hepatic artery immediately after transplantation was evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 160 liver transplants included in this study, 30 had aberrant diastolic flow in the hepatic artery immediately after transplantation. Twenty had reversed flow, and 10 showed no flow in diastole. In this group of 30 transplants, complications developed in six; two were vascular in origin. One of these complications was thrombosis of the hepatic artery 12 months after transplantation. This 3% thrombosis rate is similar to the 4.6% thrombosis rate of the 130 patients who had antegrade diastolic flow in the hepatic artery immediately after transplantation. CONCLUSION: Reversed or absent diastolic flow in the hepatic artery of a recently transplanted liver has no correlation with subsequent hepatic artery thrombosis.