Is the Internet a Suitable Patient Resource for Information on Common Radiological Investigations?: Radiology-Related Information on the Internet.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the quality of Internet information about common radiological investigations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Duckduckgo) were searched using the terms "X-ray," "cat scan," "MRI," "ultrasound," and "pet scan." The first 10 webpage results returned for each search term were recorded, and their quality and readability were analyzed by two independent reviewers (DJB and LCY), with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Analysis of information quality was conducted using validated instruments for the assessment of health-care information (DISCERN score is a multi-domain tool for assessment of health-care information quality by health-care professionals and laypeople (max 80 points)) and readability (Flesch-Kincaid and SMOG or Simple Measure of Gobbledygook scores). The search result pages were further classified into categories as follows: commercial, academic (educational/institutional), and news/magazine. Several organizations offer website accreditation for health-care information, and accreditation is recognized by the presence of a hallmark or logo on the website. The presence of any valid accreditation marks on each website was recorded. Mean scores between groups were compared for significance using the Student t test. RESULTS: A total of 200 webpages returned (108 unique website addresses). The average DISCERN score was <50 points for all modalities and search engines. No significant difference was seen in readability between modalities or between search engines. Websites carrying validated accreditation marks were associated with higher average DISCERN scores: X-ray (39.36 vs 25.35), computed tomography (45.45 vs 31.33), and ultrasound (40.91 vs 27.62) (P < .01). Academic/government institutions produced material with higher DISCERN scores: X-ray (40.06 vs 22.23), magnetic resonance imaging (44.69 vs 29), ultrasound (46 vs 31.91), and positron emission tomography (45.93 vs 38.31) (P < .01). Commercial websites produced material with lower mean DISCERN scores: X-ray (17.25 vs 31.69), magnetic resonance imaging (20.8 vs 40.1), ultrasound (24.11 vs 42.35), and positron emission tomography (24.5 vs 44.45) (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Although readability is adequate, the overall quality of radiology-related health-care information on the Internet is poor. High-quality online resources should be identified so that patients may avoid the use of poor-quality information derived from general search engine queries.

Abdominal pain: a presentation of a vena cava aplasia complicated by thrombosis.

This case report describes a young man presenting with iliac fossa pain secondary to iliac vein thrombus due to inferior vena cava aplasia. No other identifiable risk factor or cause for deep vein thrombosis was demonstrated.

Dynamic MRI contrast enhancement of renal cortex: a functional assessment of renovascular disease in patients with renal artery stenosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate differences in the magnitude and time course of renal cortical contrast uptake in patients with minimal, moderate, and severe renal artery stenosis (RAS) using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance renography (CE-MRR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CE-MRR was performed on 56 patients with renovascular disease using a three-dimensional volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) perfusion sequence. After administration of 2 mL of contrast, nine sequential axial VIBE datasets were acquired: at baseline, 7, 14, 21, 45, 60, 120, 180, and 240 seconds. Aortic peak signal enhancement and cortical peak signal enhancement through the mid portion of each kidney was recorded, along with the time delay between each peak. Each renal artery was subsequently examined using three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography, and graded as being minimally (0%-30%), moderately (31%-70%), or severely (71%-100%) stenotic. RESULTS: When the data were subdivided by RAS category, the cortical to aortic peak enhancement ratio (CAPR) reduced with increasing RAS. Further, the cortical to aortic time delay (CATD) increased with increasing RAS. These measurements were statistically significant between patients with minimal and moderate RAS compared to severe RAS CONCLUSION: CE-MRR can assist in the differentiation of patients with minimal or moderate RAS from those with severe RAS.

Two-dimensional flow quantitative MRI of aortic arch blood flow patterns: Effect of age, sex, and presence of carotid atheromatous disease on prevalence of spiral blood flow.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of age, sex, and presence of carotid atheromatous disease on the presence of aortic spiral blood flow pattern using two-dimensional flow quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects (37 women, 23 men) were examined. Prospective phase contrast flow quantitative MRI (1.5 T, Siemens Symphony) sequences in the plane of the aortic arch, and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the vessels from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis, were performed. Flow quantitative analysis, using circular regions of interest, in the root, apex, and descending aortic arch to determine the presence of a spiral blood flow pattern was undertaken. The results were correlated with the subjects age, sex, and presence of significant carotid arterial disease. RESULTS: A spiral blood flow pattern was seen during diastole in 43 of 50 (86%), 42 of 48 (88%), and in 26 of 28 (93%) subjects in the root, apex, and descending aortic arch, respectively. Spiral flow was seen during systole in 14 of 35 (40%), 20 of 47 (42%), and 11 of 31 (35%) subjects in the root, apex, and descending aortic arch, respectively. There was no clear effect of age or sex on the presence of spiral flow. Carotid disease was associated with a significant reduction in the prevalence of systolic spiral flow from 51%-19% subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Spiral flow pattern can be seen in the arch of the aorta in clinical practice using flow quantitative MRI. The prevalence of spiral flow pattern does not appear affected by subject age or sex. Carotid atheromatous disease is associated with a reduction in prevalence of systolic spiral flow pattern in the aortic arch.