Performance assessment of four 64-slice computed tomographic devices for a typical clinical protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performances of four 64-slice CT devices, as regards radiation dose and image quality. METHODS: Effective dose was measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters in an Alderson Rando phantom (Alderson Research Laboratories, New York, NY). Quantitative image quality was evaluated in a Catphan 600 phantom (The Phantom Laboratory, New York, NY) using 3 parameters (modulation transfer function, contrast-to-noise ratio, and figure of merit). Effective and main organ doses were measured in 40 patients (10 for each CT device), who underwent an abdominal study with the same standard protocol; moreover, in these patients, clinical image quality, using a 5-grade quality score, was assessed. RESULTS: In-phantom measured doses and quantitative image quality showed some differences among the 4 devices. On the contrary, effective and organ doses provided to the patients were similar; no statistically significant differences were found also for clinical image quality. CONCLUSIONS: Some differences were found among the 4 devices from a physical point of view; on the other hand, the patient data were similar.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute pancreatic conditions.

Pancreatic emergency, unrelated to traumatic events, can occur as a consequence of the more significant pancreatic pathologies (acute and chronic pancreatitis, tumors) or of the interventional or surgical treatment carried out as therapy for the above-mentioned lesions. Acute pancreatic conditions are represented by pancreatic infections, the involvement of organs, structures, and adjacent spaces within the pancreatic disease, and, lastly, vascular complications. Acute pancreatic conditions are common in pancreatic diseases and can be catastrophic; even if there is a gamut in the severity of clinical presentation, each can be potentially life threatening. Immediate radiological detection of the lesions together with a correct therapeutic percutaneous radiological approach whenever an interventional procedure is preferable to surgery or, when performed before surgery, whenever it can optimize its results, is of fundamental importance in the management of these patients. This article focuses on the essential role of radiology and the integration of imaging and intervention in acute pancreatic conditions.