Radiological Reporting of Urgencies Related to Medical Devices: Commentary on a Possible Systematic Approach.

Most medical devices are routinely recognized on radiological images and described as normal findings in the radiological report, but sometimes they can cause patient access to the emergency department. Multiple possible complications have been described and most of them require prompt recognition by radiologists for proper clinical management. This commentary proposes a systematic approach to radiological reporting of the most common emergent complications related to medical devices with the intent to avoid the omission of important findings in the final radiological report.

Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in the Clinical Workflow of Athletes With Anomalous Origin of Coronary Arteries From the Contralateral Valsalva Sinus.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the role of coronary computed tomography-angiography (CCTA) in the workflow of competitive sports eligibility in a cohort of athletes with anomalous origin of the left-coronary artery (AOLCA)/anomalous origin of the right-coronary artery (AORCA) in an attempt to outline relevant computed tomography features likely to impact diagnostic assessment and clinic management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with suspected AOLCA/AORCA at transthoracic echocardiography or with inconclusive transthoracic echocardiography underwent CCTA to rule out/confirm and characterize the anatomic findings: partially interarterial course or full-INT, high-take-off, acute-take-off-angle (ATO), slit-like origin, intramural course (IM), interarterial-course-length, and lumen-reduction/hypoplasia (HYPO). RESULTS: CCTA identified 28 athletes: 6 AOLCA (3 males; 20.3±11.0 y) and 22 AORCA (18 males; 29.1±16.5 y). Symptoms were present only in 13 athletes (46.4%; 10 AORCA). Four patients (3 AORCA) had abnormal rest electrocardiogram, 11 (40.7%; 9 AORCA) had abnormal stress-electrocardiogram. The INT course was observed in 15 athletes (53.6%): 6/6 AOLCA and 9/22 AORCA (40.9%). Slit-like origin was present in 7/22 AORCA (31.8%) and never in AOLCA. Suspected IM resulted in 3 AOLCA (50%), always with HYPO/ATO, and in 6/22 AORCA (27.3%) with HYPO. No statistically significant differences were found between asymptomatic/symptomatic patients in the prevalence of partially INT/INT courses, high-take-off/ATO, and slit-like ostium. A slightly significant relationship between suspected proximal-IM (r=0.47, P<0.05) and proximal-HYPO of anomalous vessel (r=0.65, P<0.01) resulted in AORCA and was confirmed on AOLCA/AORCA pooled analysis (r=0.58, P<0.01 for HYPO). All AOLCA/AORCA athletes were disqualified from competitive sports and warned to avoid vigorous physical efforts. Surgery was recommended to all AOLCA athletes and to 13 AORCA (3 asymptomatic), but only 6 underwent surgery. No major cardiovascular event/ischemic symptoms/signs developed during a mean follow-up of 49.6±39.5 months. CONCLUSION: CCTA provides essential information for safe/effective clinical management of athletes, with important prognostic/sport-activity implications.

Radiological features and management of retained needles.

The identification of retained needles is essential because of their sharp structure with possible life-threatening complications. However, radiological evaluation could be challenging, especially in case of needles' relatively poor conspicuity and small dimension. This pictorial essay focuses on clinical issues (needle features, retention mechanisms and associated complications) and technical aspects (choice of the best diagnostic modality and technique) that can lead the radiologist to an earlier and proper diagnosis of needle retention in order to provide the best treatment for the patient.