CT imaging in a large part of the world: what we know and what we can learn

[Use of radiopharmaceuticals in pediatrics: Specificities and recommandations of SoFRa (Société française de radiopharmacie)]

Radiopharmaceuticals are commonly used in children in nuclear medicine. Because of physiological differences in growing children and their radiosensitivity, precautions must be taken throughout the medication use process. The aim of this work is to propose recommendations, under the aegis of the Société française de radiopharmacie (SoFRa), for each subsystem of the process, in order to ensure the safety of pediatric patients. Furthermore, an analysis of two surveys on diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals dosage used in different nuclear medicine departments in France is detailed. Recommendations for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are also provided. Specificities of the preparation for pediatric patients are discussed through the example of the radiopharmaceuticals for lung perfusion scintigraphy. The preparation of individual dose and administration are also described. In nuclear medicine, radiopharmacist's expertise is essential for patient safety. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to secure pediatric radiopharmaceutical use process.

Development and validation of image quality scoring criteria (IQSC) for pediatric CT: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE

To develop and assess the value and limitations of an image quality scoring criteria (IQSC) for pediatric CT exams.

METHODS

IQSC was developed for subjective assessment of image quality using the scoring scale from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating desired anatomy or features not seen, 3 for adequate image quality, and 4 depicting higher than needed image quality. Pediatric CT examinations from 30 separate patients were selected, five each for routine chest, routine abdomen, kidney stone, appendicitis, craniosynostosis, and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Five board-certified pediatric radiologists independently performed image quality evaluation using the proposed IQSC. The kappa statistics were used to assess the interobserver variability.

RESULTS

All five radiologists gave a score of 3 to two-third (67%) of all CT exams, followed by a score of 4 for 29% of CT exams, and 2 for 4% exams. The median image quality scores for all exams were 3 and the interobserver agreement among five readers (acceptable image quality [scores 3 or 4] vs sub-optimal image quality ([scores 1 and 2]) was moderate to very good (kappa 0.4-1). For all five radiologists, the lesion detection was adequate for all CT exams.

CONCLUSIONS

The image quality scoring criteria covering routine and some clinical indication-based imaging scenarios for pediatric CT examinations has potential to offer a simple and practical tool for assessing image quality with a reasonable degree of interobserver agreement. A more extensive and multi-centric study is recommended to establish wider usefulness of these criteria.

Who PACS a Punch? The Role of the Picture Archiving and Communication System/Radiology Information System (PACS/RIS) in Quantifying Experiential Learning in Radiology Residency

The clinical logbook is the currently accepted tool for evaluating experiential learning (EL) in postgraduate radiology training programs internationally. The role of the picture archiving and communication system/radiology information system (PACS/RIS) in defining the complete EL portfolio of radiology residents has not been explored. To conduct a PACS/RIS-based analysis of the comprehensive clinical outputs of radiology residents, and to correlate outputs with residency recruitment criteria and exit examination performance. Retrospective, customized searches of the institutional PACS/RIS were conducted to determine the clinical outputs of radiology residents completing a standardized 4-year training program at a single institution in a middle-income country. The association between outputs and prior-to-residency radiology experience, prior-to residency completion of the primary examination, and performance in the exit examination were determined. Fifteen residents were included. Average clinical output was 8286 cases, with a wide range (6268-10460). Total output was not associated with first-time exit examination success (p=0.16). Residents with prior radiology experience tended to greater success at first exit examination attempt (10/11, 91% versus 2/4, 50%; p=0.09), despite lower average outputs (8138 versus 8695). Outputs were not associated with prior completion of the radiology primary examination (8263 versus 8378; p=0.87). This first PACS/RIS-based analysis of the complete clinical outputs of any radiology residency training program provides important baseline educational data, with the potential to inform discourses on specialty training internationally. It demonstrates the potential for the modern PACS/RIS to supersede the traditional logbook and to serve as a comprehensive EL portfolio for radiology residents.

Review of the current status of radiation protection in diagnostic radiology in Africa

The aim of this paper is to review the available published studies from African countries on patient doses and medical radiation protection and identify strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. Papers on radiation doses to patients published until 2016 pertaining to studies in African countries were reviewed. Radiography, interventional radiology, computed tomography (CT), and mammography modalities were covered. In radiography, the entrance surface air kerma values were below the established diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency, European Commission, and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Patient and staff doses in interventional procedures were not on the higher side when compared with other published reports from developed countries. The dose length product values in CT in many situations were higher than established DRLs. In mammography, the variations of clinical image quality and dose to standard breast between African countries and other countries were insignificant. In conclusion, like in any continent, not all countries in Africa are active, but some have produced good results. The potential for optimization of radiation protection using simple and inexpensive techniques has been demonstrated. The lack of medical physicists is one of the important challenges.