Workflow Interruptions and Effect on Study Interpretation Efficiency

BACKGROUND

Interruptions have been shown to adversely impact efficiency, accuracy, and patient safety.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the frequency and types of interruptions and effect on report interpretation efficiency.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A business process improvement team was consulted to make detailed recordings of the activities of the radiologists. Activities were categorized as interpreting studies, active interruptions initiated by the radiologist, and passive interruptions initiated by an external source.

RESULTS

Thirteen board-certified, pediatric radiologists were observed for 61 hours. Radiologists spent 52% of their time interpreting studies, 29% on active interruptions, and 18% on passive interruptions. Approximately 50% of non-interpretive time involved in-person conversations or consults and 16% involved phone calls of which 67% were incoming. The longest time period without an interruption was 20 minutes. 85% of the time, an interruption came within 3 minutes of beginning an interpretation and lasted 1 minute or less 70% of the time. Interruptions increased the time a radiologist needed to read a study by 1 minute for radiographs, 2 minutes for ultrasounds, 6 minutes for CTs, and 10 minutes for magnetic resonance imaging.

CONCLUSION

Total interruption time nearly equaled the total time interpreting studies for radiologists, and interruptions decreased efficiency and increased report interpretation times for all modalities studied. This study highlights the type and extent of interruptions in radiology and examines the effect on report interpretation times. With the frequency of interruptions and impact on efficiency, there is a need to dedicate resources to manage the radiologist workflow. Strategic interventions may ultimately improve outcomes, efficiency, and the overall work environment.

Stroke in Middle Eastern children with cancer: prevalence and risk factors

Objective

To determine the prevalence and to characterize the different types of strokes in children with cancer at the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL), in addition to assess the factors and clinical findings leading to stroke in children.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and brain images (MRIs and CTs) of children admitted to the CCCL and diagnosed with cancer between years 2008 and 2017. Brain images were reviewed for the strokes’ onset, size, location, possible origin, its recurrence and type: intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), acute arterial ischemic stroke, and cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) with and without venous infarct. Medical charts of the patients were reviewed for age, sex, their type of cancer, the treatment protocol they followed, and abnormal findings on their laboratory studies and neurological exams.

Results

Out of the 905 charts reviewed, twenty-seven children with variable types of cancer had strokes, with a prevalence of 2.9%. Their median age at cancer diagnosis was 9.4 (4.8-13.7) years and the median age at stroke onset was 10.6 (6.7-15.5) years. The median time between the cancer diagnosis and the stroke episode was 6 months. CSVT cases were the most common (60%) followed by acute arterial ischemic (22%) and hemorrhagic strokes (18%), with CSVT being the latest to occur. We observed that the different types of strokes were related to some types of cancer. Of the children that had acute arterial ischemic stroke in this cohort, 83% had brain tumors, of the children who had CSVT, 87.5% had leukemia, and of the children who had hemorrhagic stroke, 40% had leukemia. Neurological abnormalities were more prevalent in acute arterial ischemic stroke (80%). Patients with CSVT recovered better than those with other types of strokes. Strokes recurred in 60% of ischemic strokes. L-Asparaginase was significantly associated with CSVT.

Conclusions

The prevalence of strokes was 2.9% in children with cancer. We were able to identify factors related to the types of the stroke that occurred in children including the type and location of the cancer the type of treatment received, and stroke recurrence.

Pituitary incidentalomas in paediatric population: Incidence and characteristics

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of pituitary incidentalomas in the paediatric population and among its different age subgroups as well as to identify the characteristics of these lesions. Additionally, we aim to give a perspective on the management and follow-up of these patients.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

We retrospectively studied MRI of children aged 18 years or below who underwent MRI with sellar region within their field of view between January 2010 and December 2018.

MEASUREMENTS

Pituitary lesions were considered incidental according to the definition by the Endocrine Society. We reported the size, location and signal characteristics of each lesion. Medical charts of the subjects were reviewed for age, sex, the MRI indication and the hormonal assays levels.

RESULTS

We identified 40 pituitary lesions of which 31 were incidental lesions. The incidence of pituitary incidentaloma in our cohort was 22 per 1000 patients with female predisposition ( 64.5%) and a mean age of 11 ± 6 years. Rathke's cleft cyst was the most prevalent lesion, accounting for 67.7% followed by cystic pituitary lesions and microadenomas. The most common indications for imaging were growth disturbance (12.9%) followed by headache (9.7%). Abnormal laboratory workup was present in 13% of the subjects. Incidental lesions were more common in the older age groups compared to young children.

CONCLUSION

Incidental pituitary lesions in the paediatric population are relatively infrequent and increases with age. Rathke's cleft cyst is the most common incidentally encountered pituitary lesion followed by cystic pituitary lesions and microadenomas.

Clinical validation of free breathing respiratory triggered retrospectively cardiac gated cine balanced steady-state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance in sedated children

BACKGROUND

Cine balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP), the preferred sequence for ventricular function, demands uninterrupted radio frequency (RF) excitation to maintain the steady-state during suspended respiration. This is difficult to accomplish in sedated children. In this work, we validate a respiratory triggered (RT) SSFP sequence that drives the magnetization to steady-state before commencing retrospectively cardiac gated cine acquisition in a sedated pediatric population.

METHODS

This prospective study was performed on 20 sedated children with congenital heart disease (8.6 ± 4 yrs). Identical imaging parameters were used for multiple number of signal averages (MN) and RT cine SSFP sequences covering both the ventricles in short-axis (SA) orientation. Image quality assessment and quantitative volumetric analysis was performed on the datasets by two blinded observers. One-sided Wilcoxon signed rank test and Box plot analysis were performed to compare the clinical scores. Bland-Altman (BA) analysis was performed on LV and RV volumes.

RESULTS

Scan duration for SA stack using RT-SSFP (3.9 ± 0.8 min) was slightly shorter than MN-SSFP (4.6 ± 0.9 min) acquisitions. The endocardial edge definition was significantly better for RT than MN, blood to myocardial contrast was better for RT than MN without reaching statistical significance, and inter slice alignment was comparable. BA analysis indicates that the variability of volumetric indices between RT and MN is comparable to inter and intra-observer variability reported in the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

The free breathing RT-SSFP sequence allows diagnostic images in sedated children with significantly better edge definition when compared to MN-SSFP, without any penalty for total scan time.

MR imaging of children and young adults with classic findings of osteonecrosis on unenhanced MR images: do contrast-enhanced sequences help?

BACKGROUND

The added value of routine contrast-enhanced MR imaging in children with classic findings of osteonecrosis on unenhanced MR images has not been determined.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to determine the added value of routine contrast-enhanced MR sequences for identifying complications of osteonecrosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty-four patients who underwent 139 contrast-enhanced MR examinations were retrospectively identified. Unenhanced images and subsequently both unenhanced and enhanced images were reviewed in consensus. The location of osteonecrosis and the presence of complicating features (epiphyseal collapse, marrow edema, joint effusion, soft tissue edema) were recorded. Cohen's kappa coefficients (κ) were calculated to assess agreement.

RESULTS

A diagnosis of classic osteonecrosis was made in 22.3% of unenhanced examinations and 28.1% of enhanced examinations (κ = 0.734, P < 0.001). Among patients with complicated osteonecrosis, unenhanced images interpreted without and with contrast-enhanced images showed epiphyseal collapse in 51.2% and 42.5% (κ = 0.796, P < 0.001), marrow edema in 50.4% and 46.8% (κ = 0.727, P < 0.001), joint effusion in 44.9% and 51.2% (κ = 0.686, P < 0.001), and soft tissue edema in 12.2% and 10.1% (κ = 0.674, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The high observed agreement between the unenhanced MR images interpreted without and with contrast-enhanced images shows little marginal benefit from the use of routine contrast-enhanced imaging in children and young adults with classic findings of osteonecrosis on unenhanced MR images.

Multimodality imaging of developmental dysplasia of the hip

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a spectrum disorder resulting in underdevelopment of the acetabulum. Radiographs and ultrasound are the mainstays for screening, with CT and MRI playing important roles in assessing outcome after treatment. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the use of multimodality imaging in the diagnosis and management of DDH.