Objectives
To study how radiologists’ perceived ability to interpret digital mammography (DM) images is affected by decreases in image quality.
Methods
One view from 45 DM cases (including 30 ...cancers) was degraded to six levels each of two acquisition-related issues (lower spatial resolution and increased quantum noise) and three post-processing-related issues (lower and higher contrast and increased correlated noise) seen during clinical evaluation of DM systems. The images were shown to fifteen breast screening radiologists from five countries. Aware of lesion location, the radiologists selected the most-degraded mammogram (indexed from 1 (reference) to 7 (most degraded)) they still felt was acceptable for interpretation. The median selected index, per degradation type, was calculated separately for calcification and soft tissue (including normal) cases. Using the two-sided, non-parametric Mann-Whitney test, the median indices for each case and degradation type were compared.
Results
Radiologists were not tolerant to increases (medians: 1.5 (calcifications) and 2 (soft tissue)) or decreases (median: 2, for both types) in contrast, but were more tolerant to correlated noise (median: 3, for both types). Increases in quantum noise were tolerated more for calcifications than for soft tissue cases (medians: 3 vs. 4,
p
= 0.02). Spatial resolution losses were considered less acceptable for calcification detection than for soft tissue cases (medians: 3.5 vs. 5,
p
= 0.001).
Conclusions
Perceived ability of radiologists for image interpretation in DM was affected not only by image acquisition-related issues but also by image post-processing issues, and some of those issues affected calcification cases more than soft tissue cases.
Key Points
• Lower spatial resolution and increased quantum noise affected the radiologists’ perceived ability to interpret calcification cases more than soft tissue lesion or normal cases.
• Post-acquisition image processing-related effects, not only image acquisition-related effects, also impact the perceived ability of radiologists to interpret images and detect lesions.
• In addition to current practices, post-acquisition image processing-related effects need to also be considered during the testing and evaluation of digital mammography systems.
Background
Ensuring equivalent and reproducible breast compression between mammographic screening rounds is important for the diagnostic performance of mammography, yet the extent to which screening ...mammography positioning and compression is reproducible for the individual woman is unknown.
Purpose
To investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of breast compression in screening mammography.
Materials and Methods
Eleven breast-healthy women participated in the study. Two experienced radiographers independently positioned and compressed the breasts of each participant in two projections—right craniocaudal and left mediolateral oblique—and at two time points. The spatial pressure distribution on the compressed breast was measured using a pressure sensor matrix. Applied force, compressed breast thickness, force in field of view, contact area, mean pressure, and center of mass (anterio-posterior and mediolateral axes) were measured. The reliabilities of the measures between the time points for each radiographer (intra-rater reliability) and between the radiographers (inter-rater reliability) were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results
Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities from both projections demonstrated good to excellent ICCs (≥0.82) for compressed breast thickness, contact area, and anterio-posterior center of mass. The other measures produced ICCs that varied from poor (≤0.42) to excellent (≥0.93) between time points and between radiographers.
Conclusion
Intra- and inter-rater reliability of breast compression was consistently high for compressed breast thickness, contact area, and anterio-posterior center of mass but low for mediolateral center of mass and applied force. Further research is needed to establish objective and clinically useful parameters for the standardization of breast compression.
ObjectivesTo investigate whether surveillance of pulmonary nodules detected with low-dose CT (LDCT) impacted health-related quality of life and psychosocial consequences in the Swedish ...population-based study, Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS).DesignA prospective cross-sectional study.Settings and participantsThis multicentre (five sites) observational study, which included a cohort from SCAPIS, consisted of 632 participants with indeterminate pulmonary nodules detected with LDCT. These participants continued surveillance for up to 36 months, during which lung cancer was not detected (surveillance group). Additionally, 972 participants with a negative pulmonary LDCT scan were included as a control group. Matching criteria were LDCT date (±2 weeks), gender and site.Outcome measuresAll participants completed a health-related quality of life questionnaire (RAND-36) and the Consequences of Screening (COS) questionnaire, an average of 3 years after LDCT was conducted at entry into SCAPIS.ResultsParticipants were 51–70 years old at study commencement. Overall, the two groups did not differ in demographic or psychosocial variables, smoking habits or pulmonary medical history. Individuals from countries other than Sweden and those with low socioeconomic status were less likely to participate (p<0.001). No effects on health-related quality of life were observed via RAND-36. In COS, the surveillance group demonstrated a higher OR for anxiety about lung cancer (OR 3.96, 95% CI 2.35 to 6.66, p<0.001), experiencing a sense of dejection (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.72, p=0.015) and thoughts about existential values (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.60, p=0.018).ConclusionsLung surveillance with LDCT contributed to significant experiences of sense of dejection, anxiety about lung cancer and development of thoughts about existential values among participants in the surveillance group compared with the controls. The risk of side effects should be communicated for informed decision-making about (non-)attendance in lung cancer screening.
Background
Different low-dose computed tomography (CT) pelvimetry methods can be used to evaluate the size of birth canal before delivery. CT pelvimetry might generate an acceptable low fetal ...radiation dose but its measurement accuracy is unknown.
Purpose
To investigate intra- and inter-rater measurement reliability of cross-sectional and two spiral CT pelvimetry methods: standard spiral and short spiral.
Material and Methods
Ten individuals (age ≥60 years, body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) having a CT scan of the abdomen also had CT pelvimetry scans. Three radiologists made independent measurements of each pelvimetry method on two occasions and also in consensus for a reference pelvimetry computed from the standard-dose CT scan of the abdomen. Inter- and intra-rater reliability was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient.
Results
Measurements in the short spiral pelvimetry demonstrated excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.93, and good to excellent 95% confidence interval 0.87–0.99. Corresponding results of the standard spiral and cross-sectional pelvimetry showed good to excellent intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.85 and ≥0.76, and 95% confidence interval was least good and moderate 0.73–0.98 and 0.59–0.97, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient between reference pelvimetry and other CT methods showed analogous results.
Conclusion
The short spiral pelvimetry demonstrated high and best reliability in comparison to other methods. Standard spiral method showed also good measurement reliability but the short spiral pelvimetry generates lower fetal radiation dose. This method might be suitable for measurements at narrow pelvis. Patient acceptance and attitude to CT pelvimetry should be investigated.
Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is a common pediatric invasive diagnostic imaging examination to assess the urinary tract. The examination is associated with a high level of distress for both the ...child and the parents. Parents' ability to manage their child's situation depends, among other things, on the information they receive from the health care provider. The aim of the study was to explore the impact of information at a VCUG of a child as perceived by the parent. Phenomenography was used for the study design and analysis. A face-to-face semistructured interview with open-ended questions was conducted with 12 parents after their child's VCUG. Two categories of parents' perception of the impact of information emerged: keeping the child in focus and establishing a relationship. When receiving information before and during the VCUG, the parents perceived that they could be present for and support the child and make decisions in relation to the child's needs. The parents perceived that the radiology nurse had the expertise to provide information in a professional manner, which established a relationship between the parties. The results revealed that by accepting, questioning, and understanding VCUG health care information, the parents were able to be attentive to their child and were an integral part of person-centered care. The radiology nurse is pivotal in promoting person-centered care by tailoring VCUG health care information to enable shared decision-making and establish a relationship with parents in the best interest of the child during the examination.
•Information enabled the parents to keep their child in focus during the voiding cystourethrogram.•Information provided by the radiology nurse established a relationship.•Parent involvement in care provided a basis for shared decision-making.•Radiology nurse expertise and professionalism positively impacted the child/parent encounter.•Person-centered care is essential in the encounter in radiography.
Pregnancy increases the risk of pulmonary embolism. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is used for diagnosis. CT generates ionising radiation, and thus, abdominal shielding may be used. ...This phantom study investigated the effects of patient shielding and scan length reduction on the fetal and maternal ionising radiation dose from CTPA. The absorbed dose to the fetus was measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters. Estimated effective doses to the pregnant patient were based on the dose-length products. Shielding increased both the effective dose to the patient by 47% and the mean absorbed dose to the fetus (0.10 vs. 0.12 mGy; p < 0.001) compared with unshielded standard CTPA, as it affected the automatic exposure control. Shielded short CTPA marginally lowered only the mean fetal absorbed dose (0.03 vs. 0.02 mGy; p = 0.018). Shortening the scan reduced the fetal absorbed dose most effectively by 70% (0.10 vs. 0.03 mGy; p = 0.006), compared with the standard unshielded scan. Shielding modestly reduces fetal radiation dose but may compromise automatic exposure control, possibly increasing the maternal and fetal radiation dose. Shortening the scan is beneficial, assuming anatomical coverage is secured.
Cancer screening aims to detect cancer at an asymptomatic stage, although side effects from screening also occur. We investigated the prevalence, longitudinal development, and predictors of ...psychosocial consequences of false-positive breast cancer screening.
Three hundred ninety-nine women with false-positive screening mammography responded to the Consequences of Screening-Breast Cancer (COS-BC) questionnaire immediately after a negative diagnosis (free from breast cancer) following recall examination(s) (baseline), and 6 and 12 months later. Age-matched controls (n = 499) with a negative mammogram responded to the COS-BC at the same occasions. Five COS-BC scales (Sense of dejection, Anxiety, Behavioral, Sleep, and Existential values) were used as outcome measures.
Women with false-positive mammography had consistently higher prevalence of all five consequences compared with controls (P < 0.001). The prevalences decreased between baseline and 6 months (P < 0.001) but were stable between 6 and 12 months (P ≥ 0.136). Early recall profoundly predicted long-term consequences for all five outcomes (OR, 3.05-10.31), along with dissatisfaction with information at recall (OR, 2.28-2.56), being foreign-born (OR, 2.35-3.71), and lack of social support (OR, 1.13-1.25).
This 1-year longitudinal study shows that women experience psychosocial consequences of false-positive screening mammography. Early recall should be performed cautiously, and provision of information as well as social support may reduce psychosocial consequences.
Although delivery of population-based screening reduces breast cancer mortality, it also raises the issue of its impact on the psychosocial well-being of healthy women. Our findings identify predictors that can be targeted in future efforts to reduce the side effects of mammographic screening.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important modality in diagnostics and treatment follow-up. However, MRI can be perceived as unpleasant even though the examination is non-invasive. Patients' ...knowledge of the MRI procedure is usually scarce, which may enhance patient anxiety at examination. We investigated the effects on anxiety and satisfaction with an information booklet on MRI compared to a placebo booklet delivered to adult patients prior to their first MRI examination.
This randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 197 patients. The intervention group (n = 95) received a booklet about MRI prior to the examination, whereas the control group (n = 102) received a placebo booklet of the same size and layout but containing general information. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory with supplementary questions from the Quality from the Patient's Perspective questionnaire were used as patient-reported outcome measures.
Anxiety did not differ between the groups, either prior to MRI or during the examination, but those who received the placebo booklet were at higher risk of experiencing high anxiety prior to the MRI examination (odds ratio 2.64; P = 0.029). The intervention group was more satisfied with the information received (P = 0.044), and a majority of participants in both groups (≥87%) considered it important to obtain information on the MRI procedure.
Written MRI information decreases the risk of high anxiety levels before MRI and improves patient satisfaction with the information. Further research is needed to investigate whether written information prior to MRI is beneficial not only from the perspective of the patient but may also be cost-effective.
Written MRI information prior to the examination is recommended in radiography care.
Objective
To determine the feasibility of a digitally automated population‐based programme for organised prostate cancer testing (OPT) in Southern Sweden.
Patients and Methods
A pilot project for a ...regional OPT was conducted between September 2020 and February 2021, inviting 999 randomly selected men aged 50, 56, or 62 years. Risk stratification was based on prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level, PSA density (PSAD), and bi‐parametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Men with a PSA level of 3–99 ng/mL had an MRI, and men with elevated PSA level (≥3 ng/mL) had a urological check‐up, including a digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Indications for targeted and/or systematic transrectal prostate biopsies were suspicious lesions on MRI (Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System PI‐RADS 4–5) and/or PSAD > 0.15 ng/mL/mL. Additional indications for prostate biopsies were palpable tumours, PSA ratio < 0.1, or cancer suspicion on TRUS. Patient selection, mail correspondence, data collection, and algorithm processing were performed by an automated digital management system. Feasibility is reported descriptively.
Results
A total of 418 men had a PSA test (42%), with increasing participation rates by age (50 years, 38%; 56 years, 44%; and 62 years, 45%). Among these, 35 men (8%) had elevated PSA levels (≥3 ng/mL: one of 139, aged 50 years; 10/143, aged 56 years; and 24/146, aged 62 years). On MRI, 16 men (48%) had a negative scan (PI‐RADS < 3), seven men (21%) had PI‐RADS 3, nine men (27%) had PI‐RADS 4, and one man (3%) had PI‐RADS 5. All men with PI‐RADS 4 or 5 underwent prostate biopsies, as well as two men with PI‐RADS 3 due to PSAD > 0.15 ng/mL/mL or a suspicious finding on TRUS. Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 10 men. Six men underwent active treatment, whereas four men were assigned to active surveillance.
Conclusion
Our OPT model is feasible from an operational point of view, but due to the limited scale of this study no conclusions can be made regarding the efficacy of the diagnostic model or outcome.
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