Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection for Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy: Comparison of Midline and Paramedian Approaches for Efficacy

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of the cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection (CIESI) for unilateral radiculopathy by the midline or paramedian approaches and to determine the prognostic factors of CIESI.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 182 patients who underwent CIESI from January 2009 to December 2012. Inclusion criteria were no previous spinal steroid injection, presence of a cross-sectional image, and presence of follow-up records. Exclusion criteria were patients with bilateral cervical radiculopathy and/or dominant cervical axial pain, combined peripheral neuropathy, and previous cervical spine surgery. Short-term clinical outcomes were evaluated at the first follow-up after CIESI. We compared the clinical outcomes between the midline and paramedian approaches. Possible prognostic factors for the outcome, such as age, gender, duration of radiculopathy, and cause of radiculopathy were also analyzed.

Results

Cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injections were effective in 124 of 182 patients (68.1%) at the first follow-up. There was no significant difference in the clinical outcomes of CIESI, between midline (69.6%) and paramedian (63.7%) approaches (p = 0.723). Cause of radiculopathy was the only significant factor affecting the efficacy of CIESI. Patients with disc herniation had significantly better results than patients with neural foraminal stenosis (82.9% vs. 56.0%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

There is no significant difference in treatment efficacy between the midline and paramedian approaches in CIESI, for unilateral radiculopathy. The cause of the radiculopathy is significantly associated with the treatment efficacy; patients with disc herniation experience better pain relief than those with neural foraminal stenosis.     

Patient Dose Reference Levels for Interventional Radiology: A National Approach

A set of patient dose reference levels (RLs) for fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures was obtained in a survey launched by the National Society of Interventional Radiology (IR), involving 10 public hospitals, as recommended by the European Medical Exposures Directive. A sample of 1391 dose values (kerma area product [KAP]) was collected randomly during clinical procedures for seven of the most frequent procedures. Third quartiles of the KAP distributions were used to set the RLs. A regular quality control of the X-ray systems and a calibration of the dose meters were performed during the survey. The fluoroscopy time and total number of digital subtraction angiography images per procedure were also analyzed. The RL values proposed were 12 Gy cm² for fistulography (hemodialysis access; sample of 180 cases), 73 Gy cm² for lower limb arteriography (685 cases), 89 Gy cm² for renal arteriography (55 cases), 80 Gy cm² for biliary drainage (205 cases), 289 Gy cm² for hepatic chemoembolization (151 cases), 94 Gy cm² for iliac stent (70 cases), and 236 Gy cm² for uterine embolization (45 cases). The provisional national RL values are lower than those obtained in a similar survey carried out in the United States from 2002 to 2004. These new values could be used to improve the practice of centers consistently working with doses higher than the RLs. This national survey also had a positive impact, as it helped increase the awareness of the members of the National Society of IR on a topic as crucial as patient dose values and programs on radiation protection. This paper was accepted as a scientific poster at the CIRSE annual meeting in Copenhagen, September 2008.     

Effective Dose of CT- and Fluoroscopy-Guided Perineural/Epidural Injections of the Lumbar Spine: A Comparative Study

The objective of this study was to compare the effective radiation dose of perineural and epidural injections of the lumbar spine under computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopic guidance with respect to dose-reduced protocols. We assessed the radiation dose with an Alderson Rando phantom at the lumbar segment L4/5 using 29 thermoluminescence dosimeters. Based on our clinical experience, 4–10 CT scans and 1-min fluoroscopy are appropriate. Effective doses were calculated for CT for a routine lumbar spine protocol and for maximum dose reduction; as well as for fluoroscopy in a continuous and a pulsed mode (3–15 pulses/s). Effective doses under CT guidance were 1.51 mSv for 4 scans and 3.53 mSv for 10 scans using a standard protocol and 0.22 mSv and 0.43 mSv for the low-dose protocol. In continuous mode, the effective doses ranged from 0.43 to 1.25 mSv for 1–3 min of fluoroscopy. Using 1 min of pulsed fluoroscopy, the effective dose was less than 0.1 mSv for 3 pulses/s. A consequent low-dose CT protocol reduces the effective dose compared to a standard lumbar spine protocol by more than 85%. The latter dose might be expected when applying about 1 min of continuous fluoroscopy for guidance. A pulsed mode further reduces the effective dose of fluoroscopy by 80–90%.     

不同类型心血管介入手术辐射剂量分析

目的 分析不同类型心血管介入手术患者所受X射线辐射剂量以及影响辐射剂量的因素.方法 按照甲、乙、丙3位术者的患者资料,抽取本院接受心血管介入手术的患者442例,包括单行冠状动脉造影术(CAG)、冠状动脉介入术(PCI)、射频消融术(RFCA)、先天性心脏病介入术(CHD)和永久性心脏起搏器植入术(PCPI).采集患者的皮肤表面累积入射剂量(CD)、剂量面积乘积(DAP)、透视时间.结果 CAG、PCI、RFCA、CHD、PCPI各组患者的CD值分别为(0.34 ±0.23)、(1.33±0.76)、(0.71±0.43)、(0.27±0.22)和(0.92±0.42) Gy,DAP值分别为(34.18±23.33)、( 135.92±81.14)、( 79.79±50.66)、(27.93±23.66)和(94.60±48.11) Gy.cm2.透视时间分别为(4.82±3.73)、(16.64±9.01)、(17.04±15.29)、(9.60±5.97)和(7.31±6.45) min.DAP值与透视时间呈高度相关性(r =0.84,P＜0.05).结论 不同类型心血管介入手术患者所受的平均辐射剂量不同.辐射剂量和透视时间与手术难易度和术者操作熟练程度有关,可通过提高操作技术水平、减少透视时间降低患者辐射剂量.     

Validation of Adult Relative Radiation Levels Using the ACR Dose Index Registry: Report of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria Radiation Exposure Subcommittee

The ACR Dose Index Registry (DIR) provides a new source of clinical radiation exposure data that has not been used previously to establish or update the relative radiation level (RRL) values in the ACR Appropriateness Criteria (AC). The results of a recent review of DIR data for 10 common CT examinations were compared with current ACR AC RRL values for the same procedures. The AC RRL values were previously determined by consensus of members of the AC Radiation Exposure Subcommittee based on reference radiation dose values from the literature (when available) and anecdotal information from individual members’ clinical practices and experiences. For 7 of the 10 examination types reviewed, DIR data agreed with existing RRL values. For 3 of 10 examination types, DIR data reflected lower dose values than currently rated in the AC. The Radiation Exposure Subcommittee will revise these RRL assignments in a forthcoming update to the AC (in October 2018) and will continue to monitor the DIR and associated reviews and analyses to refine RRL assignments for additional examination types. Given recent attention and efforts to reduce radiation exposure in CT and other imaging modalities, it is likely that other examination types will require revision of RRL assignments once information from the DIR database is considered.     

Perception of Radiation Exposure and Risk Among Patients,Medical Students,and Referring Physicians at a Tertiary Care Community Hospital

Background

It is important for physicians to be aware of the radiation doses as well as the risks associated with diagnostic imaging procedures that they are ordering.

Methods

A survey was administered to patients, medical students, and referring physicians from a number of specialties to determine background knowledge regarding radiation exposure and risk associated with commonly ordered medical imaging tests.

Results

A total of 127 patients, 32 referring physicians, and 30 medical students completed the survey. The majority of patients (92%) were not informed of the radiation risks associated with tests that they were scheduled to receive and had false perceptions about the use of radiation and its associated risks. Physicians and medical students had misconceptions about the use of ionizing radiation in a number of radiologic examinations; for example, 25% and 43% of physicians and medical students, respectively, were unaware that interventional procedures used ionizing radiation, and 28% of physicians were unaware that mammography used ionizing radiation. Computed tomographies and barium studies were thought to be associated with the least ionizing radiation among physicians.

Conclusion

There is a need for educating the public, medical students, and referring physicians about radiation exposure and associated risk so that (1) patients receiving multiple medical imaging tests are aware of the radiation that they are receiving and (2) physicians and future physicians will make informed decisions when ordering such tests to limit the amount of radiation that patients receive and to promote informed consent among patients.     

Radiation Exposure of Patients and Interventional Radiologists during Prostatic Artery Embolization: A Prospective Single-Operator Study

Purpose

To prospectively analyze the radiation exposure of patients and interventional radiologists during prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

Optimizing Imaging Quality and Radiation Dose by the Age-Dependent Setting of Tube Voltage in Pediatric Chest Digital Radiography

Objective

The quality and radiation dose of different tube voltage sets for chest digital radiography (DR) were compared in a series of pediatric age groups.

Materials and Methods

Forty-five hundred children aged 0-14 years (yr) were randomly divided into four groups according to the tube voltage protocols for chest DR: lower kilovoltage potential (kVp) (A), intermediate kVp (B), and higher kVp (C) groups, and the fixed high kVp group (controls). The results were analyzed among five different age groups (0-1 yr, 1-3 yr, 3-7 yr, 7-11 yr and 11-14 yr). The dose area product (DAP) and visual grading analysis score (VGAS) were determined and compared by using one-way analysis of variance.

Results

The mean DAP of protocol C was significantly lower as compared with protocols A, B and controls (p < 0.05). DAP was higher in protocol A than the controls (p <0.001), but it was not statistically significantly different between B and the controls (p = 0.976). Mean VGAS was lower in the controls than all three protocols (p < 0.001 for all). Mean VGAS did not differ between protocols A and B (p = 0.334), but was lower in protocol C than A (p = 0.008) and B (p = 0.049).

Conclusion

Protocol C (higher kVp) may help optimize the trade-off between radiation dose and image quality, and it may be acceptable for use in a pediatric age group from these results.     

Radiation Exposure of Extracranial Organs at Risk during Stereotactic Linac Radiosurgery

Background and Purpose: Stereotactic radiosurgery of intracranial tumors and vascular malformations can be performed by either a linear accelerator (Linac) or gamma knife. The aim of this first study on patients was to determine the radiation exposure of organs at risk and assess the risk for late effects including secondary tumors and/or hereditary disorders after stereotactic Linac radiosurgery.Material and Methods: Thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) measurements were done on 21 consecutively admitted patients with various intracranial lesions scheduled for Linac radiosurgery. The TLD chips were placed on the eyelid, thyroid, breast and the regions of the ovary or testes.Results: The mean doses in organs at risk were 276 ± 200 mGy (eye lens), 155 ± 83 mGy (thyroid), 47 ± 22 mGy (breast), 20 ± 12 mGy (ovary), and 9 ± 3 mGy (testes). The doses decreased significantly with a larger distance from the isocenter.Conclusion: The absorbed doses to the extracranial organs at risk in patients undergoing Linac radiosurgery were very low, ranging from 0.025% (testes) to 0.76% (eye lens) of the mean maximum target dose (36 Gy). Nevertheless, while the majority of radiosurgery patients have benign tumors or arteriovenous malformations and their life expectancy is long, all doses should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. This could be accomplished by the use of modern irradiation techniques including conformal beams with micro–multileaf collimator and avoiding beams directed to the trunk.     

Effect of Real-Time Radiation Dose Feedback on Pediatric Interventional Radiology Staff Radiation Exposure

PurposeTo measure and compare individual staff radiation dose levels during interventional radiologic (IR) procedures with and without real-time feedback to evaluate whether it has any impact on staff radiation dose.Materials and MethodsA prospective trial was performed in which individuals filling five different staff roles wore radiation dosimeters during all IR procedures during two phases: a 12-week “closed” phase (measurements recorded but display was off, so no feedback was provided) and a 17-week “open” phase (display was on and provided real-time feedback). Radiation dose rates were recorded and compared by Mann–Whitney U test.ResultsThere was no significant difference in median procedure time, fluoroscopy time, or patient dose (dose–area product normalized to fluoroscopy time) between the two phases. Overall, the median staff dose was lower in the open phase (0.56 µSv/min of fluoroscopy time) than in the closed phase (3.01 µSv/min; P < .05). The IR attending physician dose decreased significantly for procedures for which the physicians were close to the patient, but not for ones for which they were far away.ConclusionsA radiation dose monitoring system that provides real-time feedback to the interventional staff can significantly reduce radiation exposure to the primary operator, most likely by increasing staff compliance with use of radiation protection equipment and dose reduction techniques.     

Radiation Dose during Transarterial Radioembolization: A Dosimetric Comparison of Cone-Beam CT and Angio-CT Technologies

PurposeTo evaluate the radiation dose differences for intraprocedural computed tomography (CT) imaging between cone-beam CT and angio-CT acquired during transarterial radioembolization (TARE) therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.Materials and MethodsA retrospective cohort of 22 patients who underwent 23 TARE procedures were selected. Patients were imaged in both cone-beam CT and angio-CT rooms as a part of their conventional treatment plan. Effective dose contributions from individual CT acquisitions as well as the cumulative dose contributions from procedural 3D imaging were evaluated. Angiography dose contributions were omitted. Cone-beam CT images were acquired on a C-arm Philips Allura system. Effective doses were evaluated by coupling previously published conversion factors (effective dose per dose-area product) to patient’s dose-area product meter readings after the procedure. Angio-CT images were acquired on a hybrid Canon Infinix-i Aquilion PRIME system. Effective doses from angio-CT scans were estimated using Radimetrics. Comparisons of a single patient’s dose differential between the 2 technologies were made.ResultsThe mean effective dose from a single CT scan was 6.42 mSv and 5.99 mSv in the cone-beam CT room and the angio-CT room, respectively (P = .3224), despite the greater field of view and average craniocaudal scan coverage in angio-CT. The mean effective dose summed across all CTs in a procedure was 12.89 mSv and 34.35 mSv in the cone-beam CT room and the angio-CT room, respectively (P = .0018).ConclusionsThe mean effective dose per CT scan is comparable between cone-beam CT and angio-CT when considered in direct comparison for a single patient.     

Efficacy and Radiation Exposure of Ultra-Low-Dose Chest CT at 100 kVp with Tin Filtration in CT-Guided Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy for Small Pulmonary Lesions Using a Third-Generation Dual-Source CT Scanner

Purpose

To prospectively investigate efficacy and radiation dose of ultra-low-dose CT–guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) at 100 kVp with tin filtration (¹⁰⁰Sn kVp) for small pulmonary lesions.

Analyzing Radiation Use during Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation

Portal vein access during transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation was examined in 11 patients. Radiation metrics (kerma area product, reference point air kerma, and fluoroscopy times) during portal vein access were significantly greater for conventional versus intravascular US–guided transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (54.8 mGy ∙ cm² ± 27.6 vs 8.4 mGy ∙ cm² ± 5.0, P = .009; 210.4 mGy ± 109.1 vs 29.5 mGy ± 18.4, P = .009; 19.1 min ± 8.6 vs 8.9 min ± 4.6, P = .04). Wedged hepatic venography is a major contributor to radiation exposure. Intravascular US guidance is associated with significantly reduced radiation use.     

Contemporary Interventional Radiology Dosimetry: Analysis of 4,784 Discrete Procedures at a Single Institution

PurposeTo report dosimetry of commonly performed interventional radiology procedures and compare dose analogues to known reference levels.Materials and MethodsDemographic and dosimetry data were collected for gastrostomy, nephrostomy, peripherally inserted central catheter placement, visceral arteriography, hepatic chemoembolization, tunneled catheter placement, inferior vena cava filter placement, vascular embolization, transjugular liver biopsy, adrenal vein sampling, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation, and biliary drainage between June 12, 2014, and April 26, 2018, using integrated dosimetry software. In all, 4,784 procedures were analyzed. The study included 2,691 (56.2%) male subjects and 2,093 (43.8%) female subjects with mean age 55 ± 21 years (range: 0-104 years) and with mean weight of 76.9 ± 29.4 kg (range: 0.9-268.1 kg). Fluoroscopy time, dose area product (DAP), and reference dose were evaluated.ResultsTIPS had the highest mean fluoroscopy time (49.1 ± 16.0 min) followed by vascular embolization (25.2 ± 11.4 min), hepatic chemoembolization (18.8 ± 12.5 min), and visceral arteriography (17.7 ± 3.2 min). TIPS had the highest mean DAP (429.2 ± 244.8 grays per square centimeter [Gy·· cm²]) followed by hepatic chemoembolization (354.6 ± 78.6 Gy·· cm²), visceral arteriography (309.5 ± 39.0 Gy·· cm²), and vascular embolization (298.5 ± 29 Gy·· cm²). TIPS was associated with the highest mean reference dose (2.002 ± 1.420 Gy) followed by hepatic chemoembolization (1.746 ± 0.435 Gy), vascular embolization (1.615 ± 0.381 Gy), and visceral arteriography (1.558 ± 1.720 Gy). Of the six procedures available for comparison with the reference levels, the mean fluoroscopy time, DAP, and reference dose for each procedure were below the proposed reference levels.ConclusionAdvances in image acquisition technology and radiation safety protocols have significantly reduced the radiation exposure for a variety of interventional radiology procedures.     

Comparison of lung T2* during free‐breathing at 1.5 T and 3.0 T with ultrashort echo time imaging

Assessment of lung effective transverse relaxation time (T₂*) may play an important role in the detection of structural and functional changes caused by lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. While T₂* measurements have been conducted in both animals and humans at 1.5 T, studies on human lung at 3.0 T have not yet been reported. In this work, ultrashort echo time imaging technique was applied for the measurement and comparison of T₂* values in normal human lungs at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. A 2D ultrashort echo time pulse sequence was implemented and evaluated in phantom experiments, in which an eraser served as a homogeneous short T₂* sample. For the in vivo study, five normal human subjects were imaged at both field strengths and the results compared. The average T₂* values measured during free‐breathing were 2.11(±0.27) ms at 1.5 T and 0.74(±0.1) ms at 3.0 T, respectively, resulting in a 3.0 T/1.5 T ratio of 2.9. Furthermore, comparison of the relaxation values at end‐expiration and end‐inspiration, accomplished through self‐gating, showed that during normal breathing, differences in T₂* between the two phases may be negligible. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Expandable Intravertebral Implant in Cancer-Related Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Retrospective Review of 36 Implantations

The purpose of this retrospective review was to evaluate SpineJack implantation in cancer-related vertebral compression fractures in 13 consecutive patients (mean age, 62.8 years ± 18.8). A total of 36 devices were inserted at 20 levels (13 [65%] lumbar and 7 [35%] thoracic vertebrae), with a mean Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score of 9.1 ± 2.1. Vertebral height restoration was observed in 10 levels (50%), with a mean height restoration of 5.6 mm ± 2.2 (interquartile range [IQR], 4–7.5). A total of 6 cement leakages were observed in 3 (23%) patients without clinical consequences. No severe adverse events were observed. One adjacent fracture occurred. Average pain scores on the visual analog scale significantly improved from 5.5 ± 1.8 (IQR, 4–7) preoperatively to 1.5 ± 2.2 (IQR, 0–3.3) at 1 month (P < .01) and to 1.5 ± 1.3 (IQR, 0.3–2.8) at 6 months (P < .01). In this small cohort, SpineJack offered pain relief in cancer-related fractures without an observed increase in adverse events.     

Patient Radiation Doses in IR Procedures: The American College of Radiology Dose Index Registry-Fluoroscopy Pilot

PurposeTo update normative data on fluoroscopy dose indices in the United States for the first time since the Radiation Doses in Interventional Radiology study in the late 1990s.Materials and MethodsThe Dose Index Registry-Fluoroscopy pilot study collected data from March 2018 through December 2019, with 50 fluoroscopes from 10 sites submitting data. Primary radiation dose indices including fluoroscopy time (FT), cumulative air kerma (K_a,r), and kerma area product (P_KA) were collected for interventional radiology fluoroscopically guided interventional (FGI) procedures. Clinical facility procedure names were mapped to the American College of Radiology (ACR) common procedure lexicon. Distribution parameters including the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th, and 99th percentiles were computed.ResultsDose indices were collected for 70,377 FGI procedures, with 50,501 ultimately eligible for analysis. Distribution parameters are reported for 100 ACR Common IDs. FT in minutes, K_a,r in mGy, and P_KA in Gy-cm² are reported in this study as (n; median) for select ACR Common IDs: inferior vena cava filter insertion (1,726; FT: 2.9; K_a,r: 55.8; P_KA: 14.19); inferior vena cava filter removal (464; FT: 5.7; K_a,r: 178.6; P_KA: 34.73); nephrostomy placement (2,037; FT: 4.1; K_a,r: 39.2; P_KA: 6.61); percutaneous biliary drainage (952; FT: 12.4; K_a,r: 160.5; P_KA: 21.32); gastrostomy placement (1,643; FT: 3.2; K_a,r: 29.1; P_KA: 7.29); and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement (327; FT: 34.8; K_a,r: 813.0; P_KA: 181.47).ConclusionsThe ACR DIR-Fluoro pilot has provided state-of-the-practice statistics for radiation dose indices from IR FGI procedures. These data can be used to prioritize procedures for radiation optimization, as demonstrated in this work.     

Kerma-area product is not a useful indictor of potential tissue reactions in interventional radiology

Potential for tissue reactions post interventional radiological procedure is well recognised. Identifying tissue reactions is not always straight forward and implementation of international guidance varies.This single site study investigates the appropriateness of using a kerma-area product value of 500 Gy cm² (assumed field size 100 cm²) to highlight potential skin injury/tissue reactions post interventional radiology procedures.MethodKerma-area product doses for all interventional radiological procedures over a 2 year period in a major tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively audited. A P_KA of 500 Gy cm² was used as an indicator of necessitating patient follow up for potential tissue reactions (potential peak skin dose of 3 Gy). Procedure parameters were recorded for all procedures reaching this dose. These were used to devise clinically representative phantom studies to facilitate peak skin dose measurement for each procedure identified.Results5156 interventional radiology procedures were reviewed. 13 patients registered a kerma-area product dose of 500 Gy cm² or more. 6 patients underwent percutaneous cardiac interventions and 7 had embolization of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage.Subsequent phantom studies representative of percutaneous cardiac interventions and embolization of gastro-intestinal haemorrhage procedures resulted in peak skin doses of 2.6 Gy and 1.5 Gy respectively for a P_KA value of 500 Gy cm².ConclusionA Kerma-area product of 500 Gy cm² alone is not a useful indicator of potential tissue reactions for percutaneous cardiac interventions or gastrointestinal haemorrhage embolization's. Extensive analysis of procedure parameters (particularly c arm movement, focus to skin distance and mean field size) post procedure is suggested to further quantify potential for tissue reaction.