Number Of Imaging Investigations Research Articles

THE ROLE OF IMAGING TECHNIQUES IN DIAGNOSING CAUSES OF VERTIGO

Vertigo and dizziness are among the most common complaints prompting a large number of imaging investigations. Causes of central and peripheral vertigo are very diverse but some of them present with typical imaging findings. In this paper we review a number of etiologies of vertigo and describe relevant CT and MR imaging findings.

Can infrascanner be useful in hospital emergency departments for diagnosing minor head injury in children?

AimThe aim of the study was to determine whether Infrascanner screening is a test which would facilitate excluding acute intracranial bleeding in children after minor head injury and thus make it possible to limit indications for computed tomography in those children.Material and methodsThe study enrolled 155 children aged 2-18 years after a minor or moderate head injury. The children were assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale, examined by Infrascanner screening. Those who had relvant indications also had head computed tomography.ResultsA negative Infrascanner screening result (no intracranial bleeding) was noted in 151 children. The Infrascanner result was positive in 4 children. Head computed tomography was performed in 28 of the 155 children. The conformity of the Infrascanner result with the computed tomography image was found in 26 children: no evidence of intracranial bleeding in 24 children and confirmation of intracranial haematoma in 2 children. The sensitivity of the screening was 66.67% and its specificity 98.68%. The positive and negative predictive values of the screening were 50% and 99.34%, respectively. The reliability of the test results was 98.06%.ConclusionThe Infrascanner seems to be a useful device in diagnosing children after minor head injury in the emergency department and its portability makes it possible to use it in practically all settings. Introducing the device into management standards in children after minor head injury might facilitate selecting those after minor head injury who are not at risk of intracranial bleeding and contribute to a reduction in the number of imaging investigations being performed and decrease the number of hospitalisations.

Variation in requests for imaging investigations by general practitioners: A multilevel analysis

To describe the variation in the numbers of imaging investigations requested by general practitioners (GPs) and to find likely explanations for this variation. Cross-sectional survey of the use of eight imaging investigations by 229 GPs collaborating in 40 local GP groups from five regions in the Netherlands during 1997. A multivariable, multilevel regression analysis was used to link these data with survey data on professional characteristics such as knowledge about and attitude towards test ordering, and with data on contextual factors such as practice type or experience with feedback on test-ordering data. Data for 221 GPs (97%) were available. After adjustment for practice size and working time, the median number of imaging investigations ordered per GP was 148 (interquartile range 71 to 300), with large differences (up to twofold) between the regions (P<0.001). Overall, chest X-rays were the largest single category (median = 48 interquartile range 17 to 100). GPs working in a group practice requested, on average, 34% fewer investigations than their colleagues working in single-person practices (95% confidence interval 17 to 48%). Only practice type was found to be associated with the number of imaging investigations requested, adjusted for practice size and working time factor. No further explanations were found for the inter-regional differences. Future studies on the ordering of imaging investigations by GPs should attempt to delineate contextual from regional factors.