Communication in Diagnostic Radiology

Communication in the diagnostic radiology department in regard to the current work load has been discussed with certain recommendations being made to increase efficiency. The need for improvement in communication equipment and techniques is necessitated by problems facing diagnostic radiology today.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73519/1/j.1440-1673.1972.tb01316.x.pd

Factors Influencing Diagnostic Radiology as a Specialty choice among Women

While the number of women entering medical schools is approaching 50% nationally, women continue to be underrepresented in a number of specialties including diagnostic radiology. Although diagnostic radiology has many lifestyle characteristics that might be desirable to women, (e.g., reasonable call hours, flexible scheduling, and high salaries) women still do not choose radiology at the same rate at which they choose other specialties. Here, we use literature review, aggregated data analysis, and focus groups to investigate possible reasons why women enter diagnostic radiology at a lower rate than they enter medicine as a profession. The current literature suggests a consteIlation of factors may be responsible for the gender differences in diagnostic radiology. Evaluation of factors affecting specialty choice include a review of available on physician satisfaction and lifestyle data and analysis of focus groups and interviews conducted with female diagnostic radiology residents and female medical students from the Yale University School of Medicine. We conclude that women who do not choose radiology are unable to overcome the lack of patient care inherent in its practice. Women who do choose radiology enjoy its technical aspects and often seek to offset the lack of patient contact by seeking careers in breast imaging and interventional radiology. Elective experiences and positive role models were important for women who went into radiology but were less important for women who chose other specialties. Finally, women who did not choose radiology as a career cited lifestyle as radiology\u27s most attractive attribute, but women who had chosen a career in radiology placed significant emphasis on other aspects of radiology as the most important factors in their specialty choice, mentioning lifestyle as an afterthought

Image quality in diagnostic radiology

This chapter provides a theoretical background about image quality in diagnostic radiology. Digital image representation and also image quality evaluation methods are here discussed. An overview of methods for quality evaluation of diagnostic imaging procedures is provided. Digital image representation and primary physical image quality parameters are also discussed, including objective image quality measurements and observer performance methods

Clay as Thermoluminescence Dosemeter in diagnostic Radiology applications

As part of efforts to isolate and utilize local and naturally occurring materials for development of thermoluminescece dosemeters and other technologies, an earlier report had shown that Nigerian clay showedprospects of utility as a thermoluminescence dosemeter (TLD). This paper reports the investigation of the basic thermoluminescence properties of clay at x-rays in the diagnostic radiology range, including dose monitoring in abdominal radiography. Clay sourced from Calabar, Nigeria, was tested for thermoluminescence response after irradiation at diagnostic radiology doses, including application in abdominal radiography dose monitoring in a clinical setting.Results show that thermoluminescence (TL) output in natural clay is very low, but demonstrates enhanced performance with the addition of common salt. Specific TL characteristics of good repeatability for individual and batched pellets (variability index of 3.08%) and a high degree of trap emptying were observed. It had a glow curve peak at 275 C; with traces of spurious thermoluminescence emission at the reader anneal temperature. There was evidence of good batch homogeneity (< 30%) and a similar pattern of dose absorption in abdominal radiography with commercialLithium Fluoride (LiF TLD-100). A high fading rate (over 30% in twelve hours) and low sensitivity (12 times less than LiF TLD-100) however, signal the unacceptability of clay as aTLD in diagnostic radiology in the forms studied. Clay demonstrates poor TL response at diagnostic radiology doses. However, it's water absorbing property offers a means of overcoming the hygroscopic nature of common salt. This could beexplored to improve the use of sodium chloride as a radiation detector.Keywords: Clay, Thermoluminescence, Dosemeter, Detector, Radiology, x-rays

Implementing Diagnostic Imaging Services in a Rural Setting of Extreme Poverty: Five Years of X-ray and Ultrasound Service Delivery in Achham, Nepal

Introduction: Diagnostic radiology services are severely lacking in many rural settings and the implementation of these services poses complex challenges. The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of diagnostic radiology services at a district-level hospital in Achham, a rural district in Nepal. Methods and Materials: We conducted a retrospective review of the implementation of diagnostic radiology services. We compiled a list of implementation challenges and proposed solutions based on an internal review of historical data, hospital records, and the experiences of hospital staff members. We used a seven-domain analytic framework to structure our discussion of these challenges. Results: We documented the first five years of challenges faced and lessons learned by the non-profit organization Possible while implementing and providing diagnostic radiology services for the first time in a remote location. Additionally, we documented the uptake of these services through the first five years of operations. During this time, the number of X-rays performed increased 271%, while ultrasounds increased 258%. The main challenges included educating the community about the appropriate use of these services, recruiting trained providers, and coordinating referral care and consultations for higher-level diagnostics and treatment. Finally, investments in training providers and technicians, as well as investments in infrastructure, primarily the installation of solar panels to maintain a power supply, were critical to sustaining services. Discussion: This experience demonstrates that reliable and sustained services can be deployed even in extremely remote areas and identifies challenges that other implementers may face in similar program implementation

Radiation in medicine: Origins, risks and aspirations.

The use of radiation in medicine is now pervasive and routine. From their crude beginnings 100 years ago, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy have all evolved into advanced techniques, and are regarded as essential tools across all branches and specialties of medicine. The inherent properties of ionizing radiation provide many benefits, but can also cause potential harm. Its use within medical practice thus involves an informed judgment regarding the risk/benefit ratio. This judgment requires not only medical knowledge, but also an understanding of radiation itself. This work provides a global perspective on radiation risks, exposure and mitigation strategies

Characterization of a Test for Invasive Breast Cancer Using X-ray Diffraction of Hair—Results of a Clinical Trial

Objective: To assess the performance of a test for breast cancer utilizing synchrotron x-ray diffraction analysis of scalp hair from women undergoing diagnostic radiology assessment. Design and Setting: A double-blinded clinical trial of women who attended diagnostic radiology clinics in Australia. Patients: 1796 women referred for diagnostic radiology, with no previous history of cancer. Main Outcome Measures: Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the hair test analysis compared to the gold standard of imaging followed by biopsy where indicated. Results: The hair-based assay had an overall accuracy of >77% and a negative predictive value of 99%. For all women, the sensitivity of both mammography and x-ray diffraction alone was 64%, but when used together the sensitivity rose to 86%. The sensitivity of the hair test for women under the age of 70 was 74%. Conclusion: In this large population trial the association between the presence of breast cancer and an altered hair fibre X-ray diffraction pattern previously reported has been confirmed. It appears that mammography and X-ray diffraction of hair detect different populations of breast cancers, and are synergistic when used together