- Utility of Gadolinium-Based Contrast in Initial Evaluation of Seizures in Children Presenting Emergently
The authors aimed to assess the utility of gadolinium-based contrast agents in MR imaging performed for the evaluation of acute pediatric seizure presentation. In their study population, epileptogenic findings were found in 28% of patients, but gadolinium contrast was found to be of limited additive benefit in these patients.
- Dual-Layer Detector Head CT to Maintain Image Quality While Reducing the Radiation Dose in Pediatric Patients
Radiation exposure from CT scanning is of increasing concern as CT use in children has risen dramatically. This retrospective study of pediatric CT heads aimed to compare 60-keV with conventional images obtained with different acquisition protocols to evaluate whether a reduced radiation dose can be achieved in 60-keV without compromising image quality. On the basis of image analysis and observer agreement assessment, the authors found a dose reduction of 28% while maintaining superior image quality with a scan protocol of 180 mAs compared with 250 mAs on 60-keV virtual monoenergetic images from spectral detector CT in the pediatric head.
- Performance of Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS) for Diagnosis of Recurrence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Posttreatment follow-up imaging of head and neck cancer is challenging because of the anatomic complexity of the head and neck region and the operations and posttreatment effects of radiation and chemotherapy that mimic recurrent disease. The Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS) provides standardized terminology, report structure, and evaluation categories to convey the degree of suspicion of recurrence in the interpretation of imaging studies. This meta-analysis found NI-RADS 3 (high suspicion) has a high diagnostic performance for detecting clinically significant recurrence.