Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?

The further development of multidetector row CT (MDCT) has led to changes in the application and examination technique, leading to a need to justify the level and frequency of radiation exposure associated with MDCT. A literature review of how the use of modern scanners has affected diagnosis was un...

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Main Authors: Meeson, S, Alvey, C, Golding, S
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2009
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author Meeson, S
Alvey, C
Golding, S
author_facet Meeson, S
Alvey, C
Golding, S
author_sort Meeson, S
collection OXFORD
description The further development of multidetector row CT (MDCT) has led to changes in the application and examination technique, leading to a need to justify the level and frequency of radiation exposure associated with MDCT. A literature review of how the use of modern scanners has affected diagnosis was undertaken, followed by a year-long retrospective study of MDCT scans of patients presenting with symptoms of abdominal sepsis. The diagnostic accuracy of detecting causes of abdominal sepsis using this technology was sought. Scans were performed using a LightSpeed 16 system (GE Healthcare Medical Systems, Slough, UK and Milwaukee, WI). Clinical diagnoses were based upon surgical and histopathological findings, treatment outcome and follow-up scans. System dose parameters recorded were the dose-length product (DLP) and volume CT dose index. The literature on investigating suspected abdominal sepsis has not been updated significantly since the time of conventional CT. 94 patients were included in the study; causes of abdominal sepsis could be detected with a sensitivity of 0.95 and a specificity of 0.91. Repeat examination and cumulative exposure was a key finding. Patients with abscesses and acute pancreatitis had the highest number of scanner visits; patients with diverticular disease had the lowest number of visits, lowest cumulative DLP and shortest stay in hospital. Cumulative DLP was affected by scan length, number of scans and patient size. In conclusion, diagnostic accuracy data for MDCT scans using 16 slices confirm that CT remains a suitable modality for imaging abdominal sepsis but scope for dose constraint exists.
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spelling oxford-uuid:13107f0b-cddb-4f22-9f0a-3d904c86d5102022-03-26T10:11:41ZJustifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:13107f0b-cddb-4f22-9f0a-3d904c86d510EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2009Meeson, SAlvey, CGolding, SThe further development of multidetector row CT (MDCT) has led to changes in the application and examination technique, leading to a need to justify the level and frequency of radiation exposure associated with MDCT. A literature review of how the use of modern scanners has affected diagnosis was undertaken, followed by a year-long retrospective study of MDCT scans of patients presenting with symptoms of abdominal sepsis. The diagnostic accuracy of detecting causes of abdominal sepsis using this technology was sought. Scans were performed using a LightSpeed 16 system (GE Healthcare Medical Systems, Slough, UK and Milwaukee, WI). Clinical diagnoses were based upon surgical and histopathological findings, treatment outcome and follow-up scans. System dose parameters recorded were the dose-length product (DLP) and volume CT dose index. The literature on investigating suspected abdominal sepsis has not been updated significantly since the time of conventional CT. 94 patients were included in the study; causes of abdominal sepsis could be detected with a sensitivity of 0.95 and a specificity of 0.91. Repeat examination and cumulative exposure was a key finding. Patients with abscesses and acute pancreatitis had the highest number of scanner visits; patients with diverticular disease had the lowest number of visits, lowest cumulative DLP and shortest stay in hospital. Cumulative DLP was affected by scan length, number of scans and patient size. In conclusion, diagnostic accuracy data for MDCT scans using 16 slices confirm that CT remains a suitable modality for imaging abdominal sepsis but scope for dose constraint exists.
spellingShingle Meeson, S
Alvey, C
Golding, S
Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?
title Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?
title_full Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?
title_fullStr Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?
title_full_unstemmed Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?
title_short Justifying multidetector CT in abdominal sepsis: time for review?
title_sort justifying multidetector ct in abdominal sepsis time for review
work_keys_str_mv AT meesons justifyingmultidetectorctinabdominalsepsistimeforreview
AT alveyc justifyingmultidetectorctinabdominalsepsistimeforreview
AT goldings justifyingmultidetectorctinabdominalsepsistimeforreview