PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of ultrasonography (US), Doppler US, and laboratory findings in the diagnosis of appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 125 consecutive patients suspected of having appendicitis were prospectively included for US appendiceal (diameter enlarged to 6 mm or greater, intraluminal fluid, lack of compressibility) and periappendiceal (periileal inflammatory changes, cecal wall thickening, periileal lymph nodes, peritoneal fluid) evaluation, Doppler US evaluation (appendiceal wall signal), and laboratory assessment (leukocytosis, C-reactive protein [CRP]). Definite diagnoses were established at surgery in 61 patients, at endoscopy with biopsy in two patients, and at clinical follow-up in 62 patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of appendicitis was 46%. The appendix was identified with US in 86% of the patients, which included 96% of patients with and 72% of patients without appendicitis. Th...

EUSOBI and 30 national breast radiology bodies support mammography for population-based screening, demonstrated to reduce breast cancer (BC) mortality and treatment impact. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the reduction in mortality is 40 % for women aged 50–69 years taking up the invitation while the probability of false-positive needle biopsy is <1 % per round and overdiagnosis is only 1–10 % for a 20-year screening. Mortality reduction was also observed for the age groups 40–49 years and 70–74 years, although with “limited evidence”. Thus, we firstly recommend biennial screening mammography for average-risk women aged 50–69 years; extension up to 73 or 75 years, biennially, is a second priority, from 40–45 to 49 years, annually, a third priority. Screening with thermography or other optical tools as alternatives to mammography is discouraged. Preference should be given to population screening programmes on a territorial basis, with double reading. Adoption of digital mammography (not film-screen or phosphor-plate computer radiography) is a priority, which also improves sensitivity in dense breasts. Radiologists qualified as screening readers should be involved in programmes. Digital breast tomosynthesis is also set to become “routine mammography” in the screening setting in the next future. Dedicated pathways for high-risk women offering breast MRI according to national or international guidelines and recommendations are encouraged. Key points • EUSOBI and 30 national breast radiology bodies support screening mammography. • A first priority is double-reading biennial mammography for women aged 50–69 years. • Extension to 73–75 and from 40–45 to 49 years is also encouraged. • Digital mammography (not film-screen or computer radiography) should be used. • DBT is set to become “routine mammography” in the screening setting in the next future.

Our study showed that in adhesive small bowel obstruction a combination of three independent CT findings (reduced bowel wall enhancement, diffuse mesenteric haziness, and multiple transitional zones reflecting closed-loop obstruction) was accurate in identifying strangulation, with excellent diagnostic performance. PurposeTo determine which computed tomography (CT) findings or combinations of findings can help to accurately identify strangulation in adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO).Materials and MethodsContrast agent–enhanced CT findings in a cohort of 256 patients consecutively admitted for adhesive SBO, with a delay of less than 24 hours between CT and surgery for the operated patients, were reviewed independently by two radiologists, with consensus by a third, to assess CT findings commonly associated with strangulation. The reference standard for strangulation was surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of strangulation in the entire cohort and to identify predictors of the need for surgical resection in the subgroup of patients with strangulation. A CT score was obtained and diagnostic performances of different combined CT findings were calculated.ResultsIn this study, 105 patients (41.0%; 105 of 256) underwent a surgical procedure, 62 of whom were found to have...

Radiologists play a pivotal role in clinical decision-making for patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction by answering specific questions that significantly affect the management strategy. Adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Because the management of adhesive...