Identifying reasons for the low proportion of female and underrepresented minority radiology residency applicants, despite a highly diverse pool of medical students, would be key to increasing thei... Background There have been growing efforts nationally and institutionally toward diversity in radiology. Purpose To analyze sex and racial and ethnic diversity over time (2010–2019) for the various...

Lumbar spine surgery for spinal stenosis is a frequently performed procedure and was the fastest growing type of surgery in the US from 1980 to 2000. With increasing surgical invasiveness, postoperative complications also tend to be higher. Cross-sectional imaging techniques (CT and MRI) are more sensitive than radiographs and play an increasingly important role in evaluation of patients with lumbar spine surgery. Their use in patients with metallic implants is somewhat limited by artefacts, which can obscure pathology and decrease accuracy and reader confidence. Metal artefact reduction techniques have been developed, which can significantly improve image quality and enable early detection of postoperative complications. Complications can occur throughout postoperative course. Early complications include hardware displacement, incidental durotomy, postoperative collections—most commonly seroma, and less likely haematoma and/or infection. Incidental durotomy with CSF leak causing intracranial hypotension has characteristic MR brain findings and diagnosis of occult leak sites have been improved with use of dynamic CT myelography. Haematomas, even when compressing the thecal sac, are usually asymptomatic. Early infection, with nonspecific MR findings, can be diagnosed accurately using dual radiotracer studies. Delayed complications include loosening, hardware failure, symptomatic new or recurrent disc herniation, peri-/epidural fibrosis, arachnoiditis, and radiculitis. Teaching Points • CT and MRI play an increasingly important role in evaluation of patients with lumbar spine surgery • Complications can occur throughout the postoperative course and early detection is critical • Artefact reduction techniques can improve image quality for early and improved detection of complications

Background and Purpose—Multiple studies have shown that negative computed tomographic angiograms (CTAs) are reliable in excluding aneurysms in patients with isolated perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (pSAH). We evaluate the use of digital subtraction angiography versus CTA for initial diagnosis and of angiographic follow-ups in patients with pSAH by performing an institutional analysis and a meta-analysis of literature. Methods—Retrospective institutional analysis of patients with pSAH was performed from 2008 to 2014. The number and types of follow-up imaging studies were tabulated. Initial and follow-up studies were evaluated by an experienced neuroradiologist for intracranial aneurysm. Meta-analysis of literature was performed to assess the use of initial digital subtraction angiography and of follow-up imaging. Results—Our institutional review revealed no additional use of initial digital subtraction angiography or of any angiographic follow-up after initial negative CTA in patients with pSAH on noncontrast CT. Meta-analysis of 40 studies yielded a total of 1031 patients. Only 8 aneurysms were first diagnosed on follow-ups (0.78%). Careful review showed that some of these aneurysms reported on follow-up are of questionable validity. Initial digital subtraction angiography and follow-up imaging after a negative initial CTA showed no statistically significant benefits. Conclusions—In patients meeting the strict imaging criteria of pSAH, initial negative CTA is reliable in excluding aneurysms. A critical review of the literature through meta-analysis shows no foundation for multiple follow-up studies in patients with pSAH.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evaluation for blunt cerebrovascular injury has generated immense controversy with wide variations in recommendations regarding the need for evaluation and the optimal imaging technique. We review the literature and determine the most cost-effective strategy for evaluating blunt cerebrovascular injury in trauma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed with data extracted to create a decision-tree analysis for 5 different strategies: anticoagulation for high-risk (based on the Denver screening criteria) patients, selective DSA or CTA (only high-risk patients), and DSA or CTA for all trauma patients. The economic evaluation was based on a health care payer perspective during a 1-year horizon. Statistical analyses were performed. The cost-effectiveness was compared through 2 main indicators: the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and net monetary benefit. RESULTS: Selective anticoagulation in high-risk patients was shown to be the most cost-effective strategy, with the lowest cost and greatest effectiveness (an average cost of $21.08 and average quality-adjusted life year of 0.7231). Selective CTA has comparable utility and only a slightly higher cost (an average cost of $48.84 and average quality-adjusted life year of 0.7229). DSA, whether performed selectively or for all patients, was not optimal from both the cost and utility perspectives. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated these results to be robust for a wide range of parameter values. CONCLUSIONS: Selective CTA in high-risk patients is the optimal and cost-effective imaging strategy. It remains the dominant strategy over DSA, even assuming a low CTA sensitivity and irrespective of the proportion of patients at high-risk and the incidence of blunt cerebrovascular injury in high-risk patients.

Our comparative effectiveness analysis indicates that screening and surveillance for intracranial aneurysms in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is cost-effective. Background Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects one in 400 to one in 1000 individuals; 10%–11% of these individuals have intracranial aneurysms. The frequency and patterns of screening for intracranial aneurysms have not been defined. Purpose To evaluate different MR angiography screening and surveillance strategies for unruptured intracranial aneurysms in patients with ADPKD. Materials and Methods A Markov decision-analytic model was constructed accounting for both costs and outcomes from a societal perspective. Five different management strategies were evaluated: (a) no screening for intracranial aneurysm, (b) one-time screening with annual MR angiography follow-up in patients with intracranial aneurysm, (c) MR angiographic screening every 5 years with endovascular treatment in detected intracranial aneurysm, (d) MR angiography screening every 5 years with annual MR angiography follow-up in patients with intracranial aneurysm, and (e) MR angiography screening every 5 years with b...