Purpose: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CT-PA) is frequently used in the diagnostic workup of pulmonary embolism (PE), even in highly radiosensitive patient populations. This study aims to assess CT-PA with reduced z-axis coverage (compared with a standard scan range covering the entire lung) for its sensitivity for detecting PE and its potential to reduce the radiation dose. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 602 consecutive CT-PA scans with definite or possible PE reported. A reduced scan range was defined based on the topogram, where the cranial slice was set at the top of the aortic arch and the caudal slice at the top of the lower hemidiaphragm. Locations of emboli in relation to the reduced scan range were recorded. Results: We included 513 CT-PA scans with definite acute PE in statistical analysis. Patients’ median age was 66 (52 to 77) years, 46% were female. Median dose length product was 270.8 (111.3 to 503.9) mGy*cm. Comparing the original and reduced scan ranges, the mean scan length was significantly reduced by 48.0±8.6% (26.8±3.0 vs. 13.9±2.6 cm, P<0.001). Single emboli outside the reduced range in addition to emboli within were found in 15 scans (2.9%), while only 1 scan (0.2%) had an embolus outside the reduced range and none within it. The resulting sensitivity of CT-PA with reduced scan range was 99.81% (95% confidence interval: 98.74%-99.99%) for detecting any PE. Conclusion: A reduced scan length in CT-PA, as defined above, would substantially decrease radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic accuracy for detecting PE.

Background/Objectives: Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is an emerging, minimally invasive treatment for symptomatic osteoarthritis. This study assesses global online search trends for GAE compared with traditional knee replacement using Google Trends data. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed global search trends for osteoarthritis treatments using the publicly accessible Google Trends platform. Monthly relative search volumes (RSV; scaled 0–100) for English-language queries were retrieved from January 2018 to December 2024. Three emerging minimally invasive terms (“genicular artery embolization”, “knee embolization”, “interventional radiology”), and three traditional surgical terms (“knee arthroplasty”, “knee replacement”, “total knee replacement”) were included. Temporal trends were evaluated using linear and non-linear regression models, with model fit evaluated using coefficients of determination (R²), ANOVA, and accuracy measures. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: GAE-related terms demonstrated significant growth over time. “Genicular artery embolization” increased by 0.9% per month (R² = 0.795, p < 0.001), and “knee embolization” increased at 0.9% per month (R² = 0.627, p < 0.001) in a linear model. Traditional terms showed slower growth rates of 0.13–0.23% per month (R² = 0.159–0.271). Exponential and quadratic models confirmed these patterns. Mean RSV values over the study period were higher for traditional procedures (e.g., “total knee replacement”: 83.13) than for GAE-related terms (e.g., “genicular artery embolization”: 22.5). Conclusions: Global online interest in GAE-related terms is increasing at a substantially faster rate than interest in traditional knee replacement. Rapidly growing search interest highlights the need for accurate and accessible online patient education regarding emerging treatments.

COVID-19 disease, caused by the novel beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has become a global pandemic, with more than 220 million confirmed cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by September 2021 (WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. https://covid19.who.int. Accessed 6 September 2021). The virus causes mild to moderate respiratory illness and most patients recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill with atypical pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with some cases being fatal. SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptors. These receptors are expressed not only in the lung epithelium, but also in numerous other organs and tissues, such as vascular endothelial cells, heart, brain, kidney, liver, and intestine, which explains the broad spectrum of extrapulmonary symptoms reported for COVID-19-disease (Machhi J. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2020; 15(3): 359–386) Article published online: 17 October 2022 © 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Die Melorheostose (MRH, Syn.: Kerzenwachskrankheit) ist eine sporadische kongenitale Erkrankung aus der Gruppe der sklerosierenden Knochendysplasien, die zu fokal überschüssigen Knochenformationen führt. Die geschätzte Prävalenz liegt bei 0,9 pro 1 000 000 Personen (Wynne-Davies and Gormley, 1985), Männer und Frauen sind gleich häufig betroffen. Eine Assoziation mit weiteren sklerosierenden Knochendysplasien (z. B. Osteopoikilose) und dem Buschke-Ollendorff-Syndrom wurde beschrieben, die genaue Pathogenese ist jedoch ungeklärt. Obgleich es sich um eine benigne Erkrankung handelt, können ein extensives und gelenksüberschreitendes Wachstum sowie die Infiltration umliegender Muskeln und Sehnen zu massiven Einschränkungen der Patienten führen. Typische Symptome umfassen Schmerzen, Knochendeformierung und Bewegungseinschränkung, Muskelschwäche und -atrophien sowie Taubheitsgefühle (Judkiewicz et al. 2001; Smith et al. 2017). Veränderungen des darüber liegenden Bindegewebes und der Haut, wie beispielsweise Hyperpigmentierung, subkutane Fibrose und vaskuläre Malformationen, sind häufig. Publication Date: 21 December 2021 (online) © 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany