Karabulut N, et al. Korean J Radiol. 2010 Jul-Aug;11(4):493-496. http://dx.doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2010.11.4.493

Emergency radiology has evolved into a significant subspecialty over the past 2 decades, facing unique challenges including escalating imaging volumes, increasing study complexity, and heightened expectations from clinicians and patients. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the key requirements for an effective emergency radiology unit. Emergency radiologists play a crucial role in real-time decision-making by providing continuous 24/7 support, requiring expertise across various organ systems and close collaboration with emergency physicians and specialists. Beyond image interpretation, emergency radiologists are responsible for organizing staff schedules, planning equipment, determining imaging protocols, and establishing standardized reporting systems. Operational considerations in emergency radiology departments include efficient scheduling models such as circadian-based scheduling, strategic equipment organization with primary imaging modalities positioned near emergency departments, and effective imaging management through structured ordering systems and standardized protocols. Preparedness for mass casualty incidents requires a well-organized workflow process map detailing steps from patient transfer to image acquisition and interpretation, with clear task allocation and imaging pathways. Collaboration between emergency radiologists and physicians is essential, with accurate communication facilitated through various channels and structured reporting templates. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative tool in emergency radiology, offering potential benefits in both interpretative domains (detecting intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, acute ischemic stroke) and non-interpretative applications (triage systems, protocol assistance, quality control). Despite implementation challenges including clinician skepticism, financial considerations, and ethical issues, AI can enhance diagnostic accuracy and workflow optimization. Teleradiology provides solutions for staff shortages, particularly during off-hours, with hybrid models allowing radiologists to work both on-site and remotely. This review aims to guide stakeholders in establishing and maintaining efficient emergency radiology services to improve patient outcomes.

To investigate the relationship between imaging findings and peripheral blood cell counts of COVID-19 patients and the degree of thymus fat involution of these patients. Computed tomography (CT) images of 87 patients with COVID-19 positive through RT-PCR testing were evaluated retrospectively by two radiologists. Ground glass densities and other signs of viral pneumonia were recorded, lung involvement was scored quantitatively. The patients thymus fat involution was graded on CT. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet ? lymphocyte ratios(PLR), lymphocyte and platelet counts were calculated. Imaging findings and degrees of thymus fat involution were compared with laboratory data. Quantitative scoring of lung involvement was calculated at mean 6.63±4.70 (1-23) for observer 1 and mean 6.55±4.65(1-23) for observer 2 (K=0.824 ? 1.000). Statistical significance was determined between the increase in age and the increase in scores of lung findings(p=0.003). Lymphocyte count(p=0.0001) and PLR(p=0.001) were significantly lower in patients with severe CT involvement. A statistically significant correlation was found between increased thymus fat component and presence of COVID-19 lung involvement in CT (r = 0.461). The severity of imaging findings for COVID-19 patients significantly correlates with the degree of fat involution in patients? thymus tissue.

To evaluate the value of multimodal ultrasonography (US) in a rat experimental torsion model after 6 h of torsion with different degrees. Twenty-one male rats were divided into three groups. Left testes of the rats were twisted around their vascular pedicle 360 degrees in group 1, 720 degrees in group 2, and 1080 degrees in group 3 and intact right testes of the rats were accepted as control group. Grey-scale US, superb microvascular imaging (SMI), colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), strain elastography (SE), and two-dimensional (2-D) shear wave elastography (SWE) examinations were applied 6 h after torsion procedure and testes were removed for pathological evaluation. Short-axis dimensions and volumes of the torsion side were higher than control testes. Lengths of the testes in the 3rd torsion group were smaller than the testes in groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.002). SMI was better than CDUS in recognizing blood flow in testicular tissue. Strain ratios were higher in group 1 and decreased with the increasing torsion degree. Emean and standard deviation (SD) measurements increased in the torsion side. Pathologically the mean testicular damage scores were statistically significant between torsion and control testes in all groups. Our results showed that short-axis and volume measurements, SMI, 2D-SWE, and SE are effective in the evaluation and diagnosis of testicular torsion (TT). Evaluation of affected testis and intact testis with multiparametric US in late presenting TT cases is more reliable than being dependent on a single sonographic modality.