Search

Background: Prior studies in adults suggest that a wedge-shaped peripheral consolidation may be predictive of pulmonary embolism (PE). In contrast, a previous study in children provided no evidence of an association between this finding and PE, but it was limited by a small sample size and was not specifically designed to answer this question.Objective: To compare the frequencies of parenchymal and pleural abnormalities in children with and without PE at multidetector computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA).Materials and Methods: The study population included 22 consecutive pediatric patients (11 males, 11 females; mean age 13.2 +/- 5.8 years; range 4 months to 18 years) with PE diagnosed by CTPA from July 2004 to January 2009 and identified using our hospital database. The comparison group included 22 randomly selected pediatric patients (10 males, 12 females; mean age 15.2 +/- 3.3 years; range 5.6 to 18 years) who underwent CTPA studies without evidence of PE during the same study period. All CTPA studies were reviewed by consensus by two pediatric radiologists for the presence of parenchymal and pleural abnormalities including: wedge-shaped peripheral consolidation, other forms of consolidation, atelectasis, linear opacity, ground-glass opacity, mosaic attenuation pattern, nodule, mass, focal patchy increased attenuation, and pleural effusion. Differences in frequencies of parenchymal and pleural abnormalities between the two groups were analyzed by logistic regression to determine odds ratios for association with PE. The two groups were also compared with respect to risk factors for PE.Results: Wedge-shaped peripheral consolidation was seen in eight children (36%) with PE and in two children (9%) without PE [odds ratio = 5.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2 to 30, p = 0.03]. There were no significant differences in the frequency of other findings between the groups (all p-values > 0.10). Prior history of neoplasm was the only independent risk factor significantly associated with the presence of PE (p = 0.006).Conclusion: Wedge-shaped peripheral consolidation is significantly associated with PE on CTPA studies of children. The identification of a wedge-shaped peripheral consolidation in children should alert radiologists to carefully evaluate for concurrent PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication campaigns are an accepted method for altering societal attitudes, increasing knowledge, and achieving social and behavioral change particularly within public health and the social sciences. The Image Gently(SM) campaign is a national education and awareness campaign in radiology designed to promote the need for and opportunities to decrease radiation to children when CT scans are indicated. In this article, the relatively new science of social marketing is reviewed and the theoretical basis for an effective communication campaign in radiology is discussed. Communication strategies are considered and the type of outcomes that should be measured are reviewed. This methodology has demonstrated that simple, straightforward safety messages on radiation protection targeted to medical professionals throughout the radiology community, utilizing multiple media, can affect awareness potentially leading to change in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]