bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A quality assessment of the effects of a hydrogenous filter on a p(66)Be(40) neutron beam
Authors: Slabbert J. P. , Binns P. J. , Jones H. L. , Hough J. H. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Recent measurements in a p(62)Be(36) neutron therapy beam have shown that the quality of the in-phantom beam changes with depth. This variation can be ascribed to the presence of a relatively large low-energy neutron component emanating from the neutron source. As part of the pre-clinical calibration programme at a newly commissioned neutron therapy facility, radiobiological and microdosimetric observations were made to determine the magnitude of this effect on a p(66)Be(40) beam and to evaluate the hardening effect of a hydrogenous filter. The reported data identify a correlation between the two assays and quantify a linear relationship between y* and filter thicknesses ≤ 6 cm. Using the data obtained in the study, a filter thickness was selected to comply with clinical requirements. By employing lineal energy spectra, it is demonstrated that subtle changes in beam quality may be quantified in a reproducible manner without resorting to time-consuming radiobiological studies.
Book reviews
Authors: Buckler J. M. H. 
Published: July 2009

As indicated by the title, the primary purpose of this book is to provide an improved method of assessing skeletal maturity based on radiographs of the hand and wrist. Additionally, the first two chapters describe the histological changes in bone maturation and a discussion of the many approaches to its assessment throughout this century and their relative values; there is an extensive bibliography. A rather cursory consideration of the need for skeletal age assessment is included but is of insufficient depth to be of value to the clinician.
The data were based on serial radiographs of the left wrist and hand of 355 boys and 322 girls born between 1928 and 1974, enrolled in the Fels Longitudinal Study of Growth and Development in Southwestern Ohio, USA. About 7000 radiographs were taken for each sex and the number for each child ranged from one to 38. As with scoring methods, each of several bones of the wrist and hand are evaluated individually and the skeletal age based on the total evaluation.
Book reviews
Authors: Barrington N. A. 
Published: July 2009

The introduction of 99Tcm-labelled diphosphonates, together with the increasing sophistication of the gamma camera has revolutionized the diagnosis of bone disease over the past decade. Owing to the rapid development of this imaging technique, the requests for routine bone scans still continue to increase in most nuclear medicine departments and form the greatest part of the workload.
This atlas provides a comprehensive collection of 99Tcm-labelled diphosphonate bone scans drawn from the authors' wealth of experience in two busy hospitals, one either side of the Atlantic. Other imaging techniques are only mentioned when relevant to the cases presented.
Book reviews
Authors: Hunter G. J. 
Published: July 2009

This is a pocket-sized book of 151 pages written in the style of an atlas of chest radiographs with clinical correlation. There are 10 chapters covering radiographic technique, normal anatomy, pulmonary shadows, chronic obstructive lung disease, pleura chest wall and diaphragm, the hila, the mediastinum, the heart and special techniques.
The stated aim of this book is to provide a concise atlas with clinical correlation suitable for the senior medical student and junior doctor. In addition the preface suggests that MRCP and FRCR candidates would find the book helpful.
The quality of the illustrations, both the radiographs and line drawings, is of a high standard. The points made in the text and legends are all clearly identifiable on the relevant plate, and free use of arrows helps the novice to be sure of the lesion being discussed. The text is clearly and well written. All the more common pulmonary and mediastinal pathologies are covered, albeit in a superficial fashion.
Pelvic actinomycosis: beware the intrauterine contraceptive device
Authors: Williams C. E. , Lamb G. H. R. , Lewis-Jones H. G. 
Published: July 2009

Actinomycosis of the abdomen and pelvis is known as “the great imitator” because of its varied clinical presentations. This, together with its rarity, makes its diagnosis difficult. We present two cases of pelvic actinomycosis in females with intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) in situ, and stress the need to consider this diagnosis when pelvic neoplasia or inflammatory disease are suspected.
A 46-year-old female was admitted with a 4 day history of colicky lower abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anorexia, “anal lumps” that were rapidly enlarging and recent weight loss. There was no noteworthy past medical history. An IUCD (Saf- T) had been in place for 15 years. Abdominal examination revealed a firm, fixed, tender lower abdominal mass that was palpable on vaginal and rectal examinations. The cervix appeared normal. A provisional diagnosis of pelvic malignancy was made.
Ultrasound examination was performed and the IUCD was noted within the uterus (Fig. 1). The adnexae and outlines of the uterus were obscured and hypoechoic areas around the uterus were thought to represent fixed bowel loops. A discrete mass could not be demonstrated. Examination under anaesthesia revealed a fixed pelvis. Sigmoidoscopy was performed, but the scope could not be passed beyond 10cm. The rectal mucosa appeared normal. The IUCD was removed and dilatation and curettage performed. A computed tomographic (CT) scan (Fig. 2) showed generalized soft-tissue thickening throughout most of the pelvis with obliteration of the tissue planes around the rectum, uterus and posterior aspect of the bladder.
Book reviews
Authors: Sherriff S. B. 
Published: July 2009

The last decade has seen an upsurge of interest in Doppler ultrasound. It is now in widespread clinical use with many new areas of application being demonstrated. There has, for some considerable time, been a need for a comprehensive text on the physical principles underlying the multiplicity of Doppler techniques. Numerous texts are available on the physics of ultrasound and on the clinical applications of Doppler ultrasound, but in both cases the physics of Doppler ultrasound usually receives only cursory coverage.
The stated objective of the book is to provide an up-to-date introduction to the technical aspects of Doppler ultrasound and the authors have successfully achieved this goal. The text has been divided into “essential” and “advanced” reading, the latter being marked by vertical lines in the left-hand margin.
Recent advances and future projections in clinical radionuclide imaging
Authors: Peters A. M. 
Published: July 2009

Since the almost simultaneous development of technetium-99m and invention of the gamma camera in the 1960s, nuclear medicine has made great strides. It is largely a physiological imaging modality, so a thorough grounding in physiology is essential for aspiring nuclear physicians. In contrast, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and special radiographic techniques, like angiography, currently provide largely anatomical information.
Advances in nuclear medicine can be subdivided into seven areas: new synthetic radiopharmaceuticals, new radiolabelled biological agents, cell labelling, new singlephoton- emitting radionuclides, new approaches using radiopharmaceuticals that are already well established, positron emission tomography (PET), and physics and instrumentation.
The important developments in radiopharmaceuticals have had the common aim of replacing well-established agents labelled with radionuclides other than technetium-99m with agents that can be labelled with technetium-99m and which have similar pharmacokinetics. They include technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO), which will replace iodine-123 labelled amphetamines (themselves relatively new) for imaging brain perfusion, and also partly replace the indium-111 complexes for imaging inflammation. Others are mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG-3) which should replace radioiodinated hippuran for renography, the isonitriles which may replace thallium-201 for myocardial perfusion imaging, and the “pseudo-gases”, such as technegas, which may replace krypton-81m for routine ventilation imaging. The need for these technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals is due not so much to their superior pharmacokinetics (where, in fact, they are generally somewhat inferior to their non-technetium counterparts) but to considerations of convenience, camera design and image resolution, dosimetry, and ultimately cost; although, at present, they are expensive.
Book reviews
Authors: Adams J. E. 
Published: July 2009

This concise and comprehensive text covers important aspects of the normal anatomy of the pituitary gland and parasellar regions and the diagnosis of pituitary tumours by highresolution computed tomography (CT). The author is Dutch and I note that the text has also been published as a thesis in Utrecht.
The book opens with a review of the limitations of conventional radiography in the evaluation of pituitary adenomas. This is followed by a detailed derscription of highresolution CT scanning of the pituitary gland and parasellar region, including transverse axial and direct coronal scan planes with reformations, and the use of direct midline sagittal plane scanning. A chapter is devoted to the normal anatomy of the region and this is illustrated by excellent cadaver sections which are paired with annotated line diagrams and corresponding CT scans. There is a useful section on the normal size and shape of the pituitary gland and normal variations. The section on pituitary adenomas is based on the findings in 126 patients studied by the author and a review of the published literature. The abnormal features of microadenomas, macroadenomas and parasellar tumours and other conditions are described in detail.
Ultrasonic morphology of the uterus and ovaries after treatment of invasive mole and gestational choriocarcinoma
Authors: Long M. G. , Boultbee J. E. , Begent R. H. J. , Bagshawe K. D. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Ultrasound imaging of the uterus and ovaries was performed on 41 patients after completion of apparently successful cytotoxic chemotherapy for invasive mole and choriocarcinoma. Uterine volume was calculated and the echopattern of the uterus and ovaries assessed. Forty-nine per cent of subjects had an abnormal uterine appearance and 20% had ovarian theca-lutein cysts. Two patients relapsed on follow-up but no predictive ultrasonic features could be established on uterine or ovarian morphology after chemotherapy.
The influence of a seventy-two hour gap on the acute response of mouse skin and oesophagus
Authors: Marino C. , Hirn-Stadler B. , Rojas A. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The sparing effect of a 72 h gap, inserted after the third, sixth or ninth fraction of a 12 fraction X-ray schedule, was investigated in two early responding normal tissues: mouse skin and oesophagus. Acute skin reactions and body weight loss were used as assays to quantify changes in the radiation tolerance of these tissues. In skin, no evidence of compensatory proliferation was seen if a gap was inserted, whatever its position in the schedule. In oesophagus, a small but significant increase in radioresistance was observed if the gap was positioned ¼ of the way through treatment compared with the schedule delivered without an interruption (12F/12 days). Although an increase in normal tissue tolerance is not observed by increasing the overall time from 12 to 15 days, provided tumour clonogen proliferation does not occur during the weekend split, the insertion of a gap makes continuous accelerated clinical regimes, currently given without an interruption at weekends, easier to introduce into wider clinical practice.
Book reviews
Authors: Reidy J. F. 
Published: July 2009

Although PTA is now a well established treatment, its applications are still expanding and its techniques improving. Just when radiologists were beginning to look at angioplasty more critically, especially with regard to indications, results and complications, a whole new array of trans-catheter techniques for treating occlusive vascular disease has emerged. Amidst the welter of enthusiasm that new devices invariably attract, the same mistakes are being made as in the evaluation of PTA in the early days.
The title of this book offers hope and the prospect of critical evaluation but I am afraid it is misleading. First, PTA does not feature, but this book instead focuses exclusively on the new “auxiliary methods”.
Complications in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: relationships with patient age
Authors: Morse M. H. , Jeans W. D. , Cole S. E. A. , Grier D. , Ndlovu D. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Five hundred consecutive attempted lower limb angioplasties for ischaemic disease (370 patients, mean age 65.6 years, range 33–91 years) were reviewed. Significant complications occurred in 44 cases (8.8%). Nine patients (1.8%) underwent emergency surgery related to a complication. A further 12 patients (2.4%) underwent elective surgery related to a complication. In addition, four patients died within 30 days of the procedure; one following surgery performed because of a complication of angioplasty, one following a myocardial infarction, one following severe bleeding associated with subsequent thrombolytic therapy and one during emergency surgery related to a complication of angioplasty. A correlation was found between complication rate and age. This relationship was independent of the approach to, the position of, and the severity of the treated lesion. Elderly patients are at increased risk of complication in lower limb angioplasty.
Evaluation of the use of a niobium filter for patient dose reduction in chest radiography
Authors: Thierens H. , Kunnen M. , Van der Plaetsen A. , Segaert O. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The performance characteristics of a 50 μm. niobium filter and a copper filter of equivalent thickness (0.15 mm) were compared for postero-anterior chest X-ray examination. Radiographs of 20 patients obtained using an automatic exposure control device showed no significant differences in image quality and exposure setting between the filters. Radiation dose distributions measured in a Rando phantom revealed a higher reduction in the patient dose with the niobium filter. The reduction in the effective dose equivalent, produced by the addition of the niobium and copper filters to the standard filter of 2.5 mm aluminium, of 17% and 10%, was relatively small compared with the reductions in the entrance surface dose of 31% and 26%. Our study confirms that drastic alterations in the patient dose by the addition of a dose reduction filter to the usual filtration cannot be expected.
Doppler ultrasound studies in renal arteries of normal newborn babies
Authors: Lamont A. C. , Hall H. S. , Thompson J. R. , Evans D. H. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The renal arteries of 89 healthy full-term infants were examined using duplex Doppler ultrasonography to establish a normal range for renal blood flowvelocity in the first 3 days of life. In the first 24 h a wide range of renal blood flow velocities was noted with a statistically significant decrease in Pourcelot's index over the next 2 days.
Monoenergetic approximation of a polyenergetic beam: a theoretical approach
Authors: Robinson Donald M. , Scrimger John W. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
There exist numerous occasions in which it is desirable to approximate the polyenergetic beams employed in radiation therapy by a beam of photons of a single energy. In some instances, commonly used rules of thumb for the selection of an appropriate energy may be valid. A more accurate approximate energy, however, may be determined by an analysis which takes into account both the spectral qualities of the beam and the material through which it passes. The theoretical basis of this method of analysis is presented in this paper. Experimental agreement with theory for a range of materials and beam qualities is also presented and demonstrates the validity of the theoretical approach taken.
Diffuse retroperitoneal amyloidosis: further radiological observations
Authors: Posner Ralph , Saks Avigdor M. , Leiman Gladwyn 
Published: July 2009

Amyloidosis is characterized by deposition of insoluble extracellular protein material, which may be primary (idiopathic), or secondary (due to chronic disease, especially chronic infection and neoplasms). It occurs in 6–15% of patients with multiple myeloma. In retroperitoneal amyloidosis the protein deposits usually show two distinct patterns: nodal (Takebayashi et al, 1984) or diffuse (Glynn et al, 1989). The computerized tomographic (CT) appearance of diffuse retroperitoneal amyloidosis has previously been reported (Glynn et al, 1989) as a diffuse, non-enhancing thickening of the entire retroperitoneum. The perinephric fat was not involved.
We report a further case of diffuse retroperitoneal amyloidosis and document illustrative sonographic features correlated with CT.
Percutaneous nephrostomy to relieve renal tract obstruction in pregnancy
Authors: Trewhella M. , Reid B. , Gillespie A. , Jones D. 
Published: July 2009

Dilatation of the renal tract in pregnancy is a common event (Peake et al, 1983). Whilst frequently asymptomatic, the distension can be associated with considerable pain, the acute presentation of which may be attributed to other surgical or obstetric emergencies such as appendicitis or placental separation (Anteby et al, 1975). Renal tract obstruction may also occur in pregnancy, and failure to recognize it may lead to rupture of the urinary tract and loss of the kidney (Meyers et al, 1985).
We present a case in which such a renal tract obstruction was relieved percutaneously. Whilst percutaneous nephrostomy is a commonly practised technique, its use in pregnancy has not been reported previously.
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in cervical carcinoma: a report on 30 cases
Authors: Santoni R. , Bucciolini M. , Chiostrini C. , Cionini L. , Renzi R. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
T1 and T2 relaxation times were calculated, before radiation therapy, in 30 patients with cervical carcinoma. Eight healthy young women were submitted to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine T1 and T2 times of the normal cervix. Magnetic resonance imaging was repeated, in 22 patients, during radiation therapy and at follow-up. During treatment and follow-up, patients with complete tumour response showed a significant T1 reduction compared with the pre-treatment values. With persistence of palpable or visible tumour, T1 times showed a small decrease during therapy, and a marked increase at subsequent examinations. The results suggest that the modifications of T1 relaxation times, during radiation therapy and follow-up, could be considered as a useful discriminant between patients with differing tumour response.
The effect on pulmonary function of tangential field technique in radiotherapy for carcinoma of the breast
Authors: Lund May Brit , Myhre Kurt Inge , Melsom Haakon , Johansen Bjørn 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Twenty-five patients treated by lumpectomy and radiotherapy for Stage I breast cancer were enrolled in a prospective study to measure the effects of tangential field irradiation on pulmonary function. Fractional doses of 2 Gy to a total of 50 Gy were administered with the tangential technique. An additional 10 Gy (2 Gy × 5) was given as direct booster. Dynamic and static lung volumes, distribution of ventilation and gas transfer were measured before irradiation and at varying intervals up to 1 year after the completion of therapy. There was a small, but statistically significant decrease in the forced vital capacity (mean 63 ml) and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (mean 79 ml) measured 3 months after irradiation (p &lt; 0.05). These changes were reversed within 1 year. The reduction in total lung capacity (mean 240 ml) after 3 months was nearly significant (p = 0.06). The remaining variables did not change to a significant degree. We conclude that a slight restrictive ventilatory impairment may occur when a combined tangential and direct booster technique is applied. The changes are, however, small and reversible, and imply no clinical importance.
Scoring of image quality phantom films in mammography
Authors: Law J. 
Published: July 2009

I would like to comment briefly on the interesting letter from Mr A. Robinson and Dr A. C. Underwood.
The “0–3 scale of visiblity” referred to in the fourth paragraph of the letter from Robinson and Underwood was the basis of the “common scoring system” referred to in my reply to Dr Moores. Since learning of it from them, I have made some use of it with the Du Pont phantom and elsewhere, and found it helpful.
Primary lymphoma of the urinary bladder
Authors: Clarke N. W. , Maxwell A. J. 
Published: July 2009

Primary lymphoma of the urinary bladder is rare, occurring most commonly in elderly women. This case report documents the clinical and radiological features of such a tumour presenting in a 22-year-old female patient. To our knowledge, this is the youngest reported case.
A 22-year-old woman presented with a 16-month history of episodic pain in the left loin and suprapubic region and a 6-week history of haematuria, dysuria and urinary frequency. She had lost 2 stones in weight in the preceding year. On physical examination the only finding of note was a palpable mobile mass anterior to and to the right of the cervix uteri.
Prenatal diagnosis of nuchal cystic hygroma
Authors: MacLeod A. M. , McHugo J. M. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Twenty-seven cases of nuchal cystic hygroma were diagnosed prenatally over a 5-year period at the Birmingham Maternity Hospital. Karyotypes were obtained in 20 cases, of which 14 (70%) were abnormal. Two-thirds of these represented various trisomy syndromes in contrast to other series where cases of Turner's syndrome have predominated. Twenty pregnancies were terminated. There was one intra-uterine death and two neonatal deaths. Hydrops was present in 15 cases, none of which survived to term. Associated structural abnormalities, mainly skeletal, renal and cardiac, were present in 18 cases. There were four long-term survivors with good quality of life, including both normal and abnormal karyotypes. In utero regression of the hygromawas documented in five cases, total in three and subtotal in two cases born with residual neck webbing.
Tumour pH and response to chemotherapy: an in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Smith S. R. , Martin P. A. , Edwards R. H. T. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
Serial image-localized 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies were performed in nine patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) during the early part of treatment with chemotherapy. The pre-treatment intracellular pH (pHi) of the tumours ranged from 6.97 to 7.61 for high-grade NHL (n = 3), and 7.16 to 7.39 for low-grade NHL (n = 5). A pH of 7.24 was recorded in a patient with intermediate-grade NHL. Slice-to-slice variation in tumour pHi in spectra obtained with a one-dimensional chemical shift imaging (1D-CSI) technique varied from zero to 0.5 pH units. The largest variation was seen in high-grade tumours. Slice-to-slice variation may reflect tumour heterogeneity. Alkaline shifts in tumour pHi of 0.14 to 0.45 pH units were seen in six patients following chemotherapy. Maximal change in tumour pH was related temporally to increases in the phosphodiesterβ-adenosine triphosphate ratio, and occurred before alterations in tumour size were documented. Cell death and necrosis may be associated with an alkaline shift in pHi due to cessation of H+-producing processes and release of basic components of proteins. An alkaline shift in tumour pHi may therefore be an early metabolic marker of response to chemotherapy.