Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of the forearm using general purpose spiral whole-body CT scanners: Accuracy, precision and comparison with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Abstract Background Unnecessary whole-body computed tomography (CT) may lead to excess radiation exposure. Serum D-dimer levels have been reported to correlate with injury severity. We examined the predictive value of serum D-dimer level for identifying patients with isolated injury that can be diagnosed with selected-region CT rather than whole-body CT. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients with blunt trauma (2014–2017). We included patients whose serum D-dimer levels were measured before they underwent whole-body CT. “Isolated” injury was defined as injury with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score ≤ 5 to any of five regions of interest or with AIS score ≤ 1 to other regions, as revealed by a CT scan. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn for D-dimer levels corresponding to isolated injury; the area under the ROC (AUROC) was evaluated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for several candidate cut-off values for serum D-dimer levels. Results Isolated injury was detected in 212 patients. AUROC was 0.861 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.815–0.907) for isolated injury prediction. Serum D-dimer level ≤ 2.5 μg/mL was an optimal cutoff value for predicting isolated injury with high specificity (100.0%) and positive predictive value (100.0%). Approximately 30% of patients had serum D-dimer levels below this cutoff value. Conclusion D-dimer level ≤ 2.5 μg/mL had high specificity and high positive predictive value in cases of isolated injury, which could be diagnosed with selected-region CT, reducing exposure to radiation associated with whole-body CT.

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Interrelationships of body weight and bone weight with densitometric properties of tibiotarsal bone in geese during post-hatching development

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/8582-vetmed ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 60 (No. 12) ◽

pp. 682-690

Author(s):

A. Charuta ◽

MR Tatara ◽

M. Dzierzecka ◽

E. Polawska ◽

I. Ptaszynska-Sarosiek

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Body Weight ◽

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Quantitative Computed Tomography ◽

Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography ◽

Dual Energy ◽

X Ray ◽

Males And Females ◽

Different Parts

The aim of this study was to evaluate interrelationships of body weight and bone weight and densitometric properties of the tibiotarsus in White Koluda Geese (W31) in the post-hatching period. The study was performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at two different parts of tibia: proximal metaphysis and mid-diaphysis. The investigation was performed on 100 bones obtained from males and females at the age of 1, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days of life. All the calculations were performed using the Statistica 9.0 software (StatSoft, Inc. Tulsa, USA). Pearson’s correlation coefficient of body weight and bone weight with all the investigated variables of bone was determined. Depending on the method used for densitometric measurements – DEXA or pQCT, the current study has revealed significant differences in the number of correlations of bone weight and body weight with the evaluated densitometric parameters. Sex-related differences in the investigated interrelationships were also found. In the case of proximal epiphysis, negative correlations of vBMD, tBMC, CTR_DEN and CRT_CNT with body weight and bone weight dominated in one-day-old males. Based on the current observations and the negative correlations of body weight and vBMD, CRT_DEN and TRAB_DEN obtained in the mid-diaphysis of tibiotarsus at the age of 14 days of life, it was concluded that this bone is much more prone to deformations and fractures in males than in females.

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