Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Acclimating residents to radiology residency requires attention to new responsibilities, educational material, and social cohesion. To this end, we instituted a structured orientation week for incoming residents and assessed its impact. PROCEDURES/METHODS:During the first weeks of July 2016 and 2017, first year residents attended a five day orientation free of clinical duties, consisting of didactics, hands-on training sessions, and social events. After two orientation cohorts, residents who completed orientation week, and two cohorts who had not, were given a voluntary, anonymous survey using Likert scale questions (1 [worst] to 5 [best]) regarding preparedness for responsibilities, learning, and social cohesion. Residents were asked which components were or would have been helpful. Independent samples t-tests were performed to evaluate differences between the two groups (two-tailed p < 0.05). FINDINGS/RESULTS:21/37 (57%) residents participated. Higher percentages of residents who participated in the orientation week gave scores ≥4 when asked about preparedness for rotations (70% vs. 36%), learning new material (80% vs. 36%), and class cohesiveness (90% vs. 70%). Mean scores on these questions were also higher for these residents with regards to: preparedness for new responsibilities (3.7 vs. 2.9), learning new material (3.8 vs. 2.9), and class cohesiveness (4.5 vs. 3.8), with differences approaching significance (p = 0.09-0.15). Individual components receiving most votes of ≥4 were social outings, resident lunches, didactic lectures, and PACS training. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A weeklong orientation program free of clinical duties was valued by residents and contributed to acclimation to new responsibilities, education, and social cohesion.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The Alliance of Directors and Vice Chairs in Education group identified the need to develop an education budget template as resource for our community. Having a framework and working knowledge of budgetary considerations is crucial to those with general oversight and executive managerial responsibility for departmental educational programs. METHODS:An online survey was sent to all the Alliance of Directors and Vice Chairs in Education members. Survey questions included education funding sources, presence of vice chair of finance, expectation of revenue generation, existing education budget, funding decision-makers, education budget formulation and approval, vice chair of education's role in budget, education budget line items, and income statement review. RESULTS:The survey response rate was 41/81 (51%). A majority 26/41 (63%) of respondents had an education budget that typically included funding for all medical students, residents, and fellows but only a minority of respondents report they developed 10/22 (45%), approved 6/22 (27%), or regularly reviewed 6/21 (29%) this budget. In sharp contrast was the role of department chairs and administrators, who presumably all participated in this process. To assist in education budget development and review, as well as meet the need to improve participants' financial accounting knowledge as a key tenet of faculty professional development, the authors developed sample budget templates and an income statement primer. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our survey results suggested the need for an educational budget framework and financial accounting resources for those in radiology education posts, and resources have been provided.

BACKGROUND:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment for appendicitis is limited by exam time and patient cooperation. The radially sampled 3-dimensional (3-D) T1-weighted, gradient recalled echo sequence (radial GRE) is a free-breathing, motion robust sequence that may be useful in evaluating appendicitis in children. OBJECTIVE:To compare the rate of detection of the normal appendix with contrast-enhanced radial GRE versus contrast-enhanced 3-D GRE and a multi-sequence study including contrast-enhanced radial GRE. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:This was a retrospective study of patients ages 7-18 years undergoing abdominal-pelvic contrast-enhanced MRI between Jan. 1, 2012, and April 1, 2016. Visualization of the appendix was assessed by consensus between two pediatric radiologists. The rate of detection of the appendix for each sequence and combination of sequences was compared using a McNemar test. RESULTS:The rate of detection of the normal appendix on contrast-enhanced radial GRE was significantly higher than on contrast-enhanced 3-D GRE (76% vs. 57.3%, P=0.003). The rate of detection of the normal appendix with multi-sequence MRI including contrast-enhanced radial GRE was significantly higher than on contrast-enhanced 3-D GRE (81.3% vs. 57%, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the rate of detection of the normal appendix on contrast-enhanced radial GRE alone and multi-sequence MRI including contrast-enhanced radial GRE (76% vs. 81.3%, P=0.267). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Contrast-enhanced radial GRE allows superior detection of the normal appendix compared to contrast-enhanced 3-D GRE. The rate of detection of the normal appendix on contrast-enhanced radial GRE alone is nearly as good as when the contrast-enhanced radial GRE is interpreted with additional sequences.

Purpose or Case Report: Skeletal bone age assessment is a common clinical practice to investigate endocrinology, genetic and growth disorders of children. Clinical interpretation and bone age analyses are time-consuming, labor intensive and often subject to inter-observer variability. Bone age prediction models developed with deep learning methodologies can be leveraged to automate bone age interpretation and reporting. The bone age model developed at our institution was offered to interested health systems and institutions to implement and validate the model. This study discusses the logistical, technical, and clinical issues encountered with this model implementation. Methods & Materials: After IRB approval, multiple U.S. based radiology departments were solicited to adopt and validate the Stanford University bone age model. A total of 8 institutions (4 standalone pediatric hospitals and 4 academic radiology departments) agreed to partner with the primary investigators. IRBs at each institution were required in addition to registration with ClinicalTrials.gov registry. Standardization of the data use agreements was performed. Patient data and protected health information data was retained at each institution. Technical requirements included model hosting at each institution and integration to send images to the model server and results to the interpreting radiologists.
Result(s): Multiple logistical, technical, and clinical issues were encountered. IRBs at the various institutions had different requirements including waiving patient consent. Technical differences between institutions included model hosting, PACS integrations, interfaces with the reporting system, and image preprocessing. Clinical differences included report templates, calculation of bone age standard deviation, use of Brush foundation, and ability to directly send bone predictions to the reporting system (versus displaying the results as a separate interface). The bone age model was successfully implemented at 7 institutions and approximately 190 studies have been evaluated.
Conclusion(s): There are myriad challenges to implementing and validating models developed with deep learning methodologies. As models are developed for various clinical use cases including bone age assessment, it will be incumbent on radiology practices and health information systems to integrate these models into clinical practice

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to reduce radiation exposure during pediatric central venous line (CVL) placement by implementing a radiation safety process including a radiation safety briefing and a job-instruction model with a preradiation time-out. METHODS:We reviewed records of all patients under 21 who underwent CVL placement in the operating room covering 22 months before the intervention through 10 months after 2013-2016. The intervention consisted of a radiation safety briefing by the surgeon to the intraoperative staff before each case and a radiation safety time-out. We measured and analyzed the dose area product (DAP), total radiation time pre- and postintervention, and the use of postprocedural chest radiograph. RESULTS:, P < 0.001) and a 73% decrease in the median radiation time (28 vs 7.6 s, P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in use of confirmatory CXR (95% vs 15%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:A preoperative radiation safety briefing and a radiation safety time-out supported by a job-instruction model were effective in significantly lowering the absorbed doses of radiation in children undergoing CVL insertion. TYPE OF STUDY/METHODS:Case-control study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level III.

Radiologists are facing increasing workplace pressures that can lead to decreased job satisfaction and burnout. The increasing complexity and volumes of cases and increasing numbers of noninterpretive tasks, compounded by decreasing reimbursements and visibility in this digital age, have created a critical need to develop innovations that optimize workflow, increase radiologist engagement, and enhance patient care. During their workday, radiologists often must navigate through multiple software programs, including picture archiving and communication systems, electronic health records, and dictation software. Furthermore, additional noninterpretive duties can interrupt image review. Fragmented data and frequent task switching can create frustration and potentially affect patient care. Despite the current successful technological advancements across industries, radiology software systems often remain nonintegrated and not leveraged to their full potential. Each step of the imaging process can be enhanced with use of information technology (IT). Successful implementation of IT innovations requires a collaborative team of radiologists, IT professionals, and software programmers to develop customized solutions. This article includes a discussion of how IT tools are used to improve many steps of the imaging process, including examination protocoling, image interpretation, reporting, communication, and radiologist feedback. ^©RSNA, 2018.

Disclosures: All authors have disclosed no financial interests, arrangements or affiliations in the context of this activity. Purpose or Case Report: Current MRI evaluation of appendicitis is limited by duration of examination and patient cooperation. The radially sampled 3D T1 weighted, gradient recalled echo sequence (radial VIBE) is a free-breathing, motion robust sequence that may prove useful in the evaluation of appendicitis in children. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the detection rate of the normal appendix with contrast enhanced (CE) radial VIBE alone compared with CE conventional 3D gradient recalled echo volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (conventional VIBE) alone and multi-sequence abdominal pelvic MRI including CE radial VIBE. Methods& Materials:We conducted a retrospective, HIPAA compliant and IRB approved study of patients between 7 and 18 years of age who underwent an abdominal and pelvic contrast enhanced MRI between January 1, 2012 and April 1, 2016. Patients with active right lower quadrant inflammation, pelvic masses, or history of appendectomy were excluded. Visualization of the appendix was assessed by two pediatric radiologists with Certificates of Added Qualification by consensus on the following sequences: CE radial VIBE only, CE conventional VIBE only, and multi-sequence MRI which included CE radial VIBE and at least an axial or coronal single shot fast spin echo (SSFSE) or axial T2 weighted spin echo with fat suppression. The detection rates of the appendix for each sequence or combination of sequences were compared with a McNemar test. Results: Ninety-six patients met inclusion criteria. The detection rate of the normal appendix on CE radial VIBE was significantly higher than on CE conventional VIBE (76% vs 57.3%, p=0.003). The detection rate of the normal appendix with multi-sequence MRI was significantly higher than on CE conventional VIBE (81.3% vs 57%, p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the detection rate of the normal appendix on CE radial VIBE and multi-sequence MRI (76% vs 81.3%, p=0.267). When the appendix was not visualized on the CE radial VIBE (n=23) but detected on the multi-sequence MRI (n=9), it was most often visualized on SSFSE (n=8). Conclusions: CE radial VIBE allows superior detection of the normal appendix compared to CE conventional VIBE. The detection rate of the normal appendix on CE radial VIBE alone is nearly as good as when the CE radial VIBE is interpreted with additional sequences

BACKGROUND: To preserve radiology rounds in the changing health care environment, we have introduced virtual radiology rounds, an initiative enabling clinicians to remotely review imaging studies with the radiologist. OBJECTIVE: We describe our initial experience with virtual radiology rounds and referring provider impressions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Virtual radiology rounds, a web-based conference, use remote sharing of radiology workstations. Participants discuss imaging studies by speakerphone. Virtual radiology rounds were piloted with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Congenital Cardiovascular Care Unit (CCVCU). Providers completed a survey assessing the perceived impact and overall value of virtual radiology rounds on patient care using a 10-point scale. Pediatric radiologists participating in virtual radiology rounds completed a survey assessing technical, educational and clinical aspects of this methodology. RESULTS: Sixteen providers responded to the survey; 9 NICU and 7 CCVCU staff (physicians, nurse practitioners and fellows). Virtual radiology rounds occurred 4-5 sessions/week with an average of 6.4 studies. Clinicians rated confidence in their own image interpretation with a 7.4 average rating for NICU and 7.5 average rating for CCVCU. Clinicians unanimously rated virtual radiology rounds as adding value. NICU staff preferred virtual radiology rounds to traditional rounds and CCVCU staff supported their new participation in virtual radiology rounds. Four of the five pediatric radiologists participating in virtual radiology rounds responded to the survey reporting virtual radiology rounds to be easy to facilitate (average rating: 9.3), to moderately impact interpretation of imaging studies (average rating: 6), and to provide substantial educational value for radiologists (average rating: 8.3). All pediatric radiologists felt strongly that virtual radiology rounds enable increased integration of the radiologist into the clinical care team (average rating: 8.8). CONCLUSION: Virtual radiology rounds are a viable alternative to radiology rounds enabling improved patient care and education of providers.

Purpose or Case Report: To evaluate the reliability of the UTD classification system Table A. Cross-tabulation of results summarizing inter-reader agreement. There are three distinct reader pairs: score 1 is the score from the arbitrarily designated first reader in each pair and score 2 is from the remaining reader in each pair. Numbers in red denote instances of disagreement. Methods &Materials: This IRB approved, retrospective study included 129 renal ultrasound examinations performed from May 2010 - May 2015 in patients less than 6 months of age for the clinical indication of prenatal hydronephrosis identified by key word search in PACS. Three pediatric radiologists independently reviewed each study for the following: anterior posterior renal pelvic diameter (APRPD), central calyceal dilation (CCD), peripheral calyceal dilation (PPD), renal parenchymal appearance (PA), renal parenchymal thickness (PT), ureteral abnormality, and bladder abnormality. Readers assigned each study a UTD category (normal, UTD P1, UTD P2, UTD P3). Inter-rater percent agreement for individual criteria and overall UTD categorization was assessed. Results: There was overall good inter-reader agreement in assessment of individual criteria (APRPKD, PA, PT, ureter, and bladder) ranging from 85.3 to 96.1% for 3 reader pairs. Inter-reader agreement for CCD and PCD was slightly lower, ranging from 69.0 to 97.7%. Inter-reader agreement for overall risk assesment ranged from 50.4 to 67.4%. Agreement across 3 readers was 48.8% for CCD, 64.3% for PCD, and 37.2% for overall risk stratification. Conclusions: The new UTD classification system is intended to guide clinical management of postnatal urinary tract dilation. For it to be widely accepted and useful, users need to apply it with precision and accuracy. Poor agreement for categorization of risk assessment among our experienced readers suggests that further clarification of the system or training for users is necessary for its optimal use in clinical practice. (Table presented)