INTRODUCTION: Radiology plays an integral role in fracture detection in the emergency department (ED). After hours, when there are fewer reporting radiologists, most radiographs are interpreted by ED physicians. A minority of these interpretations may miss diagnoses, which later require the callback of patients for further management. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been viewed as a potential solution to augment the shortage of radiologists after hours. We explored the efficacy of an AI solution in the detection of appendicular and pelvic fractures for adult radiographs performed after hours at a general hospital ED in Singapore, and estimated the potential monetary and non-monetary benefits. METHODS: One hundred and fifty anonymised abnormal radiographs were retrospectively collected and fed through an AI fracture detection solution. The radiographs were re-read by two radiologist reviewers and their consensus was established as the reference standard. Cases were stratified based on the concordance between the AI solution and the reviewers' findings. Discordant cases were further analysed based on the nature of the discrepancy into overcall and undercall subgroups. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity and inter-rater reliability of the AI solution. RESULTS: Ninety-two examinations were included in the final study radiograph set. The AI solution had a sensitivity of 98.9%, an accuracy of 85.9% and an almost perfect agreement with the reference standard. CONCLUSION An AI fracture detection solution has similar sensitivity to human radiologists in the detection of fractures on ED appendicular and pelvic radiographs. Its implementation offers significant potential measurable cost, manpower and time savings.
Humans ; Singapore ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fractures, Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Cost Savings ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Radiography

Purpose: To analyze rectal dose and changes in quality of life (QOL) measured with the Expanded Prostate and Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) bowel domain in patients being treated for prostate cancer with curative-intent proton beam therapy (PBT) within a large single-institution prospective registry. Materials and Methods: Data was collected from 243 patients with localized prostate cancer treated with PBT from 2016 to 2018. The EPIC survey was administered at baseline, end-of-treatment, 3, 6, and 12 months, then annually. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters for the rectum were computed, and rectal dose was analyzed using BED (α/β = 3), EQD2Gy, and total dose. Repeated measures mixed models were implemented to determine the effect of patient, clinical, and treatment factors (including DVH) on patient-reported bowel symptom burden (EPIC-Bowel). Results: Treatment overall resulted in changes in EPIC-Bowel scores (baseline score = 93.7), most notably at end-of-treatment (90.6) and 12 months (89.7). However, they returned to baseline at 36 months (92.9). On multivariate modeling, rectal BED D25 (Gy) ≥23% was significantly associated with decline in QOL scores measuring bother (p < 0.01; 4.06 points different). Conclusion Rectal doses, specifically BED D25 (Gy) ≥23%, are significantly associated with decline in bowel bother-related QOL in patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. This study demonstrates BED as an independent predictor of bowel QOL across dose fractionations of PBT.

INTRODUCTION: Chest radiographs (CXRs) are widely used for the screening and management of COVID-19. This article describes the radiographic features of COVID-19 based on an initial national cohort of patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of swab-positive patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to four different hospitals in Singapore between 22 January and 9 March 2020. Initial and follow-up CXRs were reviewed by three experienced radiologists to identify the predominant pattern and distribution of lung parenchymal abnormalities. RESULTS: In total, 347 CXRs of 96 patients were reviewed. Initial CXRs were abnormal in 41 (42.7%) out of 96 patients. The mean time from onset of symptoms to CXR abnormality was 5.3 ± 4.7 days. The predominant pattern of lung abnormality was ground-glass opacity on initial CXRs (51.2%) and consolidation on follow-up CXRs (51.0%). Multifocal bilateral abnormalities in mixed central and peripheral distribution were observed in 63.4% and 59.2% of abnormal initial and follow-up CXRs, respectively. The lower zones were involved in 90.2% of initial CXRs and 93.9% of follow-up CXRs. CONCLUSION In a cohort of swab-positive patients, including those identified from contact tracing, we found a lower incidence of CXR abnormalities than was previously reported. The most common pattern was ground-glass opacity or consolidation, but mixed central and peripheral involvement was more common than peripheral involvement alone.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore

Purpose: To analyze rectal dose and changes in quality of life (QOL) measured with the Expanded Prostate and Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) bowel domain in patients being treated for prostate cancer with curative-intent proton beam therapy (PBT) within a large single-institution prospective registry. Materials and Methods: Data was collected from 243 patients with localized prostate cancer treated with PBT from 2016 to 2018. The EPIC survey was administered at baseline, end-of-treatment, 3, 6, and 12 months, then annually. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters for the rectum were computed, and rectal dose was analyzed using BED (α/β = 3), EQD2Gy, and total dose. Repeated measures mixed models were implemented to determine the effect of patient, clinical, and treatment factors (including DVH) on patient-reported bowel symptom burden (EPIC-Bowel). Results: Treatment overall resulted in changes in EPIC-Bowel scores (baseline score = 93.7), most notably at end-of-treatment (90.6) and 12 months (89.7). However, they returned to baseline at 36 months (92.9). On multivariate modeling, rectal BED D25 (Gy) ≥23% was significantly associated with decline in QOL scores measuring bother (p < 0.01; 4.06 points different). Conclusion Rectal doses, specifically BED D25 (Gy) ≥23%, are significantly associated with decline in bowel bother-related QOL in patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. This study demonstrates BED as an independent predictor of bowel QOL across dose fractionations of PBT.

Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Radiology Department, Hospital ; organization & administration

A 39-year-old man presented with acute left knee pain and swelling. There was limitation of movement of the knee joint. His past medical history was significant for gout. Computed radiography showed bony erosions that were not typical of chronic tophaceous gout. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed focal deposits within the knee joint, which demonstrated isointense signal to muscle on T1-weighted sequence and intermediate signal on proton density (PD) and PD fat-saturated sequences. There was extensive, similar signal abnormality in the cruciate ligaments, popliteus tendon and lateral meniscus. These findings were in keeping with an intra-articular manifestation of chronic tophaceous gout. The clinical presentation and imaging features are herein discussed, with an emphasis on MR imaging.

A 46-year-old man presented with a six-month history of lumps in the sole of his left foot. Physical examination revealed two nodules, one tender and one firm, at the plantar left foot with no overlying skin changes. Although the initial radiographs were normal, magnetic resonance imaging of the left foot demonstrated two nodules along the medial band of the plantar fascia, characteristic of plantar fibromas. The patient opted for surgical excision. There was no further recurrence of symptoms after surgery. We describe the clinical and radiological features of plantar fibromatosis and briefly discuss other causes of lumps and pain in the sole of the foot.