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| Archives
for the week: May 8 - 14 2001 | |
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| Author: |
Munden RF, Hess KR. | | Title: | "Dizels"
on Chest CT: Survey of Members of the Society of Thoracic Radiology. AJR 2001 |
| Source: | AJR
2001; 176: 1363-1369 | | Review:
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This is an interesting article about what to do with ditzels, which is a "common
language" term for nodules measuring between 3-5mm in size. These are now more
and more often being clinically seen with the use of spiral CT, especially multi-slice
CT.
A survey of the members of the American Thoracic Society was undertaken
in 1996 regarding possible courses of action in 13 clinical situations, which
included asymptomatic patients, smokers with incidental detection, prior treated
bronchogenic carcinoma with new ditzel, etc.
The most common response was
short-term follow-up with less aggressive recommendations (to do nothing) in cases
with lower likelihood of malignancy and residence in an endemic area for granulomas
and more aggressive recommendations (biopsy, open surgical removal) in cases with
a higher likelihood of surgery and with more experience in reporting (>19years).
Since decision making has a lot to do with the basic background of the case and
since the whole concept is relatively new, radiologists will be in the forefront
in decision-making in cases of ditzels seen on CT. | |
| | Click
here for abstract | | 
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