Jennifer D Ellis

Publications (2)6.42 Total impact

• Article: Reduced iodine load at CT pulmonary angiography with dual-energy monochromatic imaging: comparison with standard CT pulmonary angiography--a prospective randomized trial.

  Ren Yuan, William P Shuman, James P Earls, Cameron J Hague, Hina A Mumtaz, Andrew Scott-Moncrieff, Jennifer D Ellis, John R Mayo, Jonathon A Leipsic
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  ABSTRACT: To compare quantitative and subjective image quality and radiation dose between standard computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and CTPA with a dual-energy technique with reduced iodine load. This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board and each participant provided informed consent. Ninety-four patients (59% male; mean age ± standard deviation, 62 years ± 15) were randomized to one of two protocols: standard CTPA (100-120 kVp) with standard contrast medium injection (n = 46) and dual-energy CTPA (image reconstruction at 50 keV) with the same injection volume as in the standard protocol but composed of contrast medium and saline in a 1:1 fashion, resulting in 50% reduction in iodine load (n = 48). Signal intensity and noise in three central and two segmental pulmonary arteries were measured; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. A five-point scale was used to subjectively evaluate vascular enhancement and image noise. The proportion of diagnostic (score, ≥ 3) studies and the interreader agreement regarding the dichotomized diagnostic versus nondiagnostic scale were compared between the two groups. Compared with standard CTPA, dual-energy CTPA demonstrated higher signal intensity in all pulmonary arteries (all P < .01), inferior noise only in segmental arteries (P < .05), higher SNR and CNR (both P < .05), and compatible effective dose (P > .05). The five-point score was higher in the standard CTPA protocol (P < .05). The interreader agreement regarding the dichotomized diagnostic versus nondiagnostic scale was similar (P > .05) between the two groups. Dual-energy CTPA with image reconstruction at 50 keV allows a significant reduction in iodine load while improving intravascular signal intensity, maintaining SNR and with comparable radiation dose.
  Radiology 11/2011; 262(1):290-7. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Computed tomography evaluation of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: an outcome study.

  Jennifer D Ellis, John R Mayo
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  ABSTRACT: [corrected] To assess the long-term outcome of blunt trauma patients with suspected thoracic aortic or great vessel injury that was evaluated with contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT). We studied the outcome of 278 consecutive patients who received contrast-enhanced CT for blunt chest trauma with computerized searches of the regional trauma database, hospital medical records, universal government medical coverage plan billing records, and regional vital statistics databases. Data retrieved included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, status of the aorta and proximal great vessels at contrast-enhanced CT, hospital discharge diagnoses, and outpatient procedural billings with specific attention to aortic or great vessel injury. Median follow-up was 615 days following the traumatic event. Six subjects demonstrated direct signs of aortic or proximal great vessel injury on contrast-enhanced chest CT, as follows: aortic pseudoaneurysm and intimal flap (n = 4), carotid artery dissection (n = 1), and aortic dissection (n = 1). All were surgically treated, except the patient with aortic dissection, who was treated medically. In the other subjects, contrast-enhanced CT was negative (n = 230) or showed isolated mediastinal hematoma (n = 42). The computerized searches of the medical databases showed that none of these 272 subjects had procedures for, or died from, aortic or great vessel injury during the follow-up period. Computerized searches of medical databases found no evidence of missed thoracic aortic or proximal great vessel injury in blunt trauma patients who were evaluated with contrast-enhanced chest CT.
  Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal 03/2007; 58(1):22-6. · 0.69 Impact Factor