Biomedical subjects

V Marra

Publications and source records attributed to V Marra.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

[Quality and homogeneity monitoring of radiologists in the Turin mammographic screening. Comparison of the pilot phase results].

The Turin mammographic screening program was designed to be carried out in several independent screening centers because of the large proportion of population involved (76,000 women aged 50 to 59 years). The first center began working in 1992 and the second center was opened in 1995. The latter center carried out an early pilot study in which 1024 women were examined to assess the homogeneity and the quality of the results. The results were then compared with European quality standards and with the results of both the pilot and the active screening periods in the first center. The results from the second center were very good as far as detection rate is concerned (7.8/1000-2.9/1000 in carcinoma < or = 1 cm). This rate is higher than the so-called "desirable" European standard. Recall rate and benign/malignant biopsy ratio were higher than the so-called "fair" European standard (recall rate: 7.1%; B/M biopsy ratio: 0.62). These results are slightly superior to those of the pilot period in the first center and slightly inferior to the results of active screening in the same center. The improvement relative to the pilot period in the first center (1991) is probably related to technical progress, such as the introduction of the double mammographic projection. The difference relative to the results from the active screening period in the first center (1992-1994) reflects different specific experience. Even though pilot periods have no statistical significance, they can be used for comparison, and in our experience they have proved, with positive results, the quality of the mammographic screening program provided to the Turin population.

Female↗

PubMed1994

[Dosimetric and qualitative evaluations of the use of rhodium filtration in mammography].

The value of rhodium filtration in mammography was compared with that of conventional molybdenum; dosimetric and qualitative tests were performed on a phantom and in vivo on informed and consenting patients. Phantom dosimetric tests confirmed a dose reduction with rhodium filtration changing according to thickness and primary beam energy. With rhodium filtration the dose decreased by 40% on the average topping 67% in breasts thicker than 6.5 cm. No significant differences were observed between rhodium and molybdenum filtration in clinical and phantom qualitative tests. Four radiologists--three of them in double blind--studied 29 mammograms repeated in the same technical setting and expressed a very slight preference for molybdenum also in thick and dense breasts. The slight preference was not based on higher diagnostic yield and therefore clinically irrelevant. Preferences appeared to be subjective, differing from one radiologist to another. In conclusion, the authors suggest the use of rhodium filtration in thick breasts because of the lower administered dose and of shorter exposure time with direct magnification.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1990

[Role of ultrasonic diagnosis as a complementary method in contrast radiography of the intestines].

This study was aimed at evaluating US reliability and sensitivity in identifying inflammatory or neoplastic bowel diseases in symptomatic patients. Two hundred and fifty patients who had been referred to our Unit for double-contrast barium enema of small bowel and colon, underwent panoramic and targeted abdominal US. According to well-known pathological criteria--i.e., intestinal wall thicker than 5 mm, and pseudo-kidney pattern--US had 61.7% sensitivity for inflammatory and neoplastic bowel diseases. The results indicate that US findings negative for intestinal disease are not reliable unless confirmed by contrastographic and endoscopic examinations. However, panoramic US occasionally demonstrated intestinal abnormalities and allowed collateral diseases to be observed in other organs or apparatuses. These abnormalities had been missed at contrastography, and were sometimes responsible for the symptoms the patients complained of. Targeted US emerged as a useful tool for detailing the lesions demonstrated by double-contrast barium enema, especially in case of expansive pathologies (size of the mass and relationship to adjacent organs).

False Negative Reactions↗

PubMed1982

[Hematologic diagnosis using fluorescence].

The authors have used a fluorescent supravital staining technique that allow the simultaneous study of platelets, the fibrin meshwork, the morphology of white blood cells and its phagocytic activity, the presence of immature cells. The technique is simple and fast and owing to all the information that it furnish, the authors designated it with the initials FED.

Acridine Orange↗