All Outputs (59)

The impact of technical and environmental conditions on the quality assessment in mammography (2024)
Journal Article
Papathanasiou, S., Szczepura, K., & Thompson, J. (2024). The impact of technical and environmental conditions on the quality assessment in mammography. Radiography, 31(1), 131-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2024.10.013

Introduction
Mammography requires optimal image quality and that should be ensured during quality assurance. This study investigates the impact of environmental conditions and monitor specifications on quality con... Read More about The impact of technical and environmental conditions on the quality assessment in mammography.

Exploring end of life care provision during medical imaging in hospitals: Analysis of survey data from the UK radiography workforce (2024)
Journal Article
Spacey, A., Heaslip, V., & Szczepura, K. (2024). Exploring end of life care provision during medical imaging in hospitals: Analysis of survey data from the UK radiography workforce. Radiography, 30(5), 1308-1316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2024.07.003

Introduction
Patients receiving end-of-life care often undergo medical imaging examinations in hospitals to inform symptom management and care. Yet little is known about the experiences of the radiography workforce who deliver it. This study aims to... Read More about Exploring end of life care provision during medical imaging in hospitals: Analysis of survey data from the UK radiography workforce.

Exploring end of life care provision during medical imaging in hospitals: Analysis of survey data from the UK radiography workforce (2024)
Journal Article
Spacey, A., Heaslip, V., & Szczepura, K. (2024). Exploring end of life care provision during medical imaging in hospitals: Analysis of survey data from the UK radiography workforce. Radiography, 30(5), 1308-1316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2024.07.003

Introduction: Patients receiving end-of-life care often undergo medical imaging examinations in hospitals to inform symptom management and care. Yet little is known about the experiences of the radiography workforce who deliver it. This study aims to... Read More about Exploring end of life care provision during medical imaging in hospitals: Analysis of survey data from the UK radiography workforce.

The student perspective of a research-informed teaching activity using simulation (2024)
Presentation / Conference
Higgins, R., Kaushik, C., & Szczepura​, K. (2024, June). The student perspective of a research-informed teaching activity using simulation. Presented at United Kingdom Imaging and Oncology Congress 2024, Liverpool

Background: The opening of the new £3 million Centre for Medical Imaging within the University offered a novel opportunity for students to design a survey tool and collect data that compared the two new X-ray imaging rooms – one that has been designe... Read More about The student perspective of a research-informed teaching activity using simulation.

An exploration of factors involved in the roll out of a digital application in breast services: A case study approach. (2024)
Journal Article
Mercer, C., Hargreaves, S., Hill, C., Szczepura, K., & Turnbull, R. (2024). An exploration of factors involved in the roll out of a digital application in breast services: A case study approach. Radiography, 30(2), 666-672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2024.02.002

Acceptance of new technologies in health care, by those who use them as part of their role, is challenging with confounding contextual factors surrounding the acceptance of technology. As healthcare is rapidly digitising, stakeholder groups should be... Read More about An exploration of factors involved in the roll out of a digital application in breast services: A case study approach..

Cultivate Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods to Measure Markers of Health and Translate to Large Scale Cohort Studies (2023)
Thesis
Fitzpatrick, J. (2023). Cultivate Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods to Measure Markers of Health and Translate to Large Scale Cohort Studies. (Thesis). University of Salford

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an indispensable tool in healthcare and research, with a growing demand for its services. The appeal of MRI stems from its non-ionizing radiation nature, ability to generate high-resolution images of internal organ... Read More about Cultivate Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods to Measure Markers of Health and Translate to Large Scale Cohort Studies.

Understanding experiences of the radiography workforce delivering medical imaging as part of patients' end of life care: An exploratory qualitative interview study. (2023)
Journal Article
Spacey, A., Heaslip, V., & Szczepura, K. (2024). Understanding experiences of the radiography workforce delivering medical imaging as part of patients' end of life care: An exploratory qualitative interview study. Radiography, 30(1), 132-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2023.10.019

People nearing the end of life often require medical imaging in hospitals to manage symptoms and care, despite this little is known about the experiences of those delivering it. The aim of this study is therefore to explore the experiences of the rad... Read More about Understanding experiences of the radiography workforce delivering medical imaging as part of patients' end of life care: An exploratory qualitative interview study..

Skin tears in mammography: A narrative review (2023)
Journal Article
Khan, A., Pradeep, S., Wynn, M., Szczepura, K., Mercer, C., & Stephens, M. (2023). Skin tears in mammography: A narrative review. Journal of Tissue Viability, 32(4), 577-584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtv.2023.09.003

Skin tears are classed as traumatic wounds mainly caused by shearing and frictional forces. Incidences of skin tears are noted to be significant mostly in the elderly population and those with fragile and vulnerable skin. Individuals undergoing mammo... Read More about Skin tears in mammography: A narrative review.

Practical Mammography (2022)
Book Chapter
Mercer, C., Szczepura, K., Hill, C., Kinnear, L., & Smith, H. (2022). Practical Mammography. In Digital Mammography A Holistic Approach (295-307). Springer, Cham

Positioning for a mammogram requires skill and expertise. This chapter considers the requirements of a practitioner to employ accurate and reproducible positioning techniques whilst applying appropriate and effective compression. This chapter also il... Read More about Practical Mammography.

Assessing the impact of binaural and non-binaural auditory beat intervention to pain and compression in mammography (2022)
Journal Article
Nelson, D., Berry, R., Szczepura, K., & Mercer, C. (2022). Assessing the impact of binaural and non-binaural auditory beat intervention to pain and compression in mammography. Radiography, 29(1), 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2022.09.005

Pain and discomfort has a negative impact on a patient's overall experience and may impact on subsequent re-attendance to mammography. Pain during mammography remains a significant issue. Assessment of interventions to reduce levels of pain associate... Read More about Assessing the impact of binaural and non-binaural auditory beat intervention to pain and compression in mammography.

The diagnostic value and accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing hydatidiform mole: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. (2022)
Journal Article
Newhouse, I., Spacey, A., Scragg, B., & Szczepura, K. (2022). The diagnostic value and accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing hydatidiform mole: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Radiography, 28(4), 897-905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2022.06.005

Hydatidiform moles are the most common type of gestational trophoblastic disease. Internationally the incidence of hydatidiform moles is 1-2:1000 pregnancies. Early detection of women with hydatidiform moles is preferential, as these women are at a h... Read More about The diagnostic value and accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing hydatidiform mole: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature..

Evaluation of the effect of breast implants on the accuracy of the CT attenuation Correction (CTAC) map for SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging: a phantom study (2022)
Thesis
Alanezi, A. Evaluation of the effect of breast implants on the accuracy of the CT attenuation Correction (CTAC) map for SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging: a phantom study. (Thesis). University of Salford

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using single photon emission computed
tomography (SPECT) imaging can assess myocardial viability and perfusion. However,
overlying thoracic structures, such as ribs or breast tissue lead to gamma ray a... Read More about Evaluation of the effect of breast implants on the accuracy of the CT attenuation Correction (CTAC) map for SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging: a phantom study.

Evaluation of image receptor angulation during mediolateral oblique positioning for optimised pressure and area distribution in mammography (2022)
Thesis
Osmanu, M. Evaluation of image receptor angulation during mediolateral oblique positioning for optimised pressure and area distribution in mammography. (Thesis). University of Salford

Background
Mammography is the gold standard diagnostic tool for the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer; however, it is associated with pain and discomfort. The pain and discomfort are mostly due to positioning and the compression applied durin... Read More about Evaluation of image receptor angulation during mediolateral oblique positioning for optimised pressure and area distribution in mammography.

The impact of viewing conditions on image quality assessment tasks in mammographic quality control (2021)
Thesis
Papathanasiou, S. The impact of viewing conditions on image quality assessment tasks in mammographic quality control. (Thesis). University of Salford

Objective:
Mammography is a technically demanding x-ray examination requiring optimal image quality to enable the early detection of breast cancer. Quality control (QC) processes ensure that the equipment in the diagnostic imaging process is functi... Read More about The impact of viewing conditions on image quality assessment tasks in mammographic quality control.

Towards optimisation of compression force in mammography (2019)
Thesis
Szczepura, K. (2019). Towards optimisation of compression force in mammography. (Thesis). University of Salford

This work focusses on the compression force applied to the breast during mammographic imaging. The lack of guidance and evidence base has led to variability in practice, and the implications of this will be discussed. All research was carried out on... Read More about Towards optimisation of compression force in mammography.

Hounsfield Unit inaccuracy in computed tomography lesion size and density, diagnostic quality vs attenuation correction (2017)
Journal Article
Szczepura, K., Thompson, J., & Manning, D. (2017). Hounsfield Unit inaccuracy in computed tomography lesion size and density, diagnostic quality vs attenuation correction. Proceedings of SPIE, 10136, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2254275

In computed tomography the Hounsfield Units (HU) are used as an indicator of the tissue type based on the linear attenuation coefficients of the tissue. HU accuracy is essential when this metric is used in any form to support diagnosis. In hybrid ima... Read More about Hounsfield Unit inaccuracy in computed tomography lesion size and density, diagnostic quality vs attenuation correction.

Effects of increased compression with an ultrasound transducer on the conspicuity of breast lesions in a phantom (2017)
Journal Article
Szczepura, K., Faqir, T., & Manning, D. (2017). Effects of increased compression with an ultrasound transducer on the conspicuity of breast lesions in a phantom. Proceedings of SPIE, 10136, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2254263

Ultrasound imaging of the breast is highly operator dependent. The amount of pressure applied with the transducer has a direct impact on the lesion visibility in breast ultrasound. The conspicuity index is a quantitative measure of lesion visibility,... Read More about Effects of increased compression with an ultrasound transducer on the conspicuity of breast lesions in a phantom.

Impact of tube current modulation on lesion conspicuity index in hi-resolution chest computed tomography (2017)
Journal Article
Szczepura, K., Tomkinson, D., & Manning, D. (2017). Impact of tube current modulation on lesion conspicuity index in hi-resolution chest computed tomography. Proceedings of SPIE, 10136, https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2254256

Tube current modulation is a method employed in the use of CT in an attempt to optimize radiation dose to the patient. The acceptable noise (noise index) can be varied, based on the level of optimization required; higher accepted noise reduces the pa... Read More about Impact of tube current modulation on lesion conspicuity index in hi-resolution chest computed tomography.

A JAFROC study of nodule detection performance in CT images of a thorax acquired during PET/CT (2017)
Journal Article
Thompson, J., Wareing, A., Szczepura, K., Vinjamuri, S., & Hogg, P. (2017). A JAFROC study of nodule detection performance in CT images of a thorax acquired during PET/CT. Radiography, 23(3), 191-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2017.03.001

Purpose
Two types of CT images (modalities) are acquired in PET/CT: for attenuation correction (AC) and diagnosis. The purpose of the study was to compare nodule detection and localization performance between these two modalities.


Methods
CT... Read More about A JAFROC study of nodule detection performance in CT images of a thorax acquired during PET/CT.

Analysis of effective and organ dose estimation in CT when using mA modulation : a single scanner pilot study (2017)
Journal Article
Tootell, A., Szczepura, K., & Hogg, P. (2017). Analysis of effective and organ dose estimation in CT when using mA modulation : a single scanner pilot study. Radiography, 23(2), 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2017.02.006

Effective dose (ED) estimation in CT examinations can be obtained by combining dose length product (DLP) with published ED per DLP coefficients or performed using software. These methods do not account for tube current (mA) modulation which is influe... Read More about Analysis of effective and organ dose estimation in CT when using mA modulation : a single scanner pilot study.