Abstract
The Editor’s Award of the Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal recognizes research papers that represent novelty, quality, importance, and which have potential high scientific and clinical impact. The award winner is determined by the Selection Committee, which comprises members of the CARJ Editorial Board and Standing Committee, according to the terms of reference for the Editor’s Award. For this inaugural award, only research papers which were published between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, were included for consideration.
In 2021, the CARJ Editor’s Award is given to “The Efficacy of Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Spine Biopsies in Determining a Causative Organism in Cases of Suspected Infection: A Systematic Review” by Madeleine Sertic, Leighanne Parkes, Sabrina Mattiassia, Kenneth Pritzker, Michael Gardam, and Kieran Murphy. 1
The systematic review sought to determine the diagnostic culture yield of CT-guided biopsies in cases of suspected spondylodiscitis and vertebral osteomyelitis, thereby redressing an imbalance in the literature which has largely focused on fluoroscopic or MRI-guided biopsies. The study is especially valuable to the Canadian healthcare context, where CT-guided biopsies are frequently the diagnostic procedure of choice due to availability and cost. Sertic et al found that the diagnostic culture yield of CT-guided biopsies in cases of suspected spinal infection is 33%, but that in the majority of cases, a causative organism is not identified. Their findings suggest that improvements can be made in biopsy technique; specimen transfer; and collaboration between interventional radiologists, pathologists, and microbiologists in order to optimize the clinical utility and value of CT-guided biopsies.
Congratulations to the authors on their achievement and contribution to the advancement of radiology research and medical science in Canada.