Diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in diagnosing paranasal fungal infection

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in detecting paranasal sinus fungal infections

Study Design: Cross-sectional, observational study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, from April to September 2014

Methodology: Patients with clinical suspicion of fungal sinusitis were included in this study. Patients with already diagnosed or history of recurrent fungal infections were excluded. All these patients underwent CT scan examination of paranasal sinuses. Findings were recorded. Final diagnosis was based on smear analysis for fungal culture. Accuracy analysis was conducted for CT diagnosis using smear analysis as the gold standard. Kappa analysis was conducted to determine agreement

Results: Out of the 120 patients, 71 [59%] were male. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CT were 96.19%, 93.33%, 99.01%, 77.77%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 95.83%. Kappa statistics showed 82% agreement beyond chance

Conclusion: CT scan is highly accurate in diagnosing and characterizing fungal infection of paranasal sinuses. It also determines the extent of disease which eventually aids in deciding the surgical approach to be used

Removal of malfunctioning biliary plastic stent via percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography

Obstructive jaundice is one of the most common presentations of pancreatic cancer. Often the patients present when curative surgical resection is not possible due to late diagnosis. In these cases, palliation is the only option available. However in such cases, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] is not possible because of surrounding extensive inflammation. This study describes percutaneous transhepatic external biliary drain placement in patients with cancer of pancreatic head when surgical removal is not possible

Diagnostic accuracy of Ultrasound B scan using 10 MHz linear probe in ocular trauma; Results from a high burden country

Objective: To study the diagnostic accuracy of Ultrasound B scan using 10 MHz linear probe in ocular trauma

Methods: A total of 61 patients with 63 ocular injuries were assessed during July 2013 to January 2014. All patients were referred to the department of Radiology from Emergency Room since adequate clinical assessment of the fundus was impossible because of the presence of opaque ocular media. Based on radiological diagnosis, the patients were provided treatment [surgical or medical]. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed during surgical procedures or clinical follow-up

Results: A total of 63 ocular injuries were examined in 61 patients. The overall sensitivity was 91.5%, Specificity was 98.87%, Positive predictive value was 87.62 and Negative predictive value was 99%

Conclusion: Ultrasound B-scan is a sensitive, non invasive and rapid way of assessing intraocular damage caused by blunt or penetrating eye injuries

Radiologic imaging features of major salivary glands: a review

The predominant salivary glands are parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. Innumerous small salivary glands are present in the buccal cavity, pharynx, and the larynx, which are not identified on usual radiologic studies. Frequently used radiology imaging comprise of plain radiography and conventional sialography. Nowadays, high-resolution ultrasonography [HRUS] is being progressively used for the salivary gland imaging. Hence, the significance of cross-sectional studies like computed tomography [CT] and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] have transformed the imaging of the salivary glands. Different changes in radiologic studies have led to increase sensitivity in the detection of disorders that include the significant salivary glands. Ultrasonography, plain radiographs, sialogram, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], computed tomography [CT], and nuclear scintigraphy /positron emission tomography [PET] all considered as involving in the programming of future treatment, surgical or otherwise. We reevaluate the techniques applied for the chief salivary glands imaging, and its application. An exploration of literature search was determined utilizing the electronic databases of Pub Med, Google scholar, Elsevier from 1970 to 2015 for English-language articles. The search terms utilized were salivary gland imaging. The titles and abstract of articles were evaluated. Entire text and reviews were appraised when the abstracts meet to the inclusion criterion. This review included all articles that were used for the advancement of information about salivary gland imaging