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

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