Sonomammography for evaluation of solid breast masses in young patients

This study was carried out to evaluate the applicability of sonomammography as the primary radiological modality in young patients with breast masses. This study was carried out at Radiology Departments of PNS Shifa Karachi and CMH Rawalpindi from February 2002 to April 2005. Sonomammography of 56 young patients with breast lump was done. Lesions were characterised by using sonographic criteria as benign [n=49], malignant [n=2] and intermediate [n=5] masses. Results of this evaluation were assessed by fine needle aspiration cytology. No false positive result was noted in 49 benign lesions while only one intermediate mass turned out to be malignant. Sensitivity of sonomammography was more for benign 92% than malignant lesions 67%, and its specificity was high for malignant lesions 92.4%. Retrospective scanning was done for intermediate masses. This study proves the efficacy of ultrasound as a method of choice to evaluate breast masses in young patients avoiding the need of biopsy. This study also reflects that benign diseases dominate the disease spectrum in young patients

Determination of gestational age by transverse cerebellar diameter in third trimester of pregnancy

To assess the usefulness of transverse cerebellar diameter [TCD] as an independent parameter for gestational age assessment in third trimester of pregnancy. An observational study. Diagnostic Radiology Department, PNS Shifa, Karachi between April 2002 to July 2004. This study was performed on patients between 26-38 weeks of gestation with normal pregnancy. Grey scale antenatal ultrasonography was done with 3.5 MHz probe to measure fetal transverse cerebellar diameter and was correlated with gestational age in weeks. These cases were followed progressively at different periods of gestation throughout the pregnancy. Collected data was converted into variables which were analyzed by SPSS version 10, descriptive statistics included mean +/- standard deviation which were computed for TCD and other fetal biometry parameters. Transverse cerebellar diameter varied in a linear fashion in third trimester, while transverse cerebellar diameter/abdominal circumference [TCD/AC] ratio remained constant in second half of pregnancy. All the parameters were expressed by regression equations and correlation coefficients were found to be statistically significant [r=0.99 for TCD, r=0.98 for TCD/AC all p<0.0001]. This study signifies that transverse cerebellar diameter and TCD/AC ratio on serial sonography give an accurate idea of gestational age. Cases with intrauterine growth restriction can be diagnosed if local, nomogram can be prepared for different ethnic groups