Mean Platelet Volume as a Fibrosis Marker in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Background and study aim: Liver biopsy limitations push us to search for new non invasive methods to detect liver fibrosis such as serum markers. The aim of this study is to evaluate mean platelet volume (MPV) as a fibrosis marker in patient with chronic hepatitis C. Patients and methods: 150 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection refereed to Tanta Fever Hospital in period from May 2013 to January 2014 and 20 healthy volunteers as a control were included. All of them were tested for Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) in comparison with who done liver biopsy as standard. Results: Statistically significant differences in MPV and Platelet Count were seen in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) compared to healthy controls (MPV: 8.95 ± 1.39fL vs. 7.57 ± 0.68 fl, P-value = 0.043; PC 226.03 ±68.36 vs. 188.9±46.49, P-value = 0.02) Multi-variate Logistic regression analysis shows only 5 variables remained as independent risk factors for fibrosis progression: (MPV, Schistosomiasis, ALT, AST and Prothrombin time). AST (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21), ALT (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.99), PT (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.88), and MPV (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.25). Cut-off values were calculated for diagnostic performance, and the cut-off value for MPV was 9.22 fl., sensitivity 75.5%, specificity 62%, PPV 40.3%, NPPV 93.4% and Accuracy rate 61.8%. Conclusion: We suggest that high MPV levels (especially those over 9.22 fl) may help to predict advanced fibrosis in patients with CHC. However, it should not be forgotten that MPV is not a specific marker for fibrosis, and the negative predictive rate seems more valuable to exclude a high fibrosis ratio in patients with CHC

Uterine ballonning: an unusual hysterosalpingraphic finding in cases of infertility

On interpertation of the hysterosalpingograhic studies for cases of infertility three types of uteine ballonning were observed. These functional uterine lesions include; the diffuse regular, diffuse irregular and comual types. A trial therapy with methergine tabelts daily during the five fertile days around the mid-cycle resulted in three pregnancies, an observation which suggests the hypotoncity of uterus resulting in such ballonning

Relative merits of different modalities for diagnosis of sellar and suprasellar tumours

Even after the availability of CT, numertous authers indicated the need for poisitive contrast CT studies or pneumoencephalography to define the presence and locations of the lesion within the suprasellar cistern. In most cases, CT not only is diagnostic but shows the extent of the lesion. In occasional cases, CT following intrathecel metrizamide with axial and coronal sections obviates the need for other invasive studies

Computarised tomography in diagnosis of medulloblastoma

CT characteristics of medulloblastoma, while not pathogenomic, are highly typical of the tumour. The density and contrast enhancement properties are similar for both the midline and lateral medulloblastomas. Most frequently the lesin is of slightly increased density and the contrast material enhance uniformly

Evaluation of selective salpingraphy technique in assessment of tubal patency

The authors modified the original hysterosalpingography technique to fit the clinical and operative need for a definite tubal patency test. They gave it the name "Selecitve Salpingography". They used a maliable polythene tube moulded to pass from the cervix to the uterotubal junction and they inject the contrast medium directly each tube while the patient is in the Trendelenberg's position. Tubal patency was proved by this technique in 92 out of 99 cases of unilateral obstruction and in 53 out of 81 cases of bilateral obstruction diagnosed by the conventional technique. This technique was particularly helpful to diagnose tubal patency in cases of severe cervical incompetence

Fetal sex determination

Two different techniques have been used for fetal sex determination: a. Single plain radiography of the abdomen of the pregnant lady at her third trimester of gestation has been taken after giving her Di-iodohydroxyquinolin compound for three successive days prior to radiography. The correct fetal sex was reached in 112 out of 126 examined cases i.e. 89% b. Sonographic scanning of the pregnant abdomen using either direct method or the railed one has been performed in 500 pregnant ladies. Correct results were reached in 196 out of 300 examined cases by the direct method i.e. 65%. The railed technique proved to be simple and accurate and the correct results were reached in 190 out of the examined 200 cases

Role of radiology in diagnosis of prostatitis

Prostatitis is a vague angima in urology and a very insignificant condition in radiology. Three cases of acute prostatitis and 15 cases of chronic prostatitis have been examined clinically and by radiology. Patients with prostatic secretion containing an increased number of pus cells and with positive culture for bacteria were included in this study. It was observed that radiology is of no help in the diagnosis, however, associated or complicating conditions can be revealed

review of diagnostic procedures for posterior fossa tumours

The value of CT scans in detecting and localizing neoplasms and the inter relationship of CT with other investigative modalities as air study and angiography used for posterior fossa lesions are discussed

small kidney: consideration of radiological differential diagnosis

Since the volume of parenchymal tissue rather than the overall kidney size is the important factor in renal function, external measurements of gross kidney or its radiographic contour could be misleading. When advancing age, the kidney loses parenchyma and concomitantly renal function.However, if fatty replacement made up volumetrically for the lost parenchyma, external measurements of the kidney did not change.Specific classification of a small kidney or of bilaterally small kidneys by radiological or pathologic study is sometimes impossible

Diabetic small-vessel disease of the foot

The interaction of both diabetic neuropathy and angiopathy results in a group of pathological changes and complications both in soft tissue and bones of the foot, a complicated process that was collectively described by the term diabetic foot. Diabetic angiopathy involved both largevessels [macroangiopathy] and small vessels [microangiopathy]. Arteriography is essential for the anatomic evaluation of vascular supply to the leg and foot

Contrast radiography of the eustachian tube

The intact Eustachian tube is one of the most essential requirements for a successful tympanoplasty. Since clinical function tests did not provide satisfactory results in everycase,theradiological examination of the tube becomes significant. The technique employed in 30 patients of trans- tympanic radiography of the Eustachian tube was described

Endoscopic and radiological study of esophageal varices

Twenty five patients with portal hypertension were examined by barium study, portal venography and fiberoptic oesophagoscope. Endoscopy showed varices in 80 percent, barium swallow in 3 percent and percutaneous splenic puncture in 44 percent of cases. The fiberoptic endoscopy is the instrument of choice over the rigid or flexirigid oesophascope due to the ease of passage, the patient tolerance and less complication