Evaluation of the thyroid gland vascularity during pregnancy using 2-dimensional color Superb Microvascular Imaging vascularization index technique.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate maternal thyroid parenchymal vascularity with 2-dimensional color superb microvascular imaging vascularization index (2D-cSMIVI) levels and thyroid gland volume in the first, second and third trimesters. METHODS: This longitudinal prospective study was carried out with participants selected from 30 healthy asymptomatic pregnant women. Ultrasonography (US) for the thyroid gland was performed in each trimester. The vascularization index (VI) values obtained by manually drawing the contours of the thyroid parenchyma in the longutidinal plane, using the free region of interest (ROI) with 2DcSMIVI mode. VI values obtained in each trimester, thyroid hormone levels (TSH, T3, T4) and thyroid volumes were compared. RESULTS: We have detected that thyroid gland vascularity increased significantly as pregnancy progresses. The mean VI values of thyroid gland in third trimester were significantly higher than first and second trimester (p < 0.001), and the mean VI values of the thyroid gland in the second trimester were significantly higher than first trimester (p < 0.001). During pregnancy, we detected the increase in VI values, TSH levels and thyroid gland volumes. CONCLUSION: Maternal thyroid gland gray scale findings, parenchymal vascularization, thyroid volumes should be evaluated routinely for the healthy fetal development. 2D-cSMIVI method allows us to evaluate vascularization with quantitative numerical values objectively. We have detected that the VI values and volume of the thyroid gland increases as pregnancy progresses. In the complex situation of pregnancy process, the thyroid gland can be evaluated quantitatively with SMI method effectively.

Utility of shear wave elastography for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome with psoriatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy and common for the patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a new ultrasonography technique that can be used for diagnosing CTS, but not studied in PsA patients. AIMS: The aim of this study to measure the stiffness of median nerve and hand muscles by quantitative SWE to identify whether SWE can be used for diagnosing CTS in patients with PsA or not. METHODS: To diagnose CTS, all patients had electrodiagnostic study. The stiffness values of the median nerve, abductor pollicis brevis, and abductor digiti minimi were determined using SWE. Muscle stiffness ratio was also calculated. RESULTS: Consideration is given to 48 patients with PsA (93 wrists) and 29 healthy volunteers (57 wrists). Median nerve stiffness was found to be significantly higher, and abductor pollicis brevis' stiffness and muscle stiffness ratio were significantly lower in PsA patients' wrists compared to control group (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively) and in CTS wrists compared to others (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified 28.2 kPA as the median nerve stiffness cut-off point for differentiating CTS in PsA patients (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that SWE has a good diagnostic value for CTS with PsA patients; hence, we can conclude that SWE could diagnose CTS in PsA patients.

Assessment of lacrimal gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome using gray-scale ultrasonography and shear wave elastography.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess lacrimal gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) using lacrimal gland gray-scale ultrasound (LGUS) and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE). METHODS: Eighty-five pSS patients with a mean age of 51.16 ± 10.61 years and 84 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects with a mean age of 50.94 ± 11.05 years were included in the study. Lacrimal gland parenchymal findings and 2D-SWE values were compared between the two groups and the correlations of LGUS parameters with clinical findings, dry eye tests, and minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) were further investigated. RESULTS: LGUS parenchymal grade was 0 in 14 (16.5%), 1 in 45 (52.9%), 2 in 23 (27.1%), and 3 in 3 patients (3.5%) in the pSS group, while in the control group, parenchymal grades were 0 (57.1%) and 1 (42.9%). The mean 2D-SWE value of pSS patients was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05) and increased parallel with lacrimal parenchymal grade. The elasticity modulus had a high diagnostic performance in detecting lacrimal gland involvement in pSS patients (AUC 0.901, sensitivity 70.6%, specificity 97.6%), while the diagnostic performance of LGUS was much lower (AUC 0.769, sensitivity 83.5%, specificity 57.1%). LGUS and 2D-SWE values were found to be correlated with dry eye tests and MSGB results (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LGUS and 2D-SWE are both useful for assessing the lacrimal gland involvement in pSS patients; however, 2D-SWE has a better diagnostic performance than LGUS and found to be correlated with dry eye tests. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Lacrimal gland US and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) are imaging modalities that can be used to demonstrate parenchymal involvement of the lacrimal gland in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). KEY POINTS: • Gray-scale US and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) have been widely used in the recent decade to assess gland involvement in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). • The elasticity modulus had a high diagnostic performance in detecting lacrimal gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients. • Lacrimal gland US and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) are both useful for assessing the lacrimal gland in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients; however, two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) has a better diagnostic performance than lacrimal gland ultrasound (LGUS).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess carpal tunnel syndrome's (CTS's) ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and compare them with healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-nine PsA and twenty-eight healthy volunteers were examined in this study. Demographic and clinical features were recorded. CTS-6, a diagnostic algorithm, was used to estimate the probability of CTS. Electrodiagnostic study (EDS) was applied to all wrists included in the report, where the diagnosis of CTS was made by EDS. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve was measured at pisiform bone level by US and MRI. Results: Regarding to the demographic characteristics, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups. Twelve of 39 (30.76%) PsA patients had CTS, whereas CTS was not detected in the control group (p=0.001). US and MRI showed increased median nerve CSA in PsA patients compared to healthy controls (p=0.005, p<0.001; respectively). Also, US and MRI showed increased median nerve CSA in CTS patients compared to others (p=0.002, p<0.001; respectively). The Pearson correlation coefficient between MRI and US measurements of the CSA was 0.85 (p<0.001). Conclusion: CTS frequency in PsA patients is found higher than healthy controls. The relationship between CTS diagnosed by EDS and CSA measured by both US and MRI was observed in PsA patients.

The effect of quercetin on bone healing in an experimental rat model.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effect of quercetin on fracture healing in an open fracture model in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 Wistar-Albino male rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 10 groups. Daily oral treatment of 100 mg/kg of quercetin dissolved in corn oil were given to four groups, whereas the other four group of control rats were treated with corn oil only. Histopathological and radiological examinations of fracture healing were performed at the end of Weeks 2 and 4 in these rats, while biomechanical and biochemical examinations were performed at the end of Weeks 4 and 6, since harder callus was required. Among the rats in the last two group that were not subjected to the open fracture model, one group was given only quercetin for three weeks and the other for six weeks, and the biochemical markers in the blood were compared between these two groups. Computed tomography images were taken for radiological evaluation. The modified Lane and Sandhu scoring system was used for histological evaluation. The 3-point bending test was performed for biomechanical evaluation. For biochemical evaluation, plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (AP), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were measured. RESULTS: Radiologically, there was no significant difference between the early-stage results of quercetin and control groups (p=0.247), while quercetin caused a significant increase in callus tissue in terms of latestage results (p=0.012). Histopathologically, there was no significant difference in the early stage (p=0.584); however, in the late stage, a borderline significant increase was observed in the quercetin group compared to the control group (p=0.091). Biomechanical analysis showed that quercetin significantly increased the fracture strength in the healing bone both in the early period (p=0.036) and in the late period (p=0.027). Among biochemical markers, TOS and AP were found to be significantly decreased in the quercetin group. In the non-operated and quercetin given groups, TAS levels was significantly higher (p=0.001) and AP levels were borderline significantly lower at the end of Week 6 (p=0.063). CONCLUSION: Quercetin did not have a significant effect on bone healing in the early period, but significantly promoted bone healing in the late period in rats. We recommend the use of quercetin, a strong antioxidant, in cases with high oxidative stress and conditions such as diabetes, smoking, and malnutrition which may inhibit fracture union, although further clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Comparison of conventional Doppler imaging techniques and superb microvascular imaging in determination of vascularization in undescended testes.

Aim: Our aim was to gain an idea about testicular injury by comparing the reduced volume, which is one of the indirect indicators of testicular damage in undescended testes, and by evaluating the reduced microvascular blood flow by superb microvascular imaging, and also to determine whether superb microvascular imaging modes could detect microvascular blood flow in more detail in the decreased volume of undescended testes. Material and methods: We compared testicular blood flow in undescended testes via conventional Doppler imaging, color superb microvascular imaging, and monochrome superb microvascular imaging techniques with contralateral normally located testis and normal control group. Each sample of testicular tissue was evaluated using a qualitative method. Spot color encoding and linear flow color encoding counts determined in testicular parenchyma were counted separately and expressed as numerical data. The localization of the examined testes in the grayscale was noted (proximal inguinal canal, medial inguinal canal, distal inguinal canal, and scrotal). The volume of undescended testes was calculated automatically via a formula for volume. Results: Monochrome superb microvascular imaging is significantly superior in visualizing the vascularity of undescended testes compared with color Doppler, power Doppler and color superb microvascular imaging (p = 0.001). Also, undescended testes have a significantly lower blood flow compared with contralateral normal testes (p = 0.001). The volume of undescended testes was significantly lower than the contralateral normal testes. Conclusions: The volume, structure and blood flow are indirect signs of testicular damage in undescended testes. Monochrome superb microvascular imaging can detect vascularity in undescended testes better than the conventional Doppler imaging technique and color superb microvascular imaging. Based on our findings, we can report that monochrome superb microvascular imaging can be used to evaluate testicular injury and vascularity of undescended testes.

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography can improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in acute appendicitis.

AIM: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) with ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory findings, gray-scale US and 2D-SWE imaging features, operation information, and pathology results of 48 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis who presented with right lower quadrant pain were prospectively evaluated. We compared the findings to the US and SWE imaging features of 79 asymptomatic patients. RESULTS: Mean Alvarado score and appendix diameter were statistically significantly higher for acute appendicitis (p < 0.001). In patients with acute appendicitis, mesenteric lymphadenopathy and fat stranding were also more frequent (p < 0.001). The mean velocity and kPa values for appendix and mesenteric fat were statistically significantly higher in acute appendicitis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, 2D-SWE increases the diagnostic performance of gray-scale US in the differentiation of inflamed and normal appendixes.

Fetal Orbital Epidermal Cyst Pre-postnatal Imaging Findings: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Fetal ultrasonographic evaluation is a routine part of pregnancy follow-up, and examination of orbital structures is also part of the routine evaluation. Although orbital developmental anomalies are common in the neonatal period, diagnosis in the intrauterine period is not common. To our knowledge, three cases with a diagnosis of congenital orbital epidermal cysts have been reported in the literature, and two of them had fetal imaging findings. In this article, we present the prepostnatal imaging findings of a case diagnosed with orbital cyst in the fetal period and histopathologically diagnosed as epidermal cyst in the neonatal period. CASE REPORT: A 25-year-old woman applied for ultrasonography (USG) examination at 22 weeks of gestation. A 35x45 mm cystic lesion causing proptosis, without solid component and vascularity, surrounding the optic nerve and causing its thinning was observed in the left orbit. In fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the intraorbital cystic lesion, which was hyperintense on T2W images and hypointense on T1W images, had no relationship with intracranial structures and no solid component. The lesion of the patient, followed up with a multidisciplinary approach, was shown similarly with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the postnatal period. Subsequently, the patient underwent globe-sparing surgery, and the pathological diagnosis was made as the epidermal cyst. CONCLUSION: Orbital epidermal cysts are rarely seen, and detection in the fetal period is even rarer. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orbital cystic lesions that cause proptosis in fetal and neonatal periods.

Evaluation of iliopsoas tendon using shear wave elastography after open reduction surgery for developmental dysplasia of hip.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the wholeness, thickness, and elastography measurements of the iliopsoas tendon using shear wave elastography who underwent open reduction surgery for unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2011 and December 2016, a total of 15 patients (2 males, 13 females; mean age: 24.6±26.3 months; range, 3 to 98 months) who underwent surgical treatment for unilateral DDH were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to demographic data, clinical findings such as muscle strength, range of motion, and the presence of limping were recorded. Ultrasound elastography was used to examine the thickness, shear wave velocity and elasticity of the iliopsoas tendons. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 92.6±30.2 (range, 44 to 120) months. Full range of motion of the hips was observed in all patients. Hip flexor muscles' strength was 5/5 in bilateral. No hip dislocation or limping was not detected in any of the patients. Ultrasound examinations revealed that tenotomized iliopsoas tendons were intact in all patients. The mean muscle thickness was lower in operated sides, indicating no statistically significant difference. The mean velocity and elasticity were statistically significantly higher in the operated sides. CONCLUSION: This is the first study using shear wave ultrasonography for iliopsoas tenotomy of the patients underwent open reduction for developmental hip dysplasia. Re-adhesion of the iliopsoas tendons provided wholeness while healing as a more rigid and thinner structure compared to the intact sides.

Can Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Perfusion Imaging be Utilized to Detect Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Gene Mutation in Gliomas?

AIM: To explore the ability of dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion imaging (DSC-PI) to detect isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene mutation in gliomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Preoperative DSC-PI data on histopathologically proven gliomas obtained between January 2015 and December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. All magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed using a 1.5-T scanner. The maximum relative cerebral blood volume (rCBVmax), percentage signal recovery (PSR), and normalized PSR of tumor cores were calculated. Differences in these values between IDH-mutant and wild-type gliomas were compared, and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated. RESULTS: The patients (32 females, 47 males) were aged 21-76 years (mean 50.7 ± 15 years). The rCBVmax and all PSR values differed significantly between patients with IDH-mutant and those with wild-type tumors (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: The rCBVmax and PSR values obtained by DSC-PI may facilitate noninvasive detection of the IDH mutation status of gliomas. PSR provided more reliable values for differentiation of IDH-mutant gliomas from wild-type gliomas.

Comparison of testicular vascularity via superb microvascular imaging in varicocele patients with contralateral normal testis and healthy volunteers.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to determine vascular changes in the testes in patients with varicocele using the two-dimensional color superb microvascular imaging vascular index (2DcSMIVI) and compared them with those of the normal contralateral testes of the same patients as well as the normal testes of control subjects without varicocele. METHODS: A total of 114 participants and 228 testes were included in the study. 63 patients with varicocele and 51 asymptomatic volunteers were included. In total, 70 testes with varicocele (group A), 56 normal contralateral testes (Group B), and 102 bilateral normal testes were classified (Group C). Participants' testicular volume and 2DcSMIVI values were obtained via superb microvascular imaging. Testes with varicocele were graded according to Sarteschi classification. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in mean testicular volume were observed among the three groups. The volume and 2DcSMIVI values of the varicocele side testes were significantly lower than those of groups B and C. Significant differences were also observed between Sarteschi grade and 2DcSMIVI values in group A. CONCLUSION: We can determine impaired microcirculation of varicocele side testes quantitatively with the 2DcSMIVI technique, and obtained VI values can be used effectively in diagnosis and follow-up of the damage in testes. Our results show that 2DcSMIVI values can play a significant role in the evaluation of testicular blood flow as a predictive sign of testicular damage.

Quantitative assessment of bladder wall vascularity index in children with acute cystitis using superb microvascular imaging.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the vascularization index (VI) obtained using color superb microvascular imaging (cSMI) technique in assessment of the anterior urinary bladder wall in pediatric patients with acute cystitis (AC). METHODS: The anterior bladder wall of 157 patients (age range 13-84 months, mean 43.62 ± 17.79 months) whose clinical and laboratory findings were proven of AC and 150 healthy asymptomatic participants (age range 13-84 months, mean 43.88 ± 18.11 months) with normal laboratory values were examined using cSMI. VI measurements were performed by manually drawing the contours of the anterior bladder wall using the free region of interest with 2-dimensional cSMI VI (2DcSMIVI) mode. The quantitative 2DcSMIVI values of the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group were compared. The correlation between the 2DcSMIVI values and the anterior bladder wall thickness (BWT) were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean 2DcSMIVI values of the BWT were significantly higher in symptomatic group when compared to the asymptomatic group (p<0.001). AC can be diagnosed with a 93% sensitivity, 92% specificity when 3.25% 2DcSMIVI designated as the cutoff value. There was a significant positive correlation between 2DcSMIVI values and BWT (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Two-dimensional cSMI VI can be used effectively in children as an imaging method in the diagnosis of AC.

Can shear wave elastography determine remnant thyroid tissue in the early postoperative period in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma?

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the usability of ultrasonography (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in detecting remnant thyroid tissue (RTT) within the first three postoperative months in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and who were scheduled for radioiodine (RAI) ablation therapy. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients who underwent a TT operation due to DTC were included in the study. The participant's thyroid surgical bed was first evaluated by thyroid scintigraphy and then by greyscale US and SWE to investigate RTT. The participants were divided into two groups, those with and those without RTT. SWE quantitative data were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the best cut-off values for stiffness and velocity in distinguishing RTT. RESULTS: A total of 149 regions were analysed in 69 participants (43 females, 26 males). The average time elapsed after the operation was 65.2 ± 24.1 days. RTT was determined by scintigraphy and US-SWE in 38 (55%) patients. The stiffness and velocity values were significantly higher in the group with RTT than in the group without RTT. To distinguish RTT from the thyroid bed, the best cut-off values for stiffness and velocity were 15.7 kPa and 2.12 m/s, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: US with SWE can detect RTT in the early postoperative period in patients who have undergone TT due to DTC and who are scheduled for RAI treatment. The use of US and SWE will be particularly beneficial in patients with RTT but who have false-negative Tg levels and RTT that is not I-131 avid.

Diagnostic Performance of Lower Extremity Venous Wall Thickness and Laboratory Findings in the Diagnosis of the Behçet Disease.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Behçet disease (BD) is not a single unique entity but a syndrome with different clinical phenotypes that can involve arterial and venous vessels of all sizes. To date, there has been no specific test or serum marker to measure and determine the severity of BD, and diagnosis remains based on clinical findings. This study aimed to assess lower extremity venous wall thickness (VWT) measured by ultrasound and laboratory findings and diagnostic performance in patients with BD. METHODS: A total of 106 participants were recruited from the rheumatology department in this single-center, case-control study. Participants meeting the eligibility criteria were divided into healthy controls (n = 52) and BD (n = 54). The VWT values of the common femoral vein, great saphenous vein, and popliteal vein were measured using ultrasonography. Laboratory data were obtained from the electronic registration database. Venous wall thicknesses and laboratory findings in patients with BD and healthy subjects were compared. RESULTS: Venous wall thickness of the lower extremity veins was higher in the BD group and higher in those with a history of deep vein thrombosis than in those without. The mean leukocyte, monocyte, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, plateletcrit (PCT), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV) values, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were higher in BD patients than in the control group. There was a correlation among increased VWT, ESR, PCT, MPV, RDW, and MLR. CONCLUSIONS: C-reactive protein, ESR, MPV, PCT, MLR, RDW, and VWT can be used to assist in the diagnosis of BD.

Ordinal Scoring of Coronary Artery Calcification by Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

OBJECTIVE: To assess coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and determine whether this correlates with right ventricular dilation (RVD) and mortality. METHODS: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography scans of 330 patients were used to perform retrospective assessment of the pulmonary artery computed tomography obstruction index (PACTOI), the right/left ventricle diameter ratio, the diameter of the pulmonary trunk, and the ordinal CAC score. RESULTS: Age (P < 0.001), urea level (P < 0.001), D-dimer level (P = 0.006), diameter of the pulmonary trunk (P < 0.001), and PACTOI (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the RVD-positive patient group. We found a significant relation between increased CAC score and increased mortality (P = 0.038). Left-sided CAC was detected much more often in RVD-positive patients (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery calcification is common in patients with acute pulmonary embolism, especially when those patients are also RVD-positive. A significant relation was found between RVD and left-sided CAC.

Diagnostic performance of Radiological Society of North America structured reporting language for chest computed tomography findings in patients with COVID-19.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the RSNA structured reporting language for chest CT findings in patients with COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with suspected COVID-19 who underwent chest CT and RT-PCR tests were enrolled consecutively in this retrospective study, regardless of symptoms. Imaging findings were categorized as "typical", "indeterminate", "atypical", or "negative" according to RSNA reporting language and compared to RT-PCR. "Single, round GGO" and "single, peripheral GGO," do not fit the reporting language, were also analyzed as "indeterminate" patterns. RESULTS: Of the 1186 patients included in the analysis, the diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed in 388 patients. Of the 388 patients, CT findings were categorized as "typical" in 248, "indeterminate" in 77, and "negative" in 63. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of "typical" findings were 63.9, 99.0, and 87.5% for COVID-19, respectively. In addition to the "typical" findings, the highest diagnostic accuracy of 92.2% was achieved when the "single, peripheral GGO" and "single, round GGO" were considered to be CT-positive. CONCLUSION: The RSNA reporting language has significant diagnostic performance for identifying COVID-19 pneumonia. CT findings that do not exactly fit the RSNA reporting language, such as "single, round GGO" and "single, peripheral GGO" improve diagnostic performance.

Evaluation of parenchymal vascularity of the thyroid gland with vascularization index by color superb microvascular imaging in patients with Graves' disease.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the parenchymal vascularity of the thyroid gland with color superb microvascular imaging in patients with Graves' disease, and compare the vascularization index values with healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The thyroid glands of 37 patients whose laboratory and clinical findings were consistent with Graves' disease, and 40 asymptomatic subjects with normal laboratory values, were examined using color superb microvascular imaging. Measurements of the vascularization index were performed with a free region of interest which was drawn along the outer margin of the gland on the color superb microvascular imaging mode. The vascularization index values obtained in the Graves' disease and control groups were compared. A correlation analysis was performed between the vascularization index values and laboratory and grayscale US parameters. RESULTS: The median vascularization index value of the thyroid parenchyma in patients with Graves' disease was significantly higher than in the asymptomatic group [median (min-max); 12 (2.3-32.1) vs 5.04 (1.1-10.8), p <0.001]. When the cutoff value of the vascularization index is determined as 6.3, Graves' disease can be diagnosed with 83.8% sensitivity and 70% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The vascularization index obtained with color superb microvascular imaging can be a quantitative indicator of parenchymal vascularity in the diagnosis of Graves' disease, and serve as a supportive tool.

Using 2-dimensional color superb microvascular imaging vascularization index technique in the assessment of thyroid surgical bed.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the vascularization index (VI) obtained using color superb microvascular imaging (cSMI) technique in the assessment of thyroid surgical bed for remnant thyroid tissue (RTT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the thyroid surgical bed of 65 patients who had underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) due to papillary carcinoma (PC) using thyroid scintigraphy and cSMI. Color SMI was also performed for the examination of the thyroid parenchyma of 39 healthy asymptomatic participants. VI measurements were performed by manually drawing the contours of the RTT in those with remnant thyroid, the thyroid surgical bed in the patients' group without remnant thyroid, and normal thyroid parenchyma in the control group, using the free region of interest (ROI) with 2-dimensional color SMI VI (2DcSMIVI) mode. The volume of ROI was measured and echogenicity was evaluated. The quantitative 2DcSMIVI values of the surgical bed with RTT (Group A), the surgical bed without RTT (Group B) and normal thyroid of healthy asymptomatic participants (Group C) were compared. RESULTS: The mean 2DcSMIVI values of Group A was significantly higher than Group B and C (p=0.001). The presence of RTT can be diagnosed with 89.1% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity when 1.75 2DcSMIVI is designated as the cut-off value. CONCLUSION: The 2DcSMIVI is an effective imaging technique that can be used for the diagnosis of RTT.

Assessment of testes with two-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography in patients with operated inguinal hernia.

AIM: We compared the two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) values between the testes with same side operated inguinal hernia (IH) and the contralateral testes, as well as the testes of healthy volunteers without IH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 189 participants (117 unilateral [117 testes] and 8 bilateral operated IH patients [16 testes] and 64 healthy volunteers [128 testes]), providing a total of 378 testicles, were investigated prospectively. All patients underwent B-mode ultrasonography (US) and 2D-SWE examinations. Operation type, the period between diagnosis and operation, the period since the operation, testes volumes, and 2D-SWE values were compared. RESULTS: The B-mode US finding of the testes were normal in all participants. The mean testes' volume of same side operated IH was significantly lower comparing to contralat-eral testes and the healthy group (p<0.001). The 2D-SWE values of the testes with same side operated IH were significantly higher comparing to the contralateral testes and the healthy group (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between 2D-SWE values and IH severity, as well as the duration of the hernia (p=0.001). There was no significant correlation between the IH severity and testes volume (p=0.285). No significant difference was found between the direct and indirect IH in terms of testicular volume and SWE values and between the duration of the hernia, the time after sugery, testicular volume and SWE values according to operation techniques(p>0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The 2D-SWE can be used as an effective imag-ing method to evaluate testicular stiffness with objective numerical values, to estimate the severity of histologic damage in patients with operated IH.

Evaluation of perforating venous insufficiency with shear wave elastography: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis of perforating vein insufficiency, and to determine the applicability of these measurements. METHODS: A total of 140 symptomatic patients with a total of 280 lower extremities were investigated. All patients presented with venous insufficiency (VI) symptoms, and received Doppler ultrasound assessment to determine VI and SWE measurements. The SWE values were measured in the adjacent perivenous tissue of the largest Cockett's perforating vein (PV) of both lower extremities, at the level where they pass the fascia. The Cockett's PV diameter and the presence of reflux in Cockett's PV and the great saphenous vein were compared with SWE values in perivenous tissue of PVs. RESULTS: The SWE values of the perforating vein insufficiency group were significantly higher than those of the normal PV without insufficiency group (P < 0.001). A significant and positive relation was seen between increased PV diameter and SWE values (P < 0.001) and there was a significant relationship between the presence of perforating vein insufficiency and increase in PV diameter. A statistically significant increase was detected in SWE values for the PV for those with reflux in the great saphenous vein (P < 0.001). The best cut-off values that can be used to detect perforating vein insufficiency were found 34.600 for kPa and 3.375 for m/s. CONCLUSION: SWE may be used effectively in addition to conventional Doppler ultrasound examination in diagnosing and following perforating vein insufficiency.