Disasters that develop in the liver due to hydatid cyst: a case report.

Hilar cavernous transformation is the formation of venous structures rich in collateral around the portal vein. Portal vein thrombosis is a rare entity. Although there are many reasons for its etiology, few cases have been reported secondary to hydatid cysts in the liver. Here, we present a 24-year-old patient with complaints of abdominal pain and swelling. Her CT and MRI scans show cholelithiasis with portal vein thrombosis and hilar cavernous transformation due to giant hydatid cyst compression in the lateral liver sector.

La transformación cavernosa hiliar es la formación de estructuras venosas ricas en colaterales alrededor de la vena porta. La trombosis de la vena porta es una afección poco frecuente. Aunque existen muchas razones en su etiología, se han descrito pocos casos secundarios a quiste hidatídico en el hígado. Aquí se presenta el caso de una paciente de 24 años con quejas de dolor abdominal e hinchazón. La tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética mostraron colelitiasis con trombosis de la vena porta y transformación cavernosa hiliar por compresión del quiste hidatídico gigante en el sector lateral del hígado.

Role of contrast-enhanced serial/spot abdominal X-rays in perioperative follow-up of patients undergoing abdominal surgery: An observational clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Many imaging methods such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopy are used to identify the problems or complications that occur in the perioperative period and to determine the appropriate therapeutic approach. Specialists at surgical clinics and intensive care units sometimes need diagnostic procedures that can give quick results or reveal unexpected results. In particular, rapid on-site evaluation of patients followed under intensive care conditions has several advantages. AIM: To determine the problems developing in patients in the perioperative period by contrast-enhanced abdominal X-ray (CE-AXR), revealing their current status or defining the effectiveness of CE-AXR. METHODS: The files of the patients who underwent hepatopancreatobiliary or upper gastrointestinal surgery, whose CE-AXR film was taken, were reviewed retrospectively. Abdominal X-ray radiographs taken after ingestion of a water-soluble contrast agent (iohexol, 300 mg, 50 cc vial) and its application in a drain, nasogastric tube, or stent were evaluated. The contribution of the data obtained in patients who underwent CE-AXR to the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment processes and the effectiveness of the application were investigated. RESULTS: CE-AXR was applied to 131 patients in our clinic, most of whom underwent hepatopancreatobiliary or upper gastrointestinal surgery. It was determined that the data obtained from CE-AXR films taken in 98 (74.8%) of the patients contributed to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up expectations and positively affected the clinical processes. CONCLUSION: CE-AXR is a simple procedure that can be applied anywhere, especially in intensive care patients and at bedside, with a portable X-ray device. The simplicity of the procedure, less radiation exposure for the patients, less time wastage, reduction in the CT and endoscopy procedure burden and costs, quick results, rapid assessment of the situation, and enabling the monitoring of processes with repetitive procedures are important advantages. X-rays taken will be useful in terms of being a reference value during the follow-up period of the patient and determining the situation in medicolegal processes.

Factors affecting complications and clinical outcome in patients with Mirizzi syndrome. Single center experience.

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is a syndrome that causes chronic destructive and fibrotic changes because of compression and inflammation in the main biliary tract. MS remains to be a serious problem due to its high morbidity. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the diagnostic tools, risk factors and clinical output data we apply to our patients with MS in the light of the literature. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients treated for MS in the last decade in our hospital, where an average of 1350 cholecystectomies are performed annually. Clinical, laboratory and imaging data obtained from patients' files were evaluated. We identified 76 patients with MS and classified them as type 1-5 according to the Csendes classification. Abdominal pain, fever and jaundice were the most common symptoms. 42 patients had type 1 and 2 MS. Mirizzi syndrome was diagnosed with preoperative radiological imaging methods in 24 of the patients. In 41 of the patients, the surgery first started laparoscopically, and then turned to laparotomy in 39 patients. Other 35 patients were operated with conventional methods. In 11 cases, subtotal cholecystectomy was performed Early diagnosis and surgical treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis decrease the frequency of MS. Inflammation criteria can be used as an indicative biomarker. The patient's history, USG, ERCP and MRCP findings are currently the most important diagnostic tools. Releasing the gallbladder with the "fundus first" approach can reduce the risk of trauma. In cases where MS is suspected, a stent placed with ERCP decrease bile duct trauma. KEY WORDS: Complication, Diagnosis, Mirizzi's syndrome, Prediction, Treatment.

Management of hepatic artery trauma during hepato-pancreato-biliary procedures: Evolving approaches, clinical outcomes, and literature review.

BACKGROUND: One of the most feared complications of surgeons dealing with hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery is hepatic artery (HA) injury. Here, we aimed to evaluate our clinical experience (laceration, transection, ligation, and resection) related to HA traumas, which have serious morbidity and mortality risks, in the light of literature data and the rapidly evolving management methods in recent years. METHODS: The files of 615 patients who were operated on for HPB pathologies in the last decade, in our hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data obtained from patients' files were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 13 HA traumas were detected, eight of them had HA injury and five had planned HA resection. During the post-operative follow-up period, liver abscess, anastomotic leakage, and late biliary stricture were detected. CONCLUSION: Complications and deaths due to HA injury or ligation are less common today. The risk of complications increases in patients with hemodynamically unstable, jaundice, cholangitis, and sepsis. Revealing the variations in the pre-operative radiological evaluation and determining the appropriate approach plan will reduce the risks. In cases where HA injury is detected, arterial flow continuity should be tried to be maintained with primary anastomosis, arterial transpositions, or grafts.

Clinical outcome of gallstone ileus; a single-centre experience of case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone ileus (GI) is a rare entity which is seen in 0.5% of patients with cholelithiasis. In this study, we aimed to share our clinical approach to GI, to present our long-term results and to draw clinicians' attention to this rare entity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 11 patients with GI whose medical records were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Majority of the 11 patients were female (63.7%, n:7) and the mean age was 71.9 ± 14.10 (range: 50-91). Most common presenting complaints were vomiting (n: 9) and abdominal pain (n: 9). The mean interval from the onset of symptoms to the hospital admission was 3.8 ± 0.75 (range 3-5) days. Rigler triad in abdominal computed tomography (CT) was detected in all cases. Enterolithotomy, one-step procedure and conservative treatment were performed in five (45.4%), four (36.3%) and two (18.1%) patients, respectively. Enterolithotomy group was found to have higher risk according to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, shorter operation time and less intraoperative blood loss. CONCLUSION: Although enterolithotomy is the first choice for patients with GI, one-step procedure should be kept in mind as a more advantageous technique in low-risk patients.

Transperineal Ultrasonographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Vaginal Adenosis.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal adenosis is a rare clinicopathological entity which refers to the presence of glandular endometrial tissue in the vaginal wall. CASE REPORT: A gravida 2 para 0 46-year-old woman presented to the gynecology department with symptoms of chronic pelvic pain. Maternal Diethylstilbestrol (DES) usage has been proven to be effective in the development of vaginal adenosis. It can also be idiopathic. Its sonographic or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings have not been described in English literature previously. CONCLUSION: Here, we report the clinical, transperineal ultrasonographic (US) and MRI findings of a pathologically proven case of vaginal adenosis.

Chemotherapy-induced Pulmonary Toxicity Mimicking COVID-19 Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 generally affects the lungs by causing pneumonic infiltration. Typical Computed Tomography (CT) findings are bilateral, multifocal, peripheral, and patchy ground-glass opacities. These CT findings can also be seen in drug toxicities. Rapid and accurate differential diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia from Chemotherapy-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity (CPT) is essential because the treatment strategies are different. In this case report, we define the clinical and lung CT findings of two cases of CPT mimicking COVID-19 pneumonia. CASE REPORTS: The first patient was a 39-year-old male who was under a 5-fluorouracil + folinicacid + oxaliplatin + panitumumab (FOLFOX) treatment of regimen because of metastatic rectal cancer. The second patient was a 53-year-old male with testicular seminoma who was treated with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) protocol. Both patients presented to the emergency department with increased dyspnea after chemotherapy. Thorax CT showed similar findings to COVID-19 pneumonia. On follow-up CTs, these findings disappeared with steroid treatment as well as withdrawal of the chemotherapeutic agents and this enabled us to make a differential diagnosis. Also, two consecutive COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction tests were negative in both patients. CONCLUSION: When lung CT findings of the oncologic patients are similar to COVID-19 pneumonia, chemotherapy-induced pulmonary toxicity should also be considered in the differential diagnosis.

The Role of Portoenterostomy with Aggressive Hilar Dissection in Biliary Tract Tumors: Report of Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Hepaticojejunostomy is a challenging and complex procedure to be done with confidence in conditions that contain a large number of segmental bile ducts. Portoenterostomy can be defined as the joining of multiple bile ducts into a single cavity using segmenter bile duct ends, stents, and surrounding connective tissues. During surgery, in cases with advanced stage biliary tract tumors that cannot be performed hepatectomy, after aggressive dissections to provide a negative surgical margin, a large number of segmental bile ducts can be revealed and needs to ensure the continuity of bile flow. Here, our clinical series of portoenterostomy (PE) in which we applied in patients who had aggressive hilar dissection and resection for hilar cholangiocarcinomas and biliary tract tumors were discussed. The study included 15 patients who underwent PE for biliary tract tumors and hilar cholangiocarcinomas between 2015 and 2019. Six of the patients had a tumor-negative surgical margin, with a mean follow-up of 14.4 months (range 2 to 28 months). Nine of the patients had a tumor-positive surgical margin, with a mean follow-up of 7.7 months (range 2 to 17 months). Portoenterostomy instead of hepaticojejunostomy in small and multiple biliary radicles and bile duct cancers has been successfully performed in 15 patients of bile duct cancer and Klatskin tumor. In the presence of active inflammation, fibrosis, major bile duct trauma, and thin bile duct radicles, this method, which is described in detail, provides an excellent salvage surgical procedure with less morbidity.

Relation of computed tomography features of the pancreatic tissue and development of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic density and steatosis detected in pre-operative computed tomography (CT) may be a risk factor for PF development after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). There is insufficient data available on the relationship between PF and atherosclerosis in pancreatic vasculature of pancreatitis. This study aims to investigate whether PF development in patients undergoing PD can be predicted by preoperative CT findings. MATERIAL-METHOD: Pancreas and spleen densities were measured on non-contrast CT images and pancreatic index (PI) was calculated to detect pancreatic steatosis. Pancreatic density and Wirsung diameter (WD) were measured on portal venous phase. Pancreatic fistulae were identified as biochemical leak (BL), grade B and grade C using ISGPF classification. The findings were compared between the fistula and non-fistula groups and ISGPF subgroups. RESULTS: Of 148 patients, PF was detected on 31 (20.9%). In PF group, mean pancreatic density and PI were significantly lower than non-PF group, while pancreatic steatosis was detected at a higher rate. The WD was significantly narrower in the PF group. No significant relationship was found between the development of PF and the findings of atherosclerosis in the CT and SMA or acute pancreatitis. There was no significant difference between the PF subgroups for pancreas density. CONCLUSION: In preoperative CT examinations, measuring the pancreatic density, PI index and WD can be used as a noninvasive quantitative method to predict the possibility of postoperative PF development.

Splenic infarction is not rare in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Splenic involvement is rarely reported in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAVs), particularly in those with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and is in fact considered to be underestimated. We aimed to investigate the frequency of splenic lesions-mainly infarction-and related factors in patients with AAVs. Patients with AAV whose abdominal or thoracic computed tomographies (CTs) were performed at or after diagnosis were included in the study. CT images were examined for splenic lesions. Overall, 69 patients (median age at diagnosis 54 [IQR 24] years; 55% with GPA, 29% with microscopic polyangiitis, and 16% with renal-limited disease) were included in the analysis. Splenic pathologies were detected in 19 (28%) patients; 12/19 (63%) splenomegaly and 7/19 (37%) splenic infarction. All patients with splenic infarction exhibited GPA with PR3-ANCA-positive serology. Three of these seven patients had autosplenectomy. Patients with splenic infarction were younger at diagnosis (p = 0.018) with also significantly higher ear-nose-throat (ENT) (%100 vs 37; p = 0.002) and eye involvement (%50 vs %12; p = 0.044) than patients without splenic infarction. Splenic pathologies are not rare in AAVs. Furthermore, infarction can help separate GPA from MPA. In young patients with GPA, particularly those with ENT and eye involvements, physicians should consider splenic infarction.Key Points• Splenic infarction is more common than previously thought in ANCA-associated vasculitides, particularly in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.• Detecting splenic infarction can help differentiate granulomatosis with polyangiitis from other subgroups.

Torsion of Wandering Spleen: Importance of Splenic Density and Liver-to- Spleen Attenuation Ratio on CT.

BACKGROUND: Wandering spleen (WS) is a rare clinical condition which may cause fatal complication like torsion with subsequent infarction. Determination of splenic parenchyma viability is very important in deciding whether splenopexy rather than splenectomy is an option. Contrast- enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is important for the diagnosis of WS and assessment of the viability of spleen. DISCUSSION: We reviewed the CT studies of four cases with WS. We measured the mean splenic and liver density and calculated liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio (LSAR). We also assessed the CT findings for each patient. Mean splenic density was measured as 40.77 Hounsfield Unit (HU) in cases with infarction, 127.1 HU in case without infarction. LSAR was calculated as 2.55 in cases with infarction, 0.99 in case without infarction. We detected whirlpool sign, intraperitoneal free fluid, splenic arterial enhancement in all patient, parenchymal and splenic vein enhancement in one patient without infarction, fat rim sign in three patients with infarction, capsular rim sign in one patient with infarction. CONCLUSION: CECT should be obtained for the diagnosis of WS and assessment of the viability of spleen. CECT could suggest the diagnosis of infarction of the spleen with following findings; absence of parenchymal enhancement, very low density of spleen (<45 HU), and LSAR which is greater than 2.

Hepatolithiasis: clinical series, review and current management strategy.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatolithiasis (HL) continues to be a problem due to its local and systemic complications, insufficiency in treatment modalities and high risk of recurrence. There are various surgical options available, ranging from endoscopic interventions to a small segment resection and ultimately to transplantation. In this article, patients with the diagnosis of HL and our treatment strategies were evaluated in the light of literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients diagnosed with HL in our clinic between 2014-2019 were evaluated retrospectively by examining the patient files. Demographic characteristics of the patients, causes of the disease, complications and treatment options were evaluated. RESULTS: 17 patients were included into the study. Mean age of the patients was 64.3 years (range 32-89 years). Seven patients had previous cholecystectomies. Stenosis was found to be developed in hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) site in three patients (two had HJ due to bile duct injury and one had HJ following the Whipple procedure), and in hepaticoduodenostomy site in one patient who had the history of biliary tract injury during cholecystectomy. Two patients with HL without previous cholecystectomies had no gallbladder stones. Nine patients underwent surgery. Left hepatectomy was performed in two patients and lateral sector resection was performed in 2 patients. Two patients with anastomotic stenosis underwent HJ revision and two patients with anastomotic stenosis and one patient with stent ingrowth underwent bifurcation resection and neo-hepaticojejunostomy. Eight patients were followed-up nonoperatively with medical and endoscopic approaches. CONCLUSION: Hepatolithiasis is a serious condition that needs to be treated with a multimodal approach. Stenting and anastomotic stenosis facilitate the development of hepatolithiasis and increase the risk of its occurrence. In particular, by performing functional hepaticojejunostomy, the development of this complication will be decreased.

A Rare Complication of Anticoagulant Therapy: Intramural Hematoma of the Small Bowel.

BACKGROUND: Non-traumatic intramural hematomas of the small bowel (IHSB) are rare conditions which occur due to anticoagulant therapy. In this study, we aimed to explain our clinical approach to non-traumatic IHSB due to anticoagulant overdose and to present the long-term outcomes of the cases who were hospitalized. METHODS: Sixteen patients with non-traumatic IHSB were included and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Our patients included ten women and six men, with a mean age of 77.5 ± 8.4 (range: 65-95) years. All patients had been using oral anticoagulants (OACs) due to various cardiovascular and cerebral comorbidities. Common complaints at the time of admission included abdominal pain, vomiting and weakness. Ten patients (62%) had anemia, fifteen (94%) had leukocytosis and all patients (100%) had high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) established the final diagnosis of IHSB in all patients. Fourteen patients (87%) were followed up with conservative therapy. Since the clinical course did not improve in two patients (12%), surgery was mandated. The mean duration of hospitalization was 10.25 ± 3.6 days (range: 3-17 days). Mortality occurred in two patients (12%). CONCLUSION: IHSB should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal complaints and increased levels on coagulation tests. The diagnosis should be confirmed by abdominal CT scan, if possible. Accurate and timely diagnosis allows patients to be successfully treated without need for surgery.

Assessment of the compliance with minimum acceptable technical parameters proposed by PI-RADS v2 guidelines in multiparametric prostate MRI acquisition in tertiary referral hospitals in the Republic of Turkey.

PURPOSE: Although the clinical use of multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is increasing, the adherence to parameters for mpMRI, which had been described in the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2) for an optimum image acquisition is unknown. In this paper, we aimed to determine the compliance with the minimum acceptable technical parameters for prostate mpMRI defined by PI-RADS v2 in tertiary care centers in Turkey. METHODS: We sent a survey to all radiology departments of tertiary referral hospitals in Turkey (n=120) to evaluate their adherence to PI-RADS v2 technical specifications. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square, Fisher exact, ANOVA, and the Student t tests. The cutoff values for image acquisition times were also determined with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven clinics responded to our survey (response rate, 92.5%). Prostate MRI was reported to be performed in 61 centers, of which 26 (42.6%) used 3 T (Tesla) scanner while 35 (57.4%) used 1.5 T. The adherence to slice thickness, in-plane phase and frequency resolutions on T2-weighted imaging were 68.9%, 41%, and 9.8%, respectively. The adherence to the same parameters on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were higher compared with T2-weighted imaging (85.2%, 62.3%, and 78.7%, respectively). In comparative analysis, the adherence to slice thickness, field of view (FOV) and in-plane phase resolution on T2-weighted imaging were higher for 3 T compared with 1.5 T scanners (P = 0.004, P = 0.041, and P = 0.001, respectively). T2-weighted imaging acquisition time was significantly longer for the centers that adhered to FOV (P = 0.034) and in-plane T2-weighted imaging phase resolution (P = 0.028). The DWI scan time was significantly longer when they adhered to DWI-FOV (P = 0.014) and b value ≥1400 s/mm2 (P = 0.008). The calculated cutoff of scan times were 220 s in T2-weighted imaging and 312 s in DWI to ensure the compliance with voxel sizes and b value criteria. CONCLUSION: The tertiary referral centers in Turkey did not meet majority of the technical specifications of PI-RADS v2 during prostate MRI acquisition. Awareness to the minimum acceptable technical parameters of mpMRI should be increased to potentially improve the quality of prostate cancer imaging.

Cytomegalovirus Disease in a Patient With Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Who Also Has Splenic Necrosis.

Cytomegalovirus infection, which can occur as a result of reactivation due to immunosuppressive treatment in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, is a serious condition that should be kept in mind because of its fatal course. In this article, we report a 49-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis who developed a life-threatening colonic ulcer due to cytomegalovirus colitis and a shrunken spleen with irregular contours that was detected on abdominal computed tomography. This is a rare case of cytomegalovirus disease in a patient with granulomatosis with polyangiitis and splenic necrosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallbladder Polyps: Current Perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder polyps (GBPs) are generally harmless, but the planning of diagnosis and treatment of the GBP is of clinical importance due to the high mortality risk of delays in the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinomas that show polypoid development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GBPs are usually incidentally detected during ultrasonographic (USG) examinations of the abdomen. The risk of carcinoma development from polypoid lesions in the literature is reported as 0-27%. There is no consensus about the management of the GBPs. Herein, we reviewed the contemporary data to update our knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder polyps. RESULTS: Polyps can be identified in five different groups, primarily as neoplastic and non-neoplastic. Cholesterol polyps account for 60% of all cases. The most common (25%) benign polypoid lesions after cholesterol polyps are adenomyomas. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasonography seems to be the most important tool in differential diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasonography should be repeated in every 3-12 months in cases that are thought to be risky. Nowadays, the most common treatment approach is to perform cholecystectomy in patients with polyps larger than 10 mm in diameter. Radical cholecystectomy and/or segmental liver resections should be planned in cases of malignancy. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Dilek ON, Karsu S, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallbladder Polyps: Current Perspectives. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2019;9(1):40-48.

Heterotopic chondroid tissue of the main bile duct mimicking Klatskin tumor: case report and review of the literature.

Heterotopic tissue in the bile duct is a very rare condition. There are a few case reports of heterotopic tissue including gastric and pancreatic cells. However, we could not find any data regarding heterotopic chondroid tissue obstructing the common bile duct in the literature. A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of progressive jaundice and pruritus. Laboratory test results were within the normal limits except bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase which were 10.8 mg/dL and 256 IU/L, respectively. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) and computed tomography (CT) revealed a biliary stricture confined to the upper part of the common bile duct. The patient was operated as soon as the bilirubin level dropped below 5 mg/dL by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Despite the lack of a precise confirmation, the patient was prepared for operation considering the possibility of a malignant biliary tumor since the radiographic mass findings together with hyperbilirubinemia were highly suggestive of malignancy. The patient underwent total extrahepatic bile duct resection and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and was discharged without any postoperative complications. Histologic examination of the bile duct and the nodule revealed the presence of a well-demarcated chondroid tissue within the subepithelial connective tissue. Herein, we presented the first case, to our knowledge, of heterotopic chondroid tissue of the common bile duct in the literature. It is a benign condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of stricture and mass-forming lesions of the bile duct.

Case Report of the Descending Colon Located Completely in the Right Extraperitoneal Cavity and Sigmoid Colon Located in the Right Quadrant in a Patient with a Splenic Flexure Tumor: a Rare Anomaly.

Cases in which congenital anomalies of the colon and colon tumors are observed together are very rare. The aim of this article is to present a splenic flexure tumor case, which possessed the anomaly of the descending colon in the right extraperitoneal space and the sigmoid colon located in the right quadrant. Similar findings have previously been reported in two cases in cadaveric studies.

Diagnostic value of strain elastography for differentiation between renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma of kidney.

PURPOSE: The objective of our study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of strain elastography for differentiation between renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of kidney. METHODS: A total of 99 consecutive patients who were referred to our hospital because of a newly diagnosed solid renal mass suspicious for malignancy on radiological screenings were evaluated with sonography, including strain elastography. Strain elastography was used to compare the stiffness of the renal masses and renal cortex. The ratio of strain in a renal mass and nearby renal cortex was defined as the strain index value. Mean strain index values for RCCs and TCCs were compared, and mean strain index values between histological subtypes of RCC were also compared. RESULTS: Although TCCs were smaller than RCCs (p < 0.001), there were no significant differences in gender distribution and mean age of the patients, and mean probe-tumor distance between RCC and TCC. The mean strain index value ±SD for TCC (5.18 ± 1.12) was significantly higher than the value for RCC (4.04 ± 0.72; p < 0.001). Mean strain index value for papillary cell carcinomas (4.09 ± 0.45) was slightly higher than that for clear cell carcinomas (3.85 ± 0.78): however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: Strain elastography can be used as a valuable imaging technique for preoperative differentiation between RCC and TCC of kidney.