Endovascular Treatment of a Giant Aneurysm of the Aberrant Right Hepatic Artery in a Patient with Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome: A Case Report.

Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome (OWR) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by recurrent epistaxis, mucocutaneous or visceral telangiectasias, and arteriovenous malformations in the lungs, liver, brain, and gastrointestinal tract. Hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) can also occur in OWR patients. HAAs are the second most common type of visceral artery aneurysm, and mortality rates are high owing to the lack of a tamponade effect. Anatomical variations of the celiacomesenteric vasculature are common, and the most common variation is that of the right hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). We present the endovascular treatment of a patient with OWR and an aberrant right HAA originating from the SMA, with coil embolization and stent grafting. Giant HAAs can be treated endovascularly. However, stent graft placement should be reconsidered because of the need for antithrombotic medication, which may increase the incidence of epistaxis attacks in that patient group.

Assessment of the skin with 2D-shear wave elastography in the systemic scleroderma and its correlation with pulmonary involvement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the skin involvement in systemic scleroderma patients (SSc) with 2D-Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) and to review the corelation between skin elasticity and pulmonary involvement. METHODS: Thirty SSc patients and 30 controls were examined using 2D-SWE. The demographics matched both groups. B-mode ultrasound (US) and 2D-SWE assessed skin thickness and elastography from the ventral side of the right forearm in each subjective. ROC analysis determined optimal group separation cut-off values. A rheumatologist applied mRSS for SSc patients. US, mRSS, and pulmonary involvement correlations were reviewed. RESULTS: US parameter values (skin thickness, median kPa, median m/s) were higher in the SSc patient group (1.78 ± 0.36 mm, 22.15 ± 16.26, 2.60 ± 0.82, respectively) compared to the control group (1.55 ± 0.2 mm, 7.45 ± 1.84, 1.56 ± 0.2, respectively, p < 0.05). When the optimal cut-off SWE values for separating groups was determined as 10.5 kPa and 1.87 m/s, the sensitivity was 93% and the specificity was 97%. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between mRSS and median SWE values (kPa, r = 0.626, p = 0.001; m/s, r = 0.638, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between pulmonary involvement of SSc patients with mRSS and US parameters. CONCLUSION: 2D-SWE is a promising non-invasive method to evaluate skin involvement in SSc patient group. For pulmonary involvement we need more data with bigger patient groups.

Effectiveness of ultrasonography and shear wave sonoelastography in Sjögren syndrome with salivary gland involvement.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effectiveness of major salivary gland ultrasonography (MSGUS) using a new grading system and shear wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating the major salivary glands of patients with Sjögren syndrome (SjS). METHODS: This prospectively-designed cross-sectional study included 49 SjS patients and 49 healthy controls. Major salivary glands were examined with gray-scale ultrasonography and SWE. A new grading system for salivary glands was developed using MSGUS findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of MSGUS and shear wave velocity (SWV) values were investigated. The MSGUS grading system and SWV values were evaluated together by logistic regression analysis. A cutoff value of SWE for salivary glands was determined. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of MSGUS were 69.4%, 73.5%, 72.3%, and 70.6% for the submandibular gland and 69.4%, 65.3%, 66.7%, and 68.1% for the parotid gland, respectively. The mean SWV values of the parotid and submandibular glands were significantly higher in SjS patients than in controls (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for the submandibular gland (cutoff, 1.95 m/s) and the parotid gland (cutoff, 2.39 m/s) were 69.4%, 52%, 59.1%, and 63% and 82.7%, 83.7%, 83.5%, and 82.8%, respectively. Adding SWE to the parotid gland grading system increased the sensitivity and specificity (sensitivity, 82.7%; specificity, 83.7%). CONCLUSION: Evaluating the salivary glands using MSGUS with a new grading system and SWE may contribute to the diagnosis of SjS. The combination of MSGUS and SWE may be a promising tool for diagnosing SjS.

Pre-procedural shear wave elastography on prediction of hemorrhage after percutaneous real-time ultrasound-guided renal biopsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between renal elasticity which was determined with shear wave elastography (SWE) and hemorrhage in patients who undergone percutaneous renal parenchyma biopsy (PRB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 60 patients who were performed ultrasound-guided PRB after the B-mode ultrasonography and SWE assessment were recruited in this study. All patients' serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and coagulation tests before PRB were obtained from medical records. The patients were divided into two groups who did and did not develop hemorrhage after PRB. We investigated whether there was any statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of laboratory findings, B-mode ultrasonographic measurements and SWE measurements. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients, 23 (38.3%) had post-procedure hemorrhage and 37 (61.7%) had not. Mean hemorrhage size was 17.04 mm (7-50 mm). The mean value of renal cortical shear wave velocity of all patients was 1.91 m/s (0.96-3.57 m/sn). Patients with post-procedure hemorrhage had significantly lower mean shear wave velocity compared with patients with no hemorrhage (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimum SWV cutoff point for hemorrhage presence was 1.21 m/sn, with 39.1% sensitivity and 97.3% specificity. There was no other statistically significant demographic, ultrasonographic or laboratory value differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: Although shear wave velocities have low sensitivity for hemorrhage after renal biopsy, high specificity and statistically significant difference in hemorrhage and non-hemorrhage group suggest that patients who have lower renal cortical shear wave velocity have a tendency to hemorrhage after PRB.

Comparison of Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Regard to Age at Onset.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) rarely has a late onset. Late-onset SLE (LSLE) has a milder course and less organ involvement. The purpose of the present study was to compare the clinical and laboratory (lab) findings of SLE regarding age at onset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients with SLE were included in the study. The age at onset was considered adult-onset SLE (ASLE) if it was <50 years and LSLE if it was ≥50 years. Lab parameters and clinical findings were compared accordingly. RESULTS: Overall, 41 (56.9%) patients had ASLE, and 31 (43.05%) patients had LSLE based on the age at onset. The ratio of female-to-male patients was higher in ASLE, and no significant difference was found with regard to gender distribution (12.6:1 and 5.2:1 for ASLE and LSLE, respectively; p=0.239). While malar rash and fever were more common in ASLE, no difference was found regarding the other clinical findings. Only IgG anti-cardiolipin was more common in LSE between the lab parameters. CONCLUSION: Although it is known that LSLE has a milder course and less organ involvement, there are differences in clinical and lab findings and organ involvement in various studies. The results of our study showed no significant difference in organ involvement between ASLE and LSLE.

The role of tomosynthesis in intraoperative specimen evaluation.

To investigate the contribution of breast tomosynthesis to intraoperative specimen evaluation in subjects with breast cancer. Approval was obtained from the hospital ethics committee. Specimen mammography, tomosynthesis, and, if available, ultrasonography images were retrospectively assessed for 208 women who had undergone conservative surgery at our hospital between January 2013 and April 2016 after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The success of mammography, tomosynthesis, and ultrasonography in lesion detection and characterization was evaluated. Of 208 lesions, 142 (68.3%) and 198 (95.2%) were detected by mammography and tomosynthesis, respectively. All lesions were detected in 150 subjects undergoing ultrasonography (124 dense breasts, 26 fatty breasts). In 84 women who had fatty breasts, all lesions were detected both by mammography and by tomosynthesis. In 124 women with dense breasts, lesions were detected by mammography in 59 (48%) and in 114 (92%) by tomosynthesis. The success of tomosynthesis in lesion detection was found to be markedly higher than mammography (P = .00). In conclusion, tomosynthesis contributed to mammography in specimen evaluation in a total of 101 subjects. The success of tomosynthesis in lesion detection and characterization during intraoperative specimen evaluation is higher than mammography. In daily practice, ultrasonography is performed for lesions which cannot be evaluated by specimen mammography due to dense parenchymal pattern. Tomosynthesis may reduce the need for and the time and workforce allocated to specimen ultrasonography in an important group of subjects.

The relationship between the degree of skin fibrosis by sonoelastography and the degree of pulmonary involvement in scleroderma

Background/aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between skin fibrosis as determined by sonoelastography and the degree of pulmonary involvement as determined by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).Materials and methods: This prospective study included 40 patients with dcSSc. All patients with HRCT scans underwent conventional ultrasonography and sonoelastography to determine skin thickness and degree of fibrosis. The degree of fibrosis was classified according to color-scale sonoelastography. The degree of pulmonary involvement was classified according to HRCT grading groups. The relationship between skin fibrosis and pulmonary involvement was investigated.Results: There was a statistically significant difference between HRCT grading groups according to the sonoelastographic color scale (P < 0.001). Sonoelastographic color-scale groups showed a statistically significant difference in duration of disease (P = 0.013). No significant difference was found between the sonoelastographic color-scale groups in age, sex, or skin thickness.Conclusion: Sonoelastography is a useful and reliable tool for assessing skin involvement in dcSSc. We found a good correlation between the degree of skin fibrosis as determined by sonoelastography and the degree of pulmonary involvement.

The Effect of Charcot Neuroarthropathy on Limb Preservation in Diabetic Patients with Foot Wound and Critical Limb Ischemia after Balloon Angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to investigate one-year limb preservation rates after below-the-knee angioplasty in patients with diabetic foot wound who only have critical limb ischemia (CLI) and those who have Charchot neuroarthropathy (CN) accompanied by CLI. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study consists of 63 patients with diabetic foot wound who had undergone lower extremity balloon angioplasty of at least 1 below-the-knee (BTK) vessel. Only those patients with postprocedural technical success of 100% were selected from the database. All patients were classified into two groups as patients with CLI and CN and patients with CLI only without CN. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the limb preservation rates for the two groups. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between patient age, gender, diabetic disease duration, and comorbid disease such as chronic renal insufficiency, hypertension, and coronary artery disease of the two groups (p > 0.05). Limb preservation in the 12 months was 59.1% in the CN group and 92.7% in the group without CN. Also, limb preservation rates between the two groups displayed statistically significant differences (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: This study showed that CLI can accompany CN in patients with diabetes. Limb preservation rates with endovascular treatment in diabetic patients with CLI only are better than in diabetic patients with CLI and CN.

Pulmonary Artery Obstruction Index and Right Ventricular Dysfunction Signs in Initial and Follow up Pulmonary Computed Tomography Angiography in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

INTODUCTION: Acute Pulmonary Embolism (APE) increases the pressure of the pulmonary arterial system with resulting Right Ventricle Dysfunction (RVD). AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Pulmonary Artery Obstruction Index (PAOI) and signs of right heart dysfunction with computed tomography angiography in APE patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 72 consecutive patients (mean age 64.1±16.9 years; 59.7% female) with APE who had initial echocardiography with computed tomography angiography. Among these 72 patients, only 25 (34.7%) patients had follow up computed tomography angiography images and we evaluate right heart dysfunction with PAOI and Right Ventricle (RV) diameter. RESULTS: In 72 patients with APE, PAOI and RVD signs were significantly high. Twenty five of these 72 patients (34.7%) had follow up computed tomography angiography images and among those 25 patients, there was correlation between reduction of PAOI and RV diameter in follow up period. CONCLUSION: PAOI and RVD signs in initial computed tomography angiography and in follow up computed tomography angiography can be used in the management of Pulmonary Embolism (PE) patients.

Evaluation of Pediatric Undescended Testes with Elastosonography.

BACKGROUND: Undescended testes, which are defined as the failure of testes to descend to scrotum, are the most common developmental defect in male infants. Indirect evaluation of histologic damage can be performed with the help of palpation during operation. Hard texture of testes tissue is likely related with histological damage. Real-time elastography is an emerging technology of ultrasonic imaging of soft tissue strain and elasticity, it aims at providing information regarding the mechanical properties of tissues, such as their hardness or stiffness. This study aim was to investigate the changes in strain and elasticity of testes tissue by using elastography technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients, who had undescended testes were included in this study. Only two patients had bilateral undescended testes, other patients had unilateral. The age of the patients were recorded according to the time of ultrasonographic (USG) examination. The undescended testes was displayed in the elastographic box with the neighbouring subcutaneous fat tissues. The strain ratios were measured as the ratios of the elasticities of the subcutaneous fat tissue to the elasticities of the undescended testes. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients with 34 testes were included in the study. The mean age of the patients with undescended testes was 32.6 months (range 7-60 months). The mean strain ratios were 0.67 (range 0.12-1.41) for the undescended testes and there were no significant differences in undescended testes strain ratios related to patient age (p = 0.453). CONCLUSION: This preliminary study showed that there were no significant fibrosis which can be demonstrated with elastosonography before the age of 5 years old. Additional studies with his-topathological results are needed to identify sensitivity and specificity of elastosonography in undescended testis and in planning optimal operation time for these patients.

The primary patency of drug-eluting balloon versus conventional balloon angioplasty in hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula stenoses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to assess and compare the rate of primary patency achieved by drug-eluting balloon angioplasty (DEBA) and conventional balloon angioplasty (CBA) in hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula stenoses. METHODS: This retrospective study consists of 52 patients with significant arteriovenous fistulas stenoses who were treated with DEBA (n = 26) or CBA (n = 26) between January 2013 and January 2015. Only those patients with postprocedural technical and clinical success of 100 % were selected from the database. Primary patency rates of fistulas at 6 and 12 months were evaluated with Doppler ultrasonography as well as clinically. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the primary assisted patency rates for the two groups. RESULTS: The type of AVFs were 41 (78.8 %) radiocephalic and 11 (21.2 %) brachiocephalic. Primary patency rates between the DEBA and CBA group had a statistically significant difference at 12 months (p < 0.05). However there was no statistically significant difference at the 6-month follow-up period (p = 0.449). There was no statistically significant difference among the patient age, patient gender and fistula type of the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Drug-eluting balloon angioplasty proved to be an effective treatment of hemodialysis AVFs stenosis, with a high primary patency rate at 12 months.

The Relationship Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Primary Patency of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis When Using Conventional and Drug-Eluting Balloons.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) between primary patency of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula stenosis and type (Conventional and Drug-Eluting) of balloons used in PTA. MATERIAL-METHOD: This retrospective study consists of 78 patients with significant arteriovenous fistulas stenosis who were treated with PTA by using Drug-Eluting Balloon (DEB) (n = 29) or Conventional Balloon (CB) (n = 49). NLR was calculated from preinterventional blood samples. All patients were classified into two groups. Group A; primary patency <12 months (43/78), Group B; primary patency ≥12 months (35/78). Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier method were used to determine respectively independent factors affecting the primary patency and to compare the primary patency for the two balloon types. RESULTS: NLR ratio and balloon type of the two groups were significantly different (p = 0.002, p = 0.010). The cut-off value of NLR was 3.18 for determination of primary patency, with sensitivity of 81.4 % and specificity of 51.4 %. Primary patency rates between PTA with DEB and CB displayed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). The cut-off value was 3.28 for determination of 12-month primary patency with the conventional balloon group; sensitivity was 81.8 % and specificity was 81.3 %. There was no statistical relation between NLR levels and the drug-eluting balloon group in 12-month primary patency (p = 0.927). CONCLUSION: Increased level of NLR may be a risk factor in the development of early AVF restenosis after successful PTA. Preferring Drug-Eluting Balloon at an increased level of NLR can be beneficial to prolong patency.