Doubling time in pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts.

Background: This study aims to investigate whether the concept of doubling time in hydatid cysts differs according to different parameters such as age, sex, and whether the cyst is located in the lung or liver. Background: This study aims to investigate whether the concept of doubling time in hydatid cysts differs according to different parameters such as age, sex, and whether the cyst is located in the lung or liver. Methods: Between January 2012 and August 2023, a total of 138 hydatid cysts were retrospectively analyzed. There were 55 pulmonary (32 males, 23 females; mean age: 25.6±23.8 years; range, 2 to 77 years) and 83 hepatic hydatid cyst patients (32 males, 51 females; mean age: 31.1±22.8 years; range, 3 to 75 years). Results: The mean doubling times for pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cysts were 73.4±41.8 and 172.6±108.8 days, respectively (p<0.001). When children (≤18 years old) and adult cases were compared for pulmonary hydatid cysts, the mean doubling times were 61.1±17.6 and 87.1±55.3 days, respectively (p=0.119), and for hepatic hydatid cysts, 110.6±48.4 and 215.6±118.3 days, respectively (p<0.001). While comparing male and female cases, the mean doubling time for pulmonary hydatid cysts was 77.6±32.2 and 67.6±52.6 days, respectively (p=0.018), while for hepatic hydatid cysts, it was 192.0±111.7 and 160.4±106.2 days, respectively (p=0.250). Conclusion: The doubling time seems to be approximately 10 weeks in the lung and approximately 25 weeks in the liver. Hydatid cysts grow faster in children than adults in both the lungs and liver.

Diagnosis, treatment, and management of esophageal foreign bodies in patients with mental retardation: A retrospective study from three centers.

Background: This study aims to assess the outcomes and prognosis of surgical interventions aimed at removing esophageal foreign bodies in patients with mental retardation. Methods: Between January 2010 and January 2021, a total of 30 consecutive patients (20 males, 10 females; median age: 29.5 years; range, 2 to 57 years) with mental retardation who were diagnosed with esophageal foreign bodies and underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Age and sex of the patients, symptoms, type of the foreign body, esophageal stricture level, methods used for preoperative diagnosis, type of surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Results: Seventeen (56.6%) patients had a foreign body in the first narrowing, 12 (40%) in the second narrowing, and one (3.3%) in the third narrowing. A rigid esophagoscopy was performed in all cases. However, successful removal was not achieved in two (6.6%) cases, and foreign bodies were removed through cervical esophagotomy in one (3.3%) patient and through esophagotomy with right thoracotomy in one (3.3%) patient. Postoperative complications included esophagitis in seven patients (23.3%) and wound infection and pneumonia in two patients (6.6%). The median length of hospital stay after treatment was 1.09 days in patients without complications and 3.3 days in patients with complications. There was a significant correlation between the occurrence of complications and the length of hospital stay (p=0.002). The foreign body was successfully removed in all patients, and no mortality was observed. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and emergency intervention can reduce complications, particularly considering the possibility of non-food and sharp-edged foreign bodies that pose a higher risk of damaging the digestive system, in patients with mental retardation than those without such conditions.

An important finding for differential diagnosis in thymic cyst mimicking pericardial cyst: punctate calcification.

Mediastinal cysts are usually congenital but present in adulthood. A pericardial cyst is usually localized in the right cardiophrenic region. Thymic cysts are less common and are located in the cervical region or anterior mediastinal region. While thoracoscopic excision or aspiration can be applied in pericardial cysts, excision is recommended in thymic cysts. We present a case of a thymic cyst located in the localization of the pericardial cyst and radiologically containing wall punctate calcification.

Unusual cause of the left main bronchus stenosis: relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease that causes inflammation and destruction of cartilage and connective tissue. It can be associated with other autoimmune rheumatologic and hematologic diseases. Herein, we report a 38-year-old male patient with relapsing polychondritis and diffuse stenosis of the left main bronchus.

Pulmonary diffuse calcified multiple nodules in alveolar echinococcosis.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a potentially life-threatening parasitic disease primarily involving the liver caused by echinococcus multilocularis. Alveolar echinococcosis shows tumor-like growth that can lead to infiltration of neighboring organs. It is a slowly progressive disease and most commonly metastasizes to the lung. In this study, a 45-year-old female case of alveolar echinococcosis with bilateral pulmonary diffuse calcified multiple nodules metastases is presented.

Comparing Capitonnage and Uncapitonnage Techniques for Pulmonary Hydatid Cysts: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Surgery is the primary treatment for pulmonary hydatid cysts. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the results of capitonnage and uncapitonnage techniques for the surgery of pulmonary hydatid cysts. Descriptive Boolean queries were used to search PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published up to June 2022 to evaluate the outcomes of pulmonary hydatid cysts in terms of mortality, postoperative complications, and hospital stay. A total of 12 studies were included. An analysis of the total side effects revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the capitonnage and uncapitonnage groups (odds ratio=3.81, 95% confidence interval=[1.75-8.31], P < .001). The results showed that more side effects were observed in the uncapitonnage group than in the capitonnage group. The risk of side effects in the uncapitonnage group is 3.81 times higher than in the capitonnage group. The results showed that more prolonged air leak was seen in uncapitonnage group than in the capitonnage group (odds ratio=4.18, 95% confidence interval=[1.64-10.64], P=.003). The results show that more empyema was observed in uncapitonnage group than in the capitonnage group (odds ratio=4.76, 95% confidence interval=[1.29-17.57], P =0.020). An analysis of atelectasis and mean hospital stay revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the capitonnage and uncapitonnage groups. The results reveal the advantages of capitonnage in the treatment of pulmonary hydatid cysts and that the capitonnage method is quite effective in reducing complications compared to the uncapitonnage method.

Microsievert Wide-Volume Versus Spiral Computed Tomography Using an Automatic Exposure Control System in the Diagnosis of Foreign Body Aspiration in Children.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) in childhood is a life-threatening condition that necessitates prompt management to prevent devastating complications. Different imaging methods are used in the diagnosis of FBA. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value and dose of microsievert wide-volume computed tomography (µSv-WV-CT) with multidetector computed tomography using an automatic exposure control system (MDCT-AEC) in children with FBA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this single-center cross-sectional study, 102 cases diagnosed with FBA between September 2013 and September 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the diagnostic modality used: group A, µSv-WV-CT (2016-2021) and group B, MDCT-AEC (2013-2021). The diagnostic performance and radiation dose of the 2 groups were statistically compared. RESULTS: The diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy) of the 2 groups was similar. The mean effective radiation dose of group A was 34.89 ± 0.01 µSv, which was significantly lower than that of group B (179.75 ± 114.88 µSv) ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In children with suspected FBA, µSv-WV-CT at a lower radiation dose had similar diagnostic performance to MDCT-AEC.