Correlation between ultrasonography and MR proton density fat fraction techniques in evaluating the severity of liver steatosis.

Background and Aim: To investigate the relationship between ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) proton density fat fraction (PDFF) techniques, using the modified DIXON method, in determining the severity of liver steatosis. Materials and Methods: This study included seventy consecutive patients who underwent upper abdominal MRI for various reasons between June 2016 and January 2017. Fatty liver staging was performed using US as indicated.The liver fat percentage was measured and staged according to PDFF values. Results: In the study, of the 70 cases, 36 were male and 34 were female. On US, 18.5% of the cases had stage 0, 32.8% had stage 1, 42.8% had stage 2, and 5.7% had stage 3 liver steatosis. A significant correlation was found between ultrasonographic evaluation and PDFF in determining the percentage of liver fat (r=0.775, p<0.001). When comparing the percentages, MR-evaluated PDFF and ultrasonographic staging were most compatible at grade 3 and least compatible at grade 2. When the PDFF threshold value was set at 8.1%, the sensitivity of US in distinguishing between obvious and indistinct steatosis was 97.1%, and the specificity was 88.9%. Conclusion: Ultrasound continues to be a useful tool for detecting fatty liver disease. However, magnetic resonance (MR) proton density fat fraction (PDFF) imaging is essential for accurately determining the severity and prevalence of steatosis. Our study revealed inconsistencies between US and MR PDFF in grading liver steatosis, showing higher agreement in severe cases and lower agreement in moderate cases. Therefore, we recommend classifying steatosis as either uncertain or apparent rather than using a grading system in US.

Neuropathic arthropathy of the shoulder secondary to operated syringomyelia: a case-based review.

Neuropathic arthropathy (NA) is a long-term progressive disorder that causes joint destruction in the existence of a neurologic deficit. Minor injuries and fractures are commonly overlooked until the visible joint deterioration becomes persistent. Syringomyelia is one of the important causes of NA. The appearance of clinical signs in syringomyelia is caused by longitudinal cysts formed in the cervical and cervicothoracic regions of the spinal cord. Depending on the existence of the underlying disorder, the number and localization of the syrinxes, a range of symptoms, involving pain, sensation deficit, loss of motor function, and deep tendon reflex abnormality, emerge. The case is here described of a 68-year-old female patient with shoulder NA following syringomyelia, who partially responded to the rehabilitation program. Furthermore, the available case reports were comprehensively reviewed on Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed/Medline. Furthermore, the available case reports were comprehensively evaluated on Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed/Medline. Thus, we aimed to present the demographic characteristics, symptoms, physical examination signs, treatment, and follow-up parameters of syringomyelia-related shoulder NA cases.

Evaluation of Pulmonary Functions After Discharge in Pediatric Patients with COVID-19: A Prospective Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the pulmonary function of pediatric patients with COVID-19 after recovery. Methods: Pediatric patients aged 5-18 years hospitalized with diagnoses of COVID-19 and discharged with recovery were included in this prospective study. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed through spirometry. Results: The patient group consisted of 34 children and the control group of 33. The forced vital capacity (FVC%) values of the control and patient groups were 110.62±11.71 and 94.21±13.68 (p<0.001), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) values were 104.91±6.26 and 98.67±14.93 (p=0.032), FEV1/FVC% values were 108.50±8.81 and 101.06±24.89 (p=0.034), and forced expiratory flow (FEF) 25-75% values were 106.71±6.68 and 101.85±24.89, respectively (p=0.286). However, Spearman correlation analysis revealed moderate negative correlation between length of hospital stay and FEF 25-75% (r=-0.364, p=0.35). Conclusion: PFTs in pediatric patients after recovery from COVID-19 were abnormal in the present study. The results were significant in terms of the development of mixed-type lung disease. Further long- and short-term studies are now needed for a better understanding of the prognosis in these patients.

Could computed tomography histogram analysis add value to the diagnosis of cholesteatoma?

BACKGROUND: To investigate the potential role of computed tomography (CT) histogram analysis in differentiating cholesteatoma (CHS) and non-cholesteatoma (NCHS). METHODS: We evaluated 77 temporal bone CT images (from November 2016 to February 2020) that were obtained preoperatively (mean age, 37.10±17.27 years in CHS; 36.72±16.08 years in NCHS group). Histogram analyses of the resulting XML files were conducted using the R Project 3.3.2 program. ROC analysis was used to find threshold values, and the diagnostic efficiency of these values in differentiating CHS-NCHS was determined. RESULTS: The CT images of 41 CHS (53.25%) and 36 NHCS cases (46.75%) were evaluated. There was a statistically significant difference between the CHS and NCHS group in terms of the mean, maximum, and median values (p = 0.036, p = 0.006, p = 0.043). When examining the ROC curve obtained from the mean of these parameters, area under the curve (AUC) is determined as 0.638, and when the threshold value is selected as 42.55, the mean value was determined to have a sensitivity of 86.50% and specificity of 56.10% in differentiating CHS-NCHS.

Epidermal growth factor or platelet-rich plasma combined with induced membrane technique in the treatment of segmental femur defects: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Extensive bone defects remain a therapeutic challenge necessitating alternative surgical approaches with better outcomes. Can increase the effectiveness of PRP or EGF treatment in surgical treatment of large bone defects with Masquelet technique? Aim of this study examined potential therapeutic benefits of the Masquelet technique with induced membranes in combination with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) in a rat model of segmental femur defect. METHODS: Three groups each consisting of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were defined as follows: EGF group, PRP group, and control group. A femoral bone defect was created and filled with antibiotic embedded polymethyl methacrylate. Half of the animals in each group were sacrificed at week 6 and the pseudo-membranes formed were analyzed. In the remaining half, the cement was removed and the space was filled with autograft. After another 6 weeks, the structures formed were examined radiologically, histologically, and biochemically. RESULTS: At week 6, both PRP and EGF groups had significantly higher membrane CD31, TGF-beta, and VEGF levels than controls. At week 12, when compared to controls, PRP and EGF groups had significantly higher membrane CD31 levels and the PRP group had significantly higher membrane TGF levels. Regarding bone tissue levels, PRP and EGF groups had significantly higher VEGF levels and the EGF group had significantly higher BMP levels. In addition, PRP and EGF groups had higher radiological scores than controls. However, the two experimental groups did not differ with respect to any parameter tested in this study. CONCLUSION: Both PRP and EGF seem to be associated with histological, biochemical, and radiological improvements in experimental rat model of Masquelet technique, warranting in further clinical studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 5.

Insights into chest computed tomography findings in Behcet's disease.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the spectrum and frequency of abnormal chest multidedector computed tomography (MDCT) findings in Behcet's disease(BD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest MDCT scans of 44 patients referred to radiology department for chest symptoms those had prior or newly established diagnosis of BD between 2009-2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Abnormal findings within pulmonary artery (PA), lungs, other large vessels, heart, mediastinum, pleura and pericardium were noted. RESULT: Sixteen patients had one ore more computed tomography (CT) findings related to BD. PA involvement was most common (27.2%) presentation revealing thrombosis in 8 and aneurysms in 4 of 12 patients. Mean PA diameter was 29 ± 3.7 mm. Patients with PA involvement had significantly higher PA diameters than those without (p< 0.001). Hypertrophied bronchial artery seen as serpiginous vessels around hilum was a common finding (66.6%). Lung parenchyma findings was rarely isolated and usually associated with PA involvement with subpleural alveolar opacities, focal atelectasis and ill-defined nodular opacities. Cardiac filling defects were accompanying lesions in most of patients with PA aneurysms (75%). CONCLUSIONS: BD is associated with a wide spectrum of simultaneous involvement of discrete anatomical sites. PA enlargement and hypertrophied bronchial artery is a clue for patients with PA involvement. Heart chambers should be checked for filling defects particularly in patients with PA aneurysms.

Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of strain elastography in infertile population with normal and abnormal semen parameters.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic value of strain elastography (SE) of testicular tissues in infertile population. We also evaluated the correlation between SE results with semen parameters and hormone profiles of the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients and 122 testes were evaluated. Patients who were evaluated in an andrology outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of infertility and referred to radiology department for investigation of reproductive organs between June 2015 and January 2016 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to semen analyses results as normal (Group 1) and abnormal (Group 2). Hormone profiles, semen analyses, B-mode, coloured Doppler ultrasonography and sonoelastography examinations were performed for each patient. Measurements of testicular volumes, resistive indices (RI) in intraparenchymal arteries, strain, strain ratio (SR) and presence of varicocele were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 33.7±6.3 years. Mean testicular volumes (Group 1, 19.41±4.8 mL, and Group 2, 17.64±3.62 mL) were significantly different between groups (p=0.023). Mean SRs were also different between Groups 1 and 2 (0.12±0.08 vs. 0.22±0.18, p<0.001). Testicular volumes were directly proportional with SRs in Group 1. Strain values had inverse relationship with sperm concentration and total motile sperm counts in Group 2 (p=0.01). SRs were found to be positively correlated with RI and sperm morphology in Group 2 (p<0.05). Although FSH values showed significant difference among groups, any correlation between FSH and elastographic parameters could not be displayed. CONCLUSION: Strain elastography results were found to be significantly different in patients with abnormal sperm counts. This technique may provide promising results, however, further large scale studies may help to clarify the value of this imaging modality in the assessment of male infertility.

Radiologic and histopathologic review of rare benign and malignant breast diseases.

High social awareness of breast diseases and the rise in breast imaging facilities have led to an increase in the detection of even rare benign and malignant breast lesions. Breast lesions are associated with a broad spectrum of imaging characteristics, and each radiologic imaging technique reflects different characteristics of them. We aimed to increase familiarity of the radiologist with these uncommon lesions as well as correlate histopathologic findings with the radiologic imaging features of the tumors. Histopathologic examination is necessary in the evaluation of such breast lesions, particularly when radiologic images are not definitive for a specific diagnosis.

Comparison of the T2-star Values of Placentas Obtained from Pre-eclamptic Patients with Those of a Control Group: an Ex-vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

BACKGROUND: Endotel dysfunction, vasoconstriction, and oxidative stress are described in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, but its aetiology has not been revealed clearly. AIMS: To examine whether there is a difference between the placentas of pre-eclamptic pregnant women and those of a control group in terms of their T2 star values. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Twenty patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and 22 healthy controls were included in this study. The placentas obtained after births performed via Caesarean section were taken into the magnetic resonance imaging area in plastic bags within the first postnatal hour, and imaging was performed via modified DIXON-Quant sequence. Average values were obtained by performing T2 star measurements from four localisations on the placentas. RESULTS: T2 star values measured in the placentas of the control group were found to be significantly lower than those in the pre-eclampsia group (p<0.01). While the mean T2 star value in the pre-eclamptic group was found to be 37.48 ms (standard deviation ± 11.3), this value was 28.74 (standard deviation ± 8.08) in the control group. The cut-off value for the T2 star value, maximising the accuracy of diagnosis, was 28.59 ms (area under curve: 0.741; 95% confidence interval: 0.592-0.890); sensitivity and specificity were 70% and 63.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study, the T2 star value, which is an indicator of iron amount, was found to be significantly lower in the control group than in the pre-eclampsia group. This may be related to the reduction in blood flow to the placenta due to endothelial dysfunction and vasoconstriction, which are important in pre-eclampsia pathophysiology.

Effect of Hemoconcentration on Dural Sinus Computed Tomography Density in a Pediatric Population.

Unenhanced brain computed tomography (CT) is inexpensive, easily available, and the first-choice imaging modality for patients presenting with various neurologic symptoms. Venous thrombosis is not rare in childhood, but diagnosis can be difficult. In some cases, only denser vessels can be used to highlight an issue. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the relationship between X-ray attenuation and hemoconcentration in a pediatric population. This study enrolled 99 pediatric patients who had been referred radiology department for unenhanced brain CT. Images were retrospectively evaluated for measurement of dural sinus densities from four distinct dural sinus locations. Correlation between mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values and hemoglobin/hematocrit (Hb/Htc) levels, as well as age and gender were further analyzed. There was a strong correlation between mean HU and Hb levels (r = 0.411; standard deviation: 0.001) and also between mean HU and Htc levels (r = 0.393; p < 0.001). According to the results of this study, the mean sinus density and H:H (HU:Htc) values were 44.06 HU and 1.19, respectively, in a normal pediatric group. In conclusion, before deciding between a diagnosis of thrombosis and a determination of normal findings during an evaluation of unenhanced CT in a pediatric population, radiologists should consider complete blood count results as well as H:H ratios.

An uncommon cause of multiple pulmonary nodules; hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), or Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome (ROWS) is a very rare hereditary disease. The diagnosis is based on the clinical findings such as recurrent epistaxis, telangiectases, visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and family history. AVMs are found in the liver, lung or brain and could mimick the masses of these organs. Radiologic evaluation plays a critical role during diagnostic and therapeutic management of ROWS. Hence, radiologists should be aware of the diagnosis of HHT in the patients with AVMs, history of epistaxis and family history. We report a patient with multiple pulmonary AVMs secondary to HHT who has referred to our interventional radiology department for computed tomography guided transthorasic lung biopsy procedure with suspicious of malignancy.

Interpretation of thyroid glands in a group of healthy children: real-time ultrasonography elastography study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the strain index (SI) of normal thyroid parenchyma in a group of healthy children, using ultrasound elastography (USE). METHODS: The participants consisted of 54 healthy children. The USE of the normal thyroid parenchyma was performed by using the Hitachi Hi VisionPreirus model ultrasonography (US) device. By following sinusoidal waves at the base of the screen, regular and slight compressions and decompressions were made by the transducer. After the regular sinusoidal waves were acquired, standard region of interest (ROI) circles were used to measure the SI values of the thyroid glands by placing one ROI on a superficial part of the normal thyroid gland parenchyma and the other on the adjacent soft tissue at the same depth (within 10-mm proximity). Three measurements were obtained for each (right and left) thyroid gland, and the mean value was used for statistics. RESULTS: The mean SI value of normal thyroid glands was 0.54±0.38 for the whole group. There was no statistically significant difference between girls and boys on the basis of age, weight, height, BMI (body mass index), and thyroid SI values (p=0.15, p=0.18, p=0.12, p=0.31, and p=0.96, respectively). No correlation was found between thyroid gland SI values and each of the following variables: age (r=0.22, p=0.15), gender (r=0.007, p=0.96), and BMI (r=0.26, p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The study determined the normal elasticity values of thyroid glands in healthy children. Such information can serve as a baseline from which thyroid diseases can be examined.

Extra-medial thickness of carotid artery in patients with Behçet's disease: evaluation of atherosclerotic vessel wall changes with a novel carotid artery ultrasound index.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are the characteristic features of Behçet's disease (BD). We researched carotid extra-medial thickness (cEMT), a novel ultrasound parameter for atherosclerotic vessel wall changes, and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), a widely accepted marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in patients with BD, and we evaluated the relationship between these two parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 31 patients with BD were matched to 26 control subjects based on age, gender, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Laboratory parameters, including lipid profile, were measured for both patients and controls. B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess the cEMT and cIMT. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the cEMT values between the patients with BD and the control group (P = 0.90). cIMT in the BD group was significantly higher compared with the control group (P = 0.021). There was a significant positive correlation between cIMT and cEMT (r = 0.585, P = 0.001). Both cEMT and cIMT were positively correlated with age and the presence of arthritis. There was linear correlation with sedimentation, C-reactive protein, and cEMT. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate both cEMT and cIMT in BD. This study presents morphological evidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in terms of cIMT. Although there was no significant increment in cEMT, it has the potential to assess endothelial dysfunction in BD. Further studies are required to confirm this finding.

The relationship between tinnitus and vascular anomalies on temporal bone CT scan: a retrospective case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is a common symptom in which etiology is unclear in a group of patients. Some of anatomic or vascular variations diagnosed on temporal bone computed tomography (CT) has been known to cause tinnitus particulary pulsatile form. Therefore significance of these anatomic variations has not been validated in patients with nonpulsatile tinnitus. The aim of this study is to ascertain several anatomic variations previously attributed to pulsatile tinnitus in nonpulsatile tinnitus patients. And secondly to assess the relationship between the amount of sigmoid sinus bulging and mastoid emissary vein (MEV), enlargement of those was not evaluated before in tinnitus patients. METHODS: Retrospectively, temporal bone CT scans of 70 patients with an existing complaint of tinnitus with unexplained etiology were enrolled. As a control group, 70 patients were selected from paranasal sinus CT scans without any otological or clinical findings. RESULTS: The type of tinnitus was subjective and nonpulsatile in the overall group. The diameters of enlarged MEV on the left side were significantly higher in the tinnitus group. Carotid canal dehiscence and high riding jugular bulb were significantly higher in the tinnitus patients. Petrous bone pneumatization was significantly lower in the tinnitus patients than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who complained of subjective nonpulsatile tinnitus with unknown etiology, some temporal bone vascular variations, including high riding jugular bulb, dehiscent carotid canal, left-sided MEV enlargement, and petrous bone pneumatization, seemed to have an association with tinnitus. Further studies comparing all these entities between pulsatile and nonpulsatile groups and healthy controls should be undertaken.

A wandering intravascular scalpel fragment after lumbar discectomy: a case report.

Vascular complications after lumbar discectomy are rarely seen. We present a unique and potentially life-threatening postoperative complication from this procedure. A 27-year-old man was admitted to our emergency vascular unit 1 day after a lumbar discectomy, during which a scalpel blade fragmented and a part was lost. Radiological images of the patient were performed and a broken scalpel blade was located anterior to the sacrum. An anterior laparotomy was performed which identified a mass within the left iliac vein that migrated suddenly to the inferior vena cava. An emergency angiography was performed, by which time the scalpel blade had ascended to the right-sided inferior pulmonary artery. It was subsequently removed via a right lateral thoracotomy.

Serum hepcidin levels and iron metabolism in obese children with and without fatty liver: case-control study.

UNLABELLED: Hepcidin is a regulator of iron balance that is increased in obesity. It reduces the absorption of iron, reduces the transfer of iron from macrophages to the plasma and/or prevents mobilisation of stored iron. Obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) demonstrate adipokine and cytokine release promoting inflammatory response. We aimed to analyse the hepcidin levels and iron metabolism in obese children with and without NAFLD and non-obese healthy controls. The study population consisted of 110 children aged 7-18 years in three groups: 50 obese patients without NAFLD, 30 obese patients with NAFLD, and 30 non-obese healthy controls. Serum hepcidin, ferritin, and iron levels, iron-binding capacity, lipid profile, and liver function tests were measured, and hepatic ultrasonography was performed in all participants. Obese patients' white blood cell counts, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher than those of the control group. Iron-binding capacity was significantly higher in obese patients without NAFLD compared with obese patients with NAFLD (p = 0.002). Hepcidin levels were not significantly different between obese patients and the control group. However, hepcidin levels in obese patients with NAFLD were significantly higher than those in obese patients without NAFLD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hepcidin levels were significantly higher in obese children with NAFLD than those without NAFLD. Obese children with NAFLD should receive attention regarding iron metabolism disorders. Serum hepcidin could be a marker of iron metabolism status and NAFLD in these groups of patients.