Diagnostic dilemma in female genital tract tuberculosis: A case report.

Female genital tract tuberculosis presents a diagnostic challenge because of its variable clinical presentation and radiological manifestation. Most patients are present with history of infertility, pain in the abdomen, vaginal discharge, and bleeding. These symptoms mimic those of gynecological cancer, such as endometrial carcinoma. Endometrial cancer typically manifests with vaginal bleeding in the post-menopausal age group; however, in less than 10% to 20% patients, it can occur in perimenopausal age groups, which makes it difficult to distinguish between malignancy and tuberculosis. We present a case report of a 40-year-old woman who complained of vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. Her imaging findings favored the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma but histopathology revealed tuberculosis.

Inadequate Completion of Computed Tomography Request Forms of Patients Visiting the Department of Radiology and Imaging in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: From both medical and legal points of view, it is vital that computed tomography request forms should be adequately filled up. It is the responsibility of physicians to collect adequate clinical information that justifies the computed tomography examination and the ethical responsibility of radiological technologists and radiologists is to perform only the justified radiological examinations. Thus, a properly filled request form is crucial for understanding the clinical problem, using the proper protocol for avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure and providing concise radiological reports. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of inadequate completion of computed tomography request forms of patients visiting the Department of Radiology of a tertiary care centre. Methods: This descriptive study was performed in the Department of Radiology from 22 April 2021 to 21 April 2022 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Computed tomography request forms from emergency, ward and outpatient Departments were used in the study whereas that from other hospitals and clinics were excluded. A convience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Out of 470 computed tomography examination forms, the prevalence of inadequate computed tomography request forms was 195 (41.49%) (37.03-45.94, 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The prevalence of the inadequacy of completion of computed tomography examination forms was higher than other similar studies done in similar settings. Keywords: audit; computed tomography; form.

Estimation of Hepatic Elasticity by Shear Wave Sonoelastography among Asymptomatic Individuals in a Tertiary Level Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Shear wave elastography is currently most widely used method for determining the elasticity of liver. Liver fibrosis, final common pathway of chronic liver disease, is associated with increased liver stiffness. This study aimed to obtain normal liver elasticity in Nepalese population, as it can be used as reference in future for determination of elasticity in abnormal liver. METHODS: Quantitative prospective study was done in 132 individuals with normal liver function tests. Shear wave elastography was done to measure elasticity of both lobes of liver and thus obtained values were also correlated with age, gender and fatty changes in liver. RESULTS: Forty seven out of 132 individuals had fatty liver. Mean elasticity of liver was 4.40±0.60 kPa with range of 3.12-6.62 kPa. There was no significant difference between mean elasticity of right and left lobe of liver. No significant correlation was found between mean liver elasticity with age and gender. There was statistically significant difference in the mean elasticity between non-fatty and fatty liver (p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: The study established normal elasticity of liver in Nepalese population and this reference can be used to obtain abnormal liver elasticities.

Computed Tomographic Assessment of Renal Volume and Its Associative Factors Among Adults.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of normal renal volume is a vital parameter for clinical assessment of renal diseases because renal size is altered by various medical conditions. Variations in renal dimension in different populations and it's relation to individual's body parameters are evident. Different studies have recommended the need for measurement of renal dimension for specific population. This study assesses normal range of renal volume in the study population and measures their correlation with individual's body parameters. METHODS: This descriptive study was done in 261 adults. After renal length measurement on reformatted coronal images, renal width and renal thickness on axil images, renal volume was calculated by ellipsoidal formula. Descriptive statistics and parametric tests were used to evaluate the association between renal volume and different parameters. RESULTS: This study showed a significant difference in mean renal volume between male (right and left mean renal volume 120.52 ± 26.84 cm3 and 121.00 ± 27.23 cm3 respectively) and female (right and left mean renal volume 110.11 ± 21.79 cm3 and 111.15 ± 22.34 cm3 respectively) on each side. Similarly, a significant positive correlation was found between renal volume and body height, body weight and BMI of participant for both kidneys however a significant negative correlation was observed between renal volume and age 40 years and above for both kidneys.   Conclusions: This study provides morphometric data regarding normal kidneys and concludes that male renal volume is more than female and renal volume is correlated to individual's body parameters.

Breast Arterial Calcifications on Mammography among Patients Attending the Radiology Department in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Breast arterial calcifications are common mammographic findings which are associated with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of breast arterial calcifications in women presenting for mammography in a tertiary care centre. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Radiology, in a tertiary care hospital after taking ethical clearance, Reference number 352(6-11)E-2, 077/078, data was collected from Syngovia database from March-June 2021 which included 1614 mammograms. Convenience sampling was done and mammograms evaluated for presence of vascular or non-vascular calcification. Further, vascular calcification was graded. Data was entered in Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was done, and frequency and proportion were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of breast arterial calcification was 188 (11.6%) at 95% Confidence Interval (10.03-13.2). The mean age of women included in this study was 48.42±9.55 years with the largest number of patients in the age group 40-49 years, 682 (42.3%), and least in the age group 80-89 years, 3 (0.2%). All patients in the age group 80-89 years, 3 (100%) had vascular calcifications followed by 70-79 years group, 22 (57.5%) and none in patients younger than 30 years. CONCLUSIONS: We found an increase in the number and grade of vascular calcifications in breasts with the patient's age. When present breast arterial calcifications must be mentioned in mammogram report. Identification of such calcifications on mammogram should prompt further screening for atherosclerotic disease.

Current Imaging Trends in COVID-19 Pneumonia.

COVID-19 has rapidly emerged as a pandemic threatening lives and healthcare systems worldwide. With the emergence of the disease in Nepal, all faculties of medicine need to be well prepared to face the challenge. Fortunately, now plenty of research is available to facilitate our preparedness in the war against COVID-19. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction is the current gold standard diagnostic test and chest Computed Tomography scan for screening the disease is considered inappropriate by most society recommendations. The Nepal Radiologists' Association has proposed its guidelines which have been endorsed by the Nepal Medical Council. This article aims to summarize the role of imaging focusing on chest X-ray and Computed Tomography scan including the indications, specific findings, and important differentials. Imaging needs to be done taking necessary precautions, to minimize disease transmission, protect health care personnel, and preserve health care system functioning.

Sonography of Palpable Breast Lumps in a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: With a palpable lesion in the breast, the goal is to diagnose malignancy at the earliest. Ultrasonography is used for evaluating symptomatic patients especially those with dense breasts where mammography gives limited information. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sonographic pattern of the palpable breast lumps and correlate with the final pathological diagnosis. METHODS: This was a retrospective study done at our tertiary health care center, from July 2016 to March 2017, including 121 patients presenting to the ultrasound department with complaint of palpable breast lump and whose pathological reports could be followed up. Various sonographic features were studied, sonography and final diagnosis compared. RESULTS: On sonography, about 46% of the cases were benign, 35 % malignant and 18 % indeterminate while tissue diagnosis revealed 63% to be benign, 34% malignant. The most common lesions in each group and sonographic characteristics were evaluated. Of the benign lesions, fibroadenoma was the most common. Most of the indeterminate lesions on sonography were histologically mastitis. We found nearly 58% of the malignant lesions had microlobulated margins. The sensitivity of sonography was 92.9% and specificity 97.5% with diagnostic accuracy 94.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the palpable lumps were benign in our study, most common being fibroadenoma. We had a relatively higher percentage of malignancy which may be due to patients with obviously benign lesions not undergoing tissue diagnosis in our setting. The sonographic features and diagnosis correlated well with the histological diagnosis.

Pulmonary Embolism Masquerading as High Altitude Pulmonary Edema at High Altitude.

Pandey, Prativa, Benu Lohani, and Holly Murphy. Pulmonary embolism masquerading as high altitude pulmonary edema at high altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 17:353-358, 2016.-Pulmonary embolism (PE) at high altitude is a rare entity that can masquerade as or occur in conjunction with high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and can complicate the diagnosis and management. When HAPE cases do not improve rapidly with descent, other diagnoses, including PE, ought to be considered. From 2013 to 2015, we identified eight cases of PE among 303 patients with initial diagnosis of HAPE. Upon further evaluation, five had deep vein thrombosis (DVT). One woman had a contraceptive ring and seven patients had no known thrombotic risks. PE can coexist with or mimic HAPE and should be considered in patients presenting with shortness of breath from high altitude regardless of thrombotic risk.