Ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT findings of tularemia in the neck.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the ultrasonography (US) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) findings of tularemia in the neck. METHODS: US and CECT findings of 58 patients with serologically proven tularemia were retrospectively evaluated. Forty-eight patients underwent US and 42 patients underwent CECT. Lymph node characteristics and parotid preauricular region involvement were analyzed using US and CECT. In addition, involvement of larynx, oropharynx, and retropharynx; presence of periorbital edema; and neck abscess formation were evaluated using CECT. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results of enlarged lymph nodes were analyzed in 29 patients. RESULTS: Hypoechoic pattern, round shape, absence of hilum, and cystic necrosis were seen in most of the lymph nodes especially at level 2 and 3 on US and CECT. Matting was more commonly observed than irregular nodal border on US and CECT. Parotid preauricular region involvement was seen in 20.8% of patients on US. Oropharyngeal, retropharyngeal, laryngeal and parotid preauricular region involvement and periorbital edema were seen in 52.4%, 19.1%, 4.8%, 31%, and 9.5% of tularemia patients, respectively. Neck abscess was found in 59.5% of patients on CECT. Suppurative inflammation was the most common finding of FNAC. CONCLUSION: Tularemia should be considered in the presence of level 2 and 3 lymph nodes with cystic necrosis, matting, absence of calcification, oropharyngeal and retropharyngeal region involvement, and neck abscess, particularly in endemic areas.

The association of endothelial progenitor cell markers with arteriovenous fistula maturation in hemodialysis patients.

AIMS: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure is one of the most important clinical problems in end-stage renal disease. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have a role on vascular angiogenesis and endothelialization. We aimed to investigate the association markers of EPCs on AVF maturation by measuring the surface expressions of CD34, CD309 and CD133 on the monocytes. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in 54 voluntary patients with end-stage renal disease who were admitted for their first renal replacement therapy and were available for AVF creation. Venography was performed in all patients before AVF creation. Six patients were excluded due to inadequate veins after venographic imaging, and also seven patients were excluded due to postoperative thrombosis. The blood samples were analyzed a day before the fistula operation, and the expressions of CD34, CD133 and CD309 on the surface of monocytes were measured. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups after the evaluation of AVF maturation, as the mature group and the failure group. The CD309 expression level on the monocytes was 338.00 (35.00-479.00) in the mature group; however, it was 36.00 (5.50-237.00) (p 0.031) in the failure group. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that both BMI and the mean fluorescence intensity level of CD309 expression on monocytes independently predicted AVF maturation. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of DM and increased BMI negatively correlated with AVF maturation. High intensity of CD309 expression on monocytes was observed in patients with successful AVF maturation.

Recurrent pulmonary embolism in an asthmatic patient who had interrupted inferior vena cava with azygous continuation.

A 45-year-old woman with a history of recurrent pulmonary embolism was admitted to the emergency clinic with dyspnea, wheezing and tachypnea. Partial deep vein thrombosis of the popliteal vein was seen on Doppler sonography. On the contrast-enhanced thorax computed tomography (CT) scan, a clot was detected in the right main pulmonary artery and its major descending branch. Moreover, the azygos vein was prominently dilated. Abdominal multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scan revealed absence of the hepatic segment of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with continuation of the IVC as a dilated right-sided azygos vein. The hepatic veins were draining directly into the right atrium. Thus, we discuss herein this rare anatomic variant presented with recurrent pulmonary embolism, together with the findings on MSCT.

Pulmonary thromboembolism associated with pulmonary venous thrombus: a paediatric case report.

In this paper we present a young female patient who was admitted to the emergency unit with sudden chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath followed by syncope, and was diagnosed with pulmonary thromboemboli (PTE) by multislice spiral computed tomography. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case in the literature of PTE accompanied by pulmonary thromboses with pulmonary venous thrombosis without surgery, trauma and malignancy.

Cheatham platinum stent implantation in children with coarctation of the aorta: single-centre short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term results from Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate patients who were treated by percutaneous stent implantation. METHODS: Patients with aortic coarctation (n = 35) who had been treated with 38 stents - 12 bare and 26 covered - were evaluated. The demographics and procedural and follow-up data were recorded from hospital registers and compared according to patient specifications, for example, weight and coarctation nature. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in all patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the patients with native coarctation (n = 17) and those with recurrent coarctation (n = 18) in terms of pre-procedural blood pressures, systolic gradients, coarctation diameters, and the ratio of the coarctation site diameter to the descending aorta diameter. Although all patients received antihypertensive drugs before the procedure, the drug was discontinued in 26 patients during follow-up (p < 0.001). Stent migration was observed in four patients with recurrent coarctation (11.4%), and peripheral arterial injury was seen in three patients (8.5%). The mean follow-up time was 34 ± 16 months. On average, 21 (6-42) months after the procedure, six patients underwent cardiac catheterisation. At least 2 years after the procedure, tomography was performed in 20 patients (57.2%). Patients who were evaluated by multi-slice computerised tomography revealed no pathologies. There was no statistically significant difference between the five patients weighing less than 20 kg and the other 30 patients in terms of demographic and procedural characteristics, procedure success and complication rates, and follow-up data. CONCLUSION: Stent implantation for aortic coarctation is a method yielding satisfactory results in reducing coarctation gradients, efficient enlargement of the lesion area, and resolution of hypertension for children, including those weighing less than 20 kg.

Carpal tunnel release surgery and venous hypertension in early hemodialysis patients without amyloid deposits.

AIM: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the frequent problems of the patients who underwent hemodialysis (HD). The role of venous hypertension due to arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has not been clarified completely; therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of venous hypertension due to AVF in hemodialysis patients who had CTS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 12 patients who had been receiving HD treatment for less than 8 years and the newly diagnosed CTS patients with the same arm of AVF. All patients were diagnosed clinically and the results were confirmed by both nerve conduction studies and electromyography. Open carpal tunnel release surgery was performed on all of them. Venous pressure was measured in all patients before and after two weeks of surgery. RESULTS: There were significant differences before and after the surgery with regard to pressures (P > 0.05). After the surgery, all carpal ligament specimens of the patients were not stained with Congo red for the presence of amyloid deposition. CONCLUSION: Increased venous pressure on the same arm with AVF could be responsible for CTS in hemodialysis patients. Carpal tunnel release surgery is the main treatment of this disease by reducing the compression on the nerve.

Are cuffed peripherally inserted central catheters superior to uncuffed peripherally inserted central catheters? A retrospective review in a tertiary pediatric center.

PURPOSE: To assess the use of cuffed peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) compared with uncuffed PICCs in children with respect to their ability to provide access until the end of therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of PICCs inserted between January 2007 and December 2008 was conducted. Data collected from electronic records included patient age, referring service, clinical diagnosis, inserting team (pediatric interventional radiologists or neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] nurse-led PICC team), insertion site, dates of insertion and removal, reasons for removal, and need for a new catheter insertion. A separate subset analysis of the NICU population was performed. Primary outcome measured was the ability of the PICCs to provide access until the end of therapy. RESULTS: Cuffed PICCs (n = 1,201) were significantly more likely to provide access until the end of therapy than uncuffed PICCs (n = 303) (P = .0002). Catheter removal before reaching the end of therapy with requirement of placement of a new PICC occurred in 26% (n = 311) of cuffed PICCs and 38% (n = 114) of uncuffed PICCs. Uncuffed PICCs had a significantly higher incidence of infections per 1,000 catheter days (P = .023), malposition (P = .023), and thrombus formation (P = .022). In the NICU subset analysis, cuffed PICCs had a higher chance of reaching end of therapy, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this pediatric population, cuffed PICCs were more likely to provide access until the end of therapy. Cuffed PICCs were associated with lower rates of catheter infection, malposition, and thrombosis than uncuffed PICCs.

Acute right-sided colonic diverticulitis mimicking appendicitis: a report of two cases.

We describe two right-sided diverticulitis cases that presented with marked right iliac fossa tenderness with guarding and rebound and laboratory parameters resembling acute appendicitis. The imaging findings suggested diverticulitis in both cases. One of the patients underwent surgery and the other one was followed up with medical treatment. Awareness of these imaging findings may aid in the diagnosis of right-sided diverticulitis, which is frequently misdiagnosed and mistreated.

A fibromatosis case mimicking abdominal aorta aneurysm.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare fibrosing reactive process that may be confused with mesenteric fibromatosis. Abdominal aorta aneurysm is rare too and mostly develops secondary to Behcet's disease, trauma, and infection or connective tissue diseases. Incidence of aneurysms occurring as a result of atherosclerotic changes increases in postmenopausal period. Diagnosis can be established with arteriography, tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging associated with clinical findings. Tumors and cysts should be considered in differential diagnosis. Abdominal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computerized tomography revealed an infrarenal abdominal aorta aneurysm in a 41-year-old woman, but, on surgery, retroperitoneal fibrosis surrounding the aorta was detected. We present this interesting case because retroperitoneal fibrosis encircling the abdominal aorta can mimic abdominal aorta aneurysm radiologically.

Should bedside sonography be used first to diagnose pneumothorax secondary to blunt trauma?

BACKGROUND.: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of bedside sonography (US) in the detection of pneumothorax secondary to blunt thoracic trauma. METHODS.: In this prospective study, 240 hemithoraces of 120 consecutive patients with multiple trauma were evaluated with chest radiographs (CXR) and bedside thoracic US for the diagnosis of pneumothorax. CT examinations were performed in 68 patients. Fifty-two patients who did not undergo CT examinations were excluded from the study. US examinations were performed independently at bedside by two radiologists who were not informed about CXR and CT findings. CXRs were interpreted by two radiologists who were unaware of the US and CT results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CXR and US were calculated. RESULTS.: One hundred thirty-six hemithoraces were assessed in 68 patients. A total of 35 pneumothoraces were detected in 33 patients. On US, the diagnosis of pneumothorax was correct in 32 hemithoraces. In 98 hemithoraces without pneumothorax, US was normal. With US examination, there were three false-positive and three false-negative results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of US were 91.4%, 97%, 91.4%, 97%, and 97%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CXR were 82.7%, 89.7%, 68.5%, 95%, and 89.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS.: Bedside thoracic US is an accurate method that can be used in trauma patients instead of CXR for the detection of pneumothorax.

Polymicrogyria: correlation of magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between clinical presentation and the extent of cortical involvement in patients with polymicrogyria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The magnetic resonance imaging findings of 26 patients were evaluated for the location and distribution of polymicrogyria. Presence of asphyxia at birth and serological tests for TORCH infections, the presence and type (spastic, flaccid) of motor deficits, mental development,microcephaly, and epilepsy were noted. RESULTS: Nineteen patients had bilateral, whereas seven had unilateral involvement. Patients with unilateral polymicrogyria presented later with milder symptoms. The most encountered symptom in patients with bilateral involvement was mental motor retardation (MMR) (89%) and speech problems (84%).The clinical presentations of patients with asphyxia and positive serological tests for cytomegalovirus (CMV) were worse.All patients with positive serological tests for CMV had bilateral involvement. The perisylvian region was affected in five(71%) patients with unilateral involvement. The most encountered presenting symptom in these patients was epilepsy. Cerebral palsy was seen in three (43%) of the patients, and all of them had left hemiparesis. Microcephaly, MMR, and speech delay were detected in one (14%) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Late presenting epilepsy may be a predictor of aunilateral polymicrogyria and is associated with relatively good prognosis. CMV infection and the presence of asphyxia are predictors of worse prognosis.

Percutaneous transhepatic removal of bile duct stones: results of 261 patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of percutaneous transhepatic removal of bile duct stones when the procedure of endoscopic therapy fails for reasons of anatomical anomalies or is rejected by the patient. METHODS: Between April 2001 and May 2010, 261 patients (138 male patients and 123 female patients; age range, 14-92 years; mean age, 64.6 years) with bile duct stones (common bile duct [CBD] stones=248 patients and hepatolithiasis=13 patients) were included in the study. First, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was performed and stones were identified. Percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation of the papilla of Vater was performed. Then stones were pushed out into the duodenum with a Fogarty balloon catheter. If the stone diameter was larger than 15 mm, then basket lithotripsy was performed before balloon dilation. RESULTS: Overall success rate was 95.7%. The procedure was successful in 97.5% of patients with CBD stones and in 61.5% of patients with hepatolithiasis. A total of 18 (6.8%) major complications, including cholangitis (n=7), subcapsular biloma (n=4), subcapsular hematoma (n=1), subcapsular abscess (n=1), bile peritonitis (n=1), duodenal perforation (n=1), CBD perforation (n=1), gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm (n=1), and right hepatic artery transection (n=1), were seen after the procedure. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that percutaneous transhepatic stone expulsion into the duodenum through the papilla is an effective and safe approach in the nonoperative management of the bile duct stones. It is a feasible alternative to surgery when endoscopic extraction fails or is rejected by the patient.

Percutaneous transhepatic removal of bile duct stones: results of 261 patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of percutaneous transhepatic removal of bile duct stones when the procedure of endoscopic therapy fails for reasons of anatomical anomalies or is rejected by the patient. METHODS: Between April 2001 and May 2010, 261 patients (138 male patients and 123 female patients; age range, 14-92 years; mean age, 64.6 years) with bile duct stones (common bile duct [CBD] stones = 248 patients and hepatolithiasis = 13 patients) were included in the study. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography was performed, and stones were identified. Percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation of the papilla of Vater was performed. Then stones were pushed out into the duodenum with a Fogarty balloon catheter. If the stone diameter was larger than 15 mm, then basket lithotripsy was performed before balloon dilation. RESULTS: Overall success rate was 95.7%. The procedure was successful in 97.5% of patients with CBD stones and in 61.5% of patients with hepatolithiasis. A total of 18 major complications (6.8%), including cholangitis (n = 7), subcapsular biloma (n = 4), subcapsular hematoma (n = 1), subcapsular abscess (n = 1), bile peritonitis (n = 1), duodenal perforation (n = 1), CBD perforation (n = 1), gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm (n = 1), and right hepatic artery transection (n = 1), were observed after the procedure. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that percutaneous transhepatic stone expulsion into the duodenum through the papilla is an effective and safe approach in the nonoperative management of the bile duct stones. It is a feasible alternative to surgery when endoscopic extraction fails or is rejected by the patient.

Transjugular liver biopsy: results of 97 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of transjugular liver biopsy in patients with contraindicated percutaneous biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2005 and April 2010, 97 patients who were admitted for transjugular liver biopsy were enrolled in this retrospective study. All liver biopsies were obtained using an 18 gauge Quick-Core liver biopsy set through the right hepatic vein via the internal jugular vein. Clinical indication, histopathological diagnosis, and complications were noted. RESULTS: Primary technical success was achieved in 93 (95.8%) patients. Hepatic veins could not be catheterized and opacified in two patients and in the remaining two patients the veins could be opacified and catheterized but we were not able to pass the biopsy needle into the hepatic vein because of the acute angle between the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins. At least two specimens were obtained from each patient. The most frequent histopathological diagnosis was cirrhosis. A subcutaneous hematoma around the puncture side was encountered in one patient. CONCLUSION: Transjugular liver biopsy is a feasible and effective alternative in patients with contraindication for percutaneous biopsy.

Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography to assess the angioarchitecture of pulmonary sequestration.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration is an unusual congenital malformation consisting of abnormal lung tissue that lacks normal communication with the tracheobronchial tree. The diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration is based on identifying this systemic arterial supply. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of multidetector computed tomography in demonstrating the feeding artery and draining veins. Between 2003 and 2008, 8 patients (6 males, 2 females) ranging in age from 5 to 49 years with a diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration were identified. All patients underwent evaluation with chest tomography (spiral or multi detector tomography) and digital subtraction angiography. Aberrant systemic arterial supply was demonstrated in all cases: from the descending thoracic aorta (n= 6); arcus aorta (n= 1), internal mammarial artery (n= 1), intercostal arteries (n= 2) and celiac axis (n= 1). Four patients underwent surgery which confirmed the angioarchitecture depicted on angiography. One patient underwent angiography with embolization using. Computed tomography especially multidetector computed tomography is a powerful noninvasive technique for the detection of pulmonary sequestration.

Unusual clinic presentation of polyarteritis nodosa: involvement of axillary and brachial artery.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing inflammatory vasculitis of small- and medium-sized muscular arteries. Multiple organs, especially the kidney, skin, peripheric nerves, striated muscles, and intestine, are affected. In this case report, a patient with renal and hepatic involvement and axillary and brachial artery aneurysm resulting in shoulder hematoma and pain due to underlying PAN is presented.

Transrectal ultrasound guided multi-core prostate biopsy: pain control: results of 106 patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of periprostatic nerve block (PPNB) for control of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided multicore prostate biopsy-related pain. METHODS: A total of 106 cases with suspicion of prostate cancer underwent TRUS-guided multicore prostate biopsy under local anesthesia using a total of 10 ml of 1% lidocaine for each patient. Lidocaine was injected around the neurovascular bundle at the base of the prostate just lateral to the seminal vesicle-prostate junction. The pain score was assessed using visual analog pain score from 0 to 10. All patients were questioned for whether they would accept repeat biopsy or not, if necessary. RESULTS: Pain score ranged from 0 to 5 (mean: 1.4). Thirty-five percent (37/106) of patients reported a score of 0, whereas 17% (18/106), 32% (34/106), 8.4% (9/106), 6.7% (7/106), 0.9% (1/106) reported pain scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. There were no pain scores of 6-10. Answers for the question "would you accept repeat biopsy or not, if necessary?" was "yes" for 82% (87/106) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: PPNB prior to multi-core TRUS-guided prostate biopsy is an easy, safe, and effective technique for the control of procedure-related pain.