Comparison of kidney densities of cases with urinary dilatation in unenhanced CT scan.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of renal parenchymal density differences in distinguishing between acute and chronic urinary dilatations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospectively, unenhanced CTs of 98 patients were evaluated. Thirty-three had acute urinary obstruction, and 33 had chronic urinary obstruction. Parenchymal density values (HU) and renal pelvic anterior-posterior (AP) diameters of all groups were evaluated by two different radiologists who were unaware of each other and the content of the study. The t-test was used to compare parenchymal densities and renal pelvic diameter differences with normal, acute urinary dilation and chronic urinary dilation groups. RESULTS: Of the 98 cases who were included in the study, 33 people were in the acute obstruction group (7 females, 26 males), and 33 were in the chronic obstruction group. However, the second observer (observer 2) found a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) during the measurements of density between the obstructed and normal sides. While for the first observer (observer 1), the correlation between right and left renal density measurements of the normal cases was moderate at 0.576; correlation of measurements done by the second observer was found to be high at 0.777. CONCLUSIONS: Pale kidney findings seems to be helpful in diagnosis of acute urinary occlusion, but different results are obtained with evaluations made by different observers. Moreover, it is not a specific finding because oedema can also be seen in some other conditions, such as acute pyelonephritis; for this reason, one must be careful during the evaluation of this finding.

The accuracy of 3T magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in suspected choledocholithiasis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate interobserver agreement during magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) evaluation and the sensitivity and specificity of MRCP obtained with 3T scanners in cases of bile duct obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 37 patients who had MRCP and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) were included. Choledochal pathology was divided into two groups regarding the presence of stones as "there is stone or not". MRCPs were performed with a 3-Tesla system using respiratory triggered HASTE technique in axial and coronal planes and with T2 SPACE sequence in the coronal plane. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated separately for each observer. The average of both observers was calculated for comparison with other studies. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were in the study population. Agreement between the observers was analysed, and Cohen's κ value was evaluated as 0.84. For two observers, the sensitivity of MRCP was 93%, whereas the specificity was 75% for the first observer and 62% for the second. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we found a high level of interobserver agreement in evaluating MRCP. MRCP has a high sensitivity in detecting choledocholithiasis.

Focal myositis: a rare case report.

Focal myositis is an uncommon, self-limiting, benign skeletal muscle disease, which is generally determined as an inflammatory pseudotumor. The etiology is not fully known, although it has been suggested that subclinical damage may play a role. As it leads to a tumoral mass it may be confused with several diseases leading to incorrect evaluations. Definitive diagnosis is made by biopsy of the skeletal muscle. In radiologic diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging is the most important modality. In this paper we presented the imaging findings of a 58-year-old female patient with focal myositis who was admitted with complaints of forearm swelling.

Spontaneous Retrobulbar Haematoma.

Background. Spontaneous orbital haemorrhage is a very rare condition and vision-threatening event. It may occur due to trauma, orbital surgery/injections, orbital vascular anomalies, and a variety of systemic predisposing factors. Signs of retrobulbar hemorrhage include proptosis, ophthalmoplegia, increased intraocular pressure, loss of pupillary reflexes, and optic disc or retinal pallor. Both Computed Tomography scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging may be performed in the diagnosis. Case Report. A 31-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a complaint of headache and blurred vision following a strong sneeze. Ophthalmological examination revealed mild Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect in left eye. Computed Tomography revealed left hyperdense retrobulbar mass and displaced optic nerve. T1 weighted hypointense, T2 weighted hyperintense and non-enhanced round shape, sharply demarcated lesion measuring 18 × 15 × 14 × mm in diameter compatible with haematoma was detected by MRI. Surgically Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed. Histological examination confirmed haematoma. Follow-up Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed a small reduction in the size of lesion but not complete resolution. The patient's complaint was regressed. She is now free of symptoms and is still under surveillance. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of retrobulbar haematoma caused by sneeze.