Facial soft tissue thicknesses in Bulgarian adults: relation to sex, body mass index and bilateral asymmetry.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to measure the facial soft tissue thicknesses (STTs) in Bulgarians, to evaluate the relation of the STTs to the nutritional status, sex and bilateral asymmetry, and to examine the correlations between the separate STTs as well as between the STTs and body weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). In the present study, the facial STTs were measured on computed tomography scans of the head of Bulgarian adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The STTs were measured at 7 midline and 9 bilateral landmarks. The measurements were performed in the free software InVesalius in the axial and sagittal planes. The mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, median and coefficient of variation were reported for the STT at each landmark according to the sex and BMI category. The BMI, sex and bilateral differences were assessed for statistical significance. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to assess the strength and direction of the relationships between the STTs and body height, weight and BMI, as well as between separate STTs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The facial soft tissues in Bulgarian adults changed in accordance with the nutritional status of the individual and in both sexes all STTs augmented with the increasing BMI. For both normal and overweight BMI categories, males had more soft tissue at the majority of facial points than females, as the only exceptions were observed in the cheek zone, where STTs were thicker in females. Significant bilateral differences were observed in either sex and BMI category. Stronger correlations were established for the STTs in the jaw region and between the cheek and jaw soft tissues. Besides, the correlations between the homologous bilateral landmarks were among the strongest ones.

Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography for diagnosis of synchronous tumors.

BACKGROUND: The hybrid method 18F-FDG PET/ CT has been proven as a method of choice in oncology for diagnostics, staging, restaging of the tumor and evaluation of the therapeutic effect. The aim of the study was to determine the value of 18F-FDG PET/ CT for detection of synchronous tumors and consequently the influence on the patients management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examinations were performed on Discovery, GE Healthcare PET/ CT using standard protocol. Among the patients, examined by 18F FDG  PET/ CT for one year (n = 1 408), unsuspected synchronous tumors were detected in 11 cases (0.8%). RESULTS: Five pulmonary carcinomas, four head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), one ovarian carcinoma and one tumor of the sigma were detected as second malignancies. The histology verification was done in five cases (all HNSCC and one sigma carcinoma). In one patient with ovarian carcinoma, histology was obtained after surgery. In the rest of patients, no verification was undertaken because of the patients refusal and the advanced stage of the diseases, demanding systemic chemotherapy. Four patients (three with HNSCC and one with ovarian secondary malignancy) had favorable outcome during the nine  month  follow up. CONCLUSION: The hybrid method PET/ CT, combining the metabolic and morphologic findings, can help detection of synchronous malignancies in a small percentage of cases, but with a positive influence on management of considerable part of such patients.