Aslan Bilici

Extrahepatic abdominal hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus: imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE The classical findings in hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus with liver or lung involvement are well known. However, diagnosing hydatid disease at unusual locations may be challenging because of variable imaging appearances depending on the host reaction. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review the sonographic, CT, and MRI features of extrahepatic abdominal hydatid disease including intraperitoneum, retroperitoneum, diaphragma, bone, and soft tissue of the abdomen. CONCLUSION Extrahepatic abdominal hydatid lesions have nearly identical imaging features, including the presence of cyst wall calcification, daughter cysts, and membrane detachment. The combinations of radiologic and serologic tests especially in patients living in the endemic areas contribute to the diagnosis. Despite their rarity, being familiar with the spectrum of radiologic findings in these unusual sites is helpful to improve diagnostic accuracy.

64-MDCT pulmonary angiography and CT venography in the diagnosis of thromboembolic disease.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to investigate whether CT venography (CTV) performed after CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) using 64-MDCT provides additional findings in the diagnosis of thromboembolic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three hundred six consecutive patients in whom pulmonary embolism (PE) was clinically suspected were included in the study. The study group was classified according to the diagnostic quality of the CTPA examinations, the presence or absence of PE and deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and the most proximal localization that the embolus could lodge in the pulmonary artery. RESULTS The diagnostic quality of CTPA was insufficient in 5.9%, acceptable in 8.2%, and excellent in 85.9% of the patients. The diagnostic quality of CTV was insufficient in 11.4%, acceptable in 47.4%, and excellent in 41.2%. The percentages of nondiagnostic examinations for CTPA and CTV were 5.2% and 10.8%, respectively. Acute PE and acute DVT were observed in 25.2% and 18.0%, respectively. The percentage of subsegmental emboli among patients with acute PE was 15.6%. The percentage of patients with thromboembolic disease was 29.1%. Of patients who were diagnosed as having thromboembolic disease, 13.5% (12 of 89 patients) had DVT only. Of all patients, 3.9% (12 of 306) had only isolated DVT. The number of patients with subsegmental PE who had DVT was two (0.7% all patients). CONCLUSION As in MDCT scanning with a smaller number of slices, the combination of CTV with CTPA in 64-MDCT results in a small but definitive increase in the percentage of patients with a diagnosis of thromboembolic disease.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome: multidetector computed tomography findings.

Objective: We aimed to describe the clinical and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography findings of celiac, mesenteric, and renal artery entrapment by the median arcuate ligament. Materials and Methods: Patients (n = 453) who underwent MDCT abdominal aorta angiography in a period of 3 years were retrospectively reviewed for vascular compression by median arcuate ligament known as median arcuate ligament syndrome. The MDCT examinations were performed with 16-slice (n = 292) and 64-slice scanners (n = 161). The median arcuate ligament itself and adjacent vascular branches of abdominal aorta were assessed for compression by 2 different radiologists who are experienced on MDCT angiography more than 3 years. Both axial, multiplanar reformatted images and 3-dimensional angiographies were used for interpretation. Results: Twelve patients were found to have clinically significant vessel entrapments by median arcuate ligament; 6 of them with celiac artery, 4 of them with renal artery, and 2 of them with both celiac and mesenteric artery involvement. Patients with celiac and mesenteric vessel entrapments presented with epigastric pain. All patients with renal artery entrapment had resistant hypertension. The MDCT showed the proximal narrowing caused by compression of median arcuate ligament. The proximal portions of renal arteries pulled down and in toward the aorta, with mild to moderate narrowing. Conclusions: The MDCT exanimation with multiplanar images and 3-dimensional angiography is a noninvasive imaging technique that can be used with high accuracy in the diagnosis of median arcuate ligament syndrome.

Diameters of the common bile duct in adults and postcholecystectomy patients: A study with 64-slice CT

This study aims to collect data by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) on the diameter of the normal common bile duct (CBD) and the diameter of CBD after cholecystectomy. In this retrospective study, CBD measurements were performed on axial oblique images, perpendicular to the long axis of the distal CBD. The mean diameter of the normal CBD was measured in 604 patients without cholecystectomy. The patients were divided into 6 groups according to their age. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare data obtained from the six age groups. The mean diameter of the CBD of 46 patients who had cholecystectomy was calculated. The results were compared with age matched control group by Students t test. The largest diameter of CBD ranged from 1.8 to 11.8mm. The mean of the largest diameter of 604 subjects was 4.77 ± 1.81. The diameter of the CBD significantly increased with age. Mean largest CBD diameters of postcholecystectomy subjects (7.28 ± 2.37) were significantly greater than age matched control group. In conclusion the diameter of CBD shows a considerable increase with age. The largest diameter of the CBD is up to 6mm in most of the subjects. An upper limit of 8mm appears reasonable after the age of 50; and an upper limit of 10mm seems appropriate for cholescystectomized subjects.

Effects of extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy on intrarenal resistive index

Objective: This prospective study was performed to determine whether extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy (ESWL), widely used for treating renal and ureteral stones, affects the kidney interlobar artery resistive index (RI). Material and Methods: A total of 43 patients (30 with renal and 13 with ureteral stones) underwent color Doppler examination before and 30 min and 3 h after ESWL. Seventeen patients with renal and nine with ureteral stones underwent Doppler examination 2 weeks later. Measurements were made near the stones (nearby region), at least 2 cm from the stones (remote region) and in the contralateral kidney for renal stones, and in the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys for ureteral stones. Results: In patients with renal stones, the RI was increased 30 min and 3 h after ESWL in the nearby and remote regions, and more markedly in the former. In the contralateral kidney, there was an increase in RI only at 3 h, which was less than that in the ipsilateral kidney. The RI at 2 weeks post‐ESWL in the nearby region and contralateral kidney did not differ from the pre‐ESWL values. ESWL performed for ureteral stones caused no increase in RI in the ipsilateral kidney. Conclusion: Patients with renal stones had a temporary increase in RI in the hours following ESWL in both the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys, which was highest in the region near the stones and lowest in the contralateral kidney. Two weeks later, the RI in both areas had returned to pre‐ESWL levels.

Abscess formation as a complication of a ruptured urachal cyst

The urachus is a midline tubular structure that extends upward from the dome of the bladder toward the umbilicus. This tubular structure normally involutes before birth, remaining as a fibrous band with no known function. Persistence of all or any portion of the fetal urachus results in several anomalies, the most common of which is the urachal cyst (Yu JS, Kim KW, Lee HJ, Lee YJ, Yoon CS, Kim MJ, Radiographics, 21:451–4611, 2001; Ohgaki M, Higuchi A, Chou H, Takashina K, Kawakami S, Fujita Y, Hagiwara A, Yamagishi H, Surg Today, 33:75–77, 2003). Although most urachal cysts are asymptomatic, there are a few reports about intraperitoneal rupture of infected urachal cysts, all of which caused peritonitis and sepsis (Ohgaki M, Higuchi A, Chou H, Takashina K, Kawakami S, Fujita Y, Hagiwara A, Yamagishi H, Surg Today, 33:75–77, 2003; Kojima Y, Miyake O, Taniwaki H, Morimoto A, Takahashi S, Fujiwara I, Int J Urol, 10:174–176, 2003; Agatstein EH, Stabile BE, Arch Surg, 119:1269–1273, 1984). We report the imaging and operative findings of a patient, presented with a urachal abscess after a spontaneously ruptured urachal cyst.

Treatment of Hypertension from Renal Artery Entrapment by Percutaneous CT-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection into Diaphragmatic Crus as Alternative to Surgery and Stenting

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to describe the technique and outcome of CT-guided injection of botulinum toxin into the diaphragmatic crus in a patient with hypertension caused by left diaphragmatic crus compression of the left renal artery. CONCLUSION After the procedure, the patients hypertension disappeared. We propose this technique, which directly targets inhibition of overactivity of the diaphragmatic crus, for treatment of hypertension caused by diaphragmatic compression of the renal artery as an alternative to surgery and renal artery stenting.

Use of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography to Diagnose Acute Pancreatitis at Hospital Admission Comparison With Sonography and Computed Tomography

To compare the diagnostic success rate of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography with those of sonography and computed tomography (CT) for acute pancreatitis at hospital admission.

Non-invasive evaluation of vertebral artery blood flow in cervical spondylosis with and without vertigo and association with degenerative changes

Cervical spondylosis is a common disease that results from degenerative changes of the cervical spine and vertigo may occur in this process. The aim of the present study was to assess the blood flow measurements of the vertebral artery (VA) using color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) in patients who have cervical spondylosis with and without vertigo. The study population included 101 patients with vertigo and spondylosis, 66 patients with spondylosis without vertigo, and 62 healthy controls. A bilateral decrease in the VA blood flow velocities were measured in patients with cervical spondylosis. A negative correlation was found between the stage of cervical degenerative changes and the flow velocities in patients with vertigo, while this relationship was not found in patients without vertigo. The CDUS evaluation of the pretransverse and transverse segments of VAs demonstrated significantly reduced flow velocities in patients with spondylosis. The degenerative changes in the cervical spine seem to be related to these velocity changes in the subgroup of patients who are also affected with vertigo. The pretransverse segment of the VA provides valuable measurements as well as transverse segment of the VA, and it can be used as an appropriate segment for CDUS examination in cervical spondylosis and associated vertigo.

Evaluation of pulmonary vein variations and anomalies with 64 slice multi detector computed tomography.

ZusammenfassungDie Lungenvenen sind eine der bedeutendsten Strukturen des Kreislaufs. Im letzten Jahrzehnt wurde erkannt, dass die Lungenvenen eine bedeutende Rolle beim Vorhofflimmern als auslösender Fokus der elektrischen Aktivität spielen. Die primäre Behandlungsmethode des Vorhofflimmerns ist die Ablation des Fokus in den Lungenvenen. Für den besten Erfolg dieser Maßnahme sollte die Anatomie der Lungenvenen vorher gut bekannt sein. MATERIAL UND METHODEN: In unserer Abteilung für Radiologie wurde zwischen Jänner 2008 und Mai 2010 bei 783 Patienten eine computertomographische Angiographie durchgeführt. Die Patienten waren zur Coronar-CT wegen einer bekannten oder suspizierten koronaren Herzerkrankung, bzw. zur CT Angio wegen des Verdachtes auf Pulmonalembolie zugewiesen worden. Alle Untersuchungen wurden auf einem Phillips Brilliance 64 Zeiler Multidetektor CT Gerät durchgeführt. 402 der Patienten waren männlich, 381 weiblich. Das mittlere Alter der Patienten lag bei 48 (14–89) Jahren. Die CT Ergebnisse zur Identifikation der Anatomie der Lungenvenen (inklusive ihrer Varianten und Anomalien) wurden retrospektiv erhoben. ERGEBNISSE: Bei dem Großteil der Fälle mündeten zwei Lungenvenen in den linken Vorhof auf jeder Seite. 18 Variationen wurden rechts und 8 Variationen links entdeckt. Die häufigste kombinierte Variante waren 2 rechts und 4 links (32,3 %) einmündende Lungenvenen. Vier links einmündende Lungenvenen war der häufigste Einfach-Variations Typ (76 %). Zusätzlich wurden ein Situs inversus totalis (0,12 %), 2 partiell anormale pulmonal venöse Rückströme (0,25 %) und ein Szimitar Syndrom (0,12 %) gefunden. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Diese Studie zeigt, dass viele Variationen der Lungenvenen mit zunehmender Patientenzahl beobachtet werden. Um eine erfolgreiche und komplikationslose Ablation bzw. Operation zu gewährleisten, sollte die Anatomie der Lungenvenen vor der Prozedur bekannt sein. Die Multidetektor CT ist eine verlässliche bildgebende Methode für die Erfassung der Querschnitts und 3-dimensionalen Anatomie.SummaryPulmonary Veins are one of the major structures of circulation. In the last decade, pulmonary veins have been known to play an important role as the triggering focus of the electrical activity in atrial fibrillation. Primary treatment method of AF is RF ablation of the focus. For the best ablation, the anatomy of PVs should be well established before the procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In our radiology department, 783 patients underwent computed tomography angiography between January 2008 and May 2010. Patients were referred for coronary CTA because of known or suspected coronary artery disease or computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) because of known or suspect pulmonary embolism. All scanning was performed on Philips Brilliance 64 slice Multidetector CT. The group consisted of 402 male and 381 female patients with the average age of 48 (range 14–89). CT data of patients were retrospectively reviewed to identify the PV anatomy and to determine anatomic variants and anomalies. RESULTS: In the majority of cases, two pulmonary veins drain into the left atrium on each side. Eighteen and eight variations were found in the right and left sides, respectively. Most frequent combined variations were 2R-4L (32.3%) and 4L was the more frequent single variation type (76%). In addition to that one Situs inversus totalis (0.12%), two partial anomalous pulmonary venous returns (0.25%) and one scimitar syndrome (0.12%) were found. CONCLUSION: This study showed that multiple types of variations of PVs can be found with increasing patient number. Therefore, for the successful ablation and surgery without any complications, the anatomy of PVs should be known before the procedure. MDCT is a reliable imaging method for the detailed cross-sectional and 3D anatomy.