Fatıma Nurefşan Boyacı

The use of DWI to assess spleen and liver quantitative ADC changes in the detection of liver fibrosis stages in chronic viral hepatitis

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in spleen and liver diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in chronic viral hepatitis patients. The study comprised 47 patients and 30 healthy volunteers. DWIs were obtained. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) measurements were made by transferring the images to the workstation. The measurements of value b 1000 were made from a total of five points of the liver and three points of the spleen. Liver biopsy was performed on the 47 patients. The fibrosis stages of the patients were defined according to the METAVIR scoring system. Students t-test was used in the comparison of mean ages, liver and spleen ADC values between the patient and the control group. Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann-Whitney U Test with Bonferroni adjustment was performed in the comparison of mean ADC values of the patients at different stages and the control group. A statistically significant difference was determined between the patient and control group in respect of liver and spleen mean ADC values (P<0.05). F3 group showed a significant difference compared to control and F1 and F4 group showed a significant difference compared to control, F1, F2 and F3 group in terms of the mean liver ADC value (P<0.01). F3 and F4 group showed a significant difference compared to control and F1 group in terms of the mean spleen ADC value (P<0.01). As a result we believe that the measurement of liver and spleen ADC values may be an indicator in the determination of the level of fibrosis.

Diffusion-Weighted MRI of the Testes in Patients With Varicocele: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE This preliminary study aimed to evaluate changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the testes in patients presenting with varicocele. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included 25 consecutively recruited patients with varicocele and 25 healthy control volunteers. The ADC values were measured in all participants. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used to test the normality of the data distributions, and the data were expressed as arithmetic means and SDs. A one-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Bonferroni test was used to analyze normally distributed continuous data. Independent sample Student t tests were used to compare continuous variables between two groups. Furthermore, a Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was used to examine the association of venous diameters with mean ADC values in patients with varicocele. A two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Sensitivities, specificities, and areas under the curve were calculated for the ADC values. RESULTS The ADC values associated with the ipsilateral testicular parenchyma of patients with varicocele were found to be lower than those of healthy volunteers. Moreover, the ADC values of the contralateral testicular parenchyma in patients with varicocele were also lower than those of healthy volunteers. The sensitivity and specificity of ADC values were 90% and 96%, respectively, for patients with varicocele and 89.5% and 96% for healthy volunteers. The mean ADC values were significantly negatively correlated with venous diameter. CONCLUSION The measurement of testicular ADC values may be used as a diagnostic indicator in the detection of testicular fibrosis.

The role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the classification of hepatic hydatid cysts

The aim of the study was to classify different types of hepatic hydatid cysts (HHCs) by measuring the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). This prospective study comprised 44 patients. The 44 HHCs were classified using Gharbi ultrasonographic classification (GUC) and then T2WIs and DWIs were obtained. The ADC values were measured of the hydatid cyst (HC) subtypes. The distribution of the ADC values in the cyst groups was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test for multi groups and the Mann-Whitney U test for paired groups. To evaluate the efficacy of ADC values in cyst diagnosis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. According to the GUC, there were 15 type 1, 11 type 2, 7 type 3, 5 type 4 and 6 type 5 HHCs. According to the ADC values in the paired comparisons, while types 1, 2 and 5 HCs were statistically differentiated from all other groups except the type 3 group, the type 4 group was differentiated from all other groups and the type 3 group was only differentiated from the type 4 group. When two groups were formed from the HHC subtypes with types 1, 2, and 3 in one group and types 4 and 5 in the other, a statistically significant difference was determined in the mean ADC values of these new groups. In conclusion the measurement of ADC values can be considered a promising parameter as an alternative to ultrasonography in the determination of subtypes of HHCs.

Efficacy of CT in diagnosis of transudates and exudates in patients with pleural effusion.

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging in diagnosis of pleural exudates and transudates using attenuation values. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 106 patients who were diagnosed with pleural effusion between January 2010 and June 2012. After the patients underwent chest CT, thoracentesis was performed in the first week. The attenuation values of the pleural effusions were measured in all patients. RESULTS According to Lights criteria, 30 of 106 patients with pleural effusions had transudates, and the remaining patients had exudates. The Hounsfield unit (HU) value of the exudates (median, 12.5; range, 4-33) was significantly higher than that of the transudates (median, 5; range, 2-15) (P = 0.001). Additionally, when evaluated by disease subgroups, congestive heart failure and empyema were predictable in terms of median HU values of the pleural effusions with high and moderate sensitivity and specificity values (84.6% and 81.2%, respectively; 76.9% and 66.7%, respectively). Compared with other patients, the empyema patients had significantly more loculation and pleural thickening. CONCLUSION CT attenuation values may be useful in differentiating exudates from transudates. Although there is an overlap in most effusions, exudate can be considered when the CT attenuation values are >15 HU. Because of overlapping HU values, close correlation with clinical findings is essential. Additional signs, such as fluid loculation and pleural thickness, should be considered and may provide further information for the differentiation.

Brain metabolite alterations in Eisenmenger syndrome: Evaluation with MR proton spectroscopy☆

OBJECTIVE Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is a life-threatening disease characterized by pulmonary hypertension and cyanosis in patients with congenital heart diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the brain metabolite changes in Eisenmenger syndrome compared with a control group using MR proton spectroscopy. METHODS AND MATERIALS The study included 10 children (3 male, 7 female) with congenital heart diseases and a diagnosis of Eisenmenger syndrome. The control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteer children. All were examined with a 1.5T MRI scanner and single voxel spectroscopy was performed to obtain spectra from three different regions; left frontal subcortical white matter, left lentiform nucleus and left thalamus. Peak integral values obtained from the spectra were used as quantitative data. RESULTS The ages of the children with ES were between 5 and 16 years, and between 5 and 15 years in the control group. Periventricular white matter hyperintensities were observed in 3 patients. On MR spectroscopy study, significantly lower levels of Choline metabolite (Cho) were detected in the frontal subcortical region and thalamus regions of the patients compared with the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the levels of other metabolites (NAA, Cr, mI and Glx). In the lentiform nucleus, although the average value of Cho in ES patients was lower than that of the control group, it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Cho metabolite was determined to have an important role in brain metabolism in Eisenmenger syndrome patients. Oral Cho treatment may help to extend survival.

Evaluation of resistive index using color Doppler imaging of orbital arteries in geriatric patients with hypertension

Background and Aim: Resistive index (RI) is an indirect measurement of blood flow resistance that can be used to evaluate vascular damage in ophthalmologic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between RI values of orbital arteries using the color Doppler imaging (CDI) in geriatric hypertensive patients with or without retinopathy. Setting and Design: Designed as a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 60 geriatric patients with hypertension (Group 1) and 30 healthy subjects (Group 2). Further, the patients with hypertension were grouped into two: Group 1a consisted of patients with retinopathy (n = 30), and group 1b consisted of patients without retinopathy (n = 30). The mean RI values of ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior ciliary artery (PCA) were measured using CDI. Results: Compared to group 2, group 1 had significantly higher mean resistive index of PCA levels (P = 0.017), whereas there were no statistical difference in mean resistive indexes of OA and CRA (both P > 0.05). Besides, there were no statistical difference in mean resistive indexes of OA, CRA, and PCA between the group 1a and group 1b (P > 0.05 for all). Mean resistive indexes of OA, CRA, and PCA were significantly correlated with the duration of hypertension (r = 0.268, P = 0.038; r = 0.315, P = 0.014; r = 0.324, P = 0.012, respectively). Conclusions: Our study indicates that RI might be a useful marker for the ocular hemodynamic of retinal vessels, provides morphologic and vascular information in hypertension and hypertensive retinopathy.

Cervicomediastinal Giant Cystic Hygroma: A Case Report

Cystic hygroma is a rare congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. It is most frequently detected in the head and neck region. Ultrasonography is performed as the first step for radiological diagnosis of these lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging provides important information for diagnosis and to guide treatment. In this paper, a case is reported of cervicomediastinal large cystic hygroma in a male infant.

Urothelial Carcinoma Concomitant With Malakoplakia In Non-Functioning Nephrolithic Kidneys

Abstract Nephrolithic non-functioning kidney and malakoplakia are major health problems. Kidney function cannot be fulfilled and also this leads to a high risk of development of urothelial neoplasm. We report herein a case of urothelial carcinoma concomitant with malakoplakia in non-functioning nephrolithic kidneys.

Anterior interhemispheric calcified lipoma together with subcutaneous lipoma and agenesis of corpus callosum: a rare manifestation of midline craniofacial dysraphism

Frontonasal dysplasia (FND) or craniofacial dysraphism includes a variety of craniofacial defects. FNDs are rarely associated with intracranial lipoma. The majority of intracranial lipomas are incidentally identified on radiological examinations. They are commonly accompanied by other congenital intracranial malformations. Moreover, they are rarely associated with subcutaneous lipoma. We present a rare case of midline craniofacial dysraphism with interhemispheric calcified lipoma together with subcutaneous lipoma and agenesis of the corpus callosum.