Fethi Emre Ustabasioglu

Shear wave elastography of placenta: in vivo quantitation of placental elasticity in preeclampsia

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the utility of shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing the placenta in preeclampsia disease. METHODS A total of 50 pregnant women in the second or third trimester (23 preeclampsia patients and 27 healthy control subjects) were enrolled in the study. Obstetrical grayscale and Doppler ultrasonography, SWE findings of placenta, and prenatal/postnatal clinical data were analyzed and the best SWE cutoff value which represents the diagnosis of preeclampsia was determined. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy of preeclampsia were calculated based on SWE measurements. RESULTS Mean stiffness values were much higher in preeclamptic placentas in all regions and layers than in normal controls. The most significant difference was observed in the central placental area facing the fetus where the umbilical cord inserts, with a median of 21 kPa (range, 3-71 kPa) for preeclampsia and 4 kPa (range, 1.5-14 kPa) for the control group (P < 0.01). The SWE data showed a moderate correlation with the uterine artery resistivity and pulsatility indices. The cutoff value maximizing the accuracy of diagnosis was 7.35 kPa (area under curve, 0.895; 95% confidence interval, 0.791-0.998); sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 90%, 86%, 82%, 92%, and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSION Stiffness of the placenta is significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia. SWE appears to be an assistive diagnostic technique for placenta evaluation in preeclampsia.

Evaluation of the Tibial Nerve with Shear-Wave Elastography: A Potential Sonographic Method for the Diagnosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Purpose To evaluate the value of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in the detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of the tibial nerve. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. The study included 20 diabetic patients with DPN (10 men, 10 women), 20 diabetic patients without DPN (eight men, 12 women), and 20 healthy control subjects (nine men, 11 women). The tibial nerve was examined at 4 cm proximal to the medial malleolus with gray-scale ultrasonography and SWE. The nerve cross-sectional area (in square centimeters) and the mean nerve stiffness (in kilopascals) within the range of the image were recorded. Inter- and intrareader variability, differences among groups, and correlation of clinical and electrophysiologic evaluation were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients, the Mann Whitney U test, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results Between diabetic patients with and diabetic patients without DPN, mean age (60 years [range, 38-79 years] vs 61 years [range, 46-75 years], respectively), mean duration of diabetes (10 years [range, 1-25 years] vs 10 years [range, 2-26 years]), and mean body mass index (31.4 kg/m2 [range, 24.7-48.1 kg/m2] vs 29.8 kg/m2 [range, 22.9-44.0 kg/m2]) were not significantly different. Diabetic patients without DPN had significantly higher stiffness values on the right side compared with control subjects (P < .001). Patients with DPN had much higher stiffness values on both sides compared with both diabetic patients without DPN (P < .001) and healthy control subjects (P < .001). A cutoff value of 51.0 kPa at 4 cm proximal to the medial malleolus revealed a sensitivity of 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.4%, 96.7%) and a specificity of 85.0% (95% CI: 74.9%, 91.7%). Conclusion Tibial nerve stiffness measurements appear to be highly specific in the diagnosis of established DPN. The increased stiffness in subjects without DPN might indicate that the nerve is affected by diabetes.

Is There Any Difference Between Seminomas and Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors on Shear Wave Elastography? A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of shear wave elastography (SWE) to differentiate seminomas from nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. METHODS Approval for this retrospective study was obtained from the local Ethics Committee of Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School. Fifteen patients with malignant testicular lesions were examined by grayscale sonography, color or power Doppler sonography, and SWE between February 2011 and October 2015. The size of each lesion, Doppler signal parameters, echogenicity, presence of microlithiasis, unifocality or multifocality, and histopathologic findings were the main factors evaluated. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 33 years (range, 25-55 years). There were no differences between seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors in terms of Doppler signals, echogenicity, microlithiasis, or focality. Only the homogeneous and heterogeneous echogenicity patterns differed significantly. However, a significant difference was evident in SWE-derived quantitative data. CONCLUSIONS Seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors do not differ significantly on grayscale or Doppler sonography, except in terms of homogeneity. However, SWE seems to differentiate seminomas from nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of shear wave elastography (SWE) to differentiate seminomas from nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.

Elastography in Distinguishing Benign from Malignant Thyroid Nodules.

Aim: The aim of this study is to test the diagnostic success of strain elastography in distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: The size, echogenicity, and halo integrity of 293 thyroid nodules and the presence of microcalcification in these nodules were evaluated on gray-scale examination. Doppler characteristics and elastography patterns were also evaluated and recorded. Nodules were classified in four categories (patterns 1-4) based on elastographic examination. Results: According to the cytopathological findings, 222 nodules were benign, and 71 nodules were malignant. The risk of a nodule to be malignant was 3.8 times increased by hypoechogenicity, 7.7 times increased by the presence of microcalcification, and 11.5 times increased by the absence of halo. On Doppler patterns, the presence of central vascularity increased the malignancy risk of a nodule by 5.8 times. According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis, patterns 3 and 4 were malignant, and patterns 1 and 2 were benign. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of elastography were 100%, 80.2%, 61.7%, 100%, and 85%, respectively. Conclusion: Strain elastography can be used as a noninvasive method in distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules and in identifying the patients who would undergo surgery.

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Detected by Shear Wave Elastography within a Fibroadenoma.

Fibroadenoma is the most common breast tumor in women. Malignant transformation occurs rarely within fibroadenoma at older ages. Clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists need to be aware of malignant transformation within fibroadenomas. Radiologic studies play an important role in the diagnosis of fibroadenoma; however, radiologic findings are often nonspecific for malignancy and may appear completely benign. We detected an occult ductal carcinoma in situ that originated inside a fibroadenoma by using shear wave elastography. We report shear wave elastography findings of ductal carcinoma in situ within fibroadenoma and discuss the diagnostic role of this modality.

An unusual cause of chest pain: An isolated huge cardiac hydatid cyst

Hydatid disease is a human parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. The most common locations for hydatid cysts are the liver and lungs. Cardiac involvement is rare, and isolated cardiac hydatid cysts are even more unusual. We report the case a 48‐year‐old female patient with an isolated huge cardiac hydatid cyst involving both the left ventricular free wall and the pericardium, and presenting with atypical chest pain.

Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurement in Mediastinal Lymphadenopathies: Differentiation between Benign and Malignant Lesions

Objectives: We aimed to prospectively assess the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement in the differentiation of benign and malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Materials and Methods: The study included 63 consecutive patients (28 women, 35 men; mean age 59.3 years) with 125 mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Echoplanar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the mediastinum was performed with b-factors of 0 and 600 mm2/s before mediastinoscopy and mediastinotomy, and ADC values were measured. The ADC values were compared with the histological results, and statistical analysis was done. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean ADC value of malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathy (1.030 ± 0.245 × 10−3 mm2/s) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when compared to benign lymphadenopathies (1.571 ± 0.559 × 10−3 mm2/s). For differentiating malignant from benign mediastinal lymphadenopathy, the best result was obtained when an ADC value of 1.334 × 10−3 mm2/s was used as a threshold value; area under the curve 0.848, accuracy 78.4%, sensitivity 66%, specificity of 86%, positive predictive value 76.7%, and negative predictive value of 79.2%. Interobserver agreement was excellent for ADC measurements. Conclusions: ADC measurements could be considered an important supportive method in differentiating benign from malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathies.

Evaluation of parenchymal thyroid diseases with multiparametric ultrasonography

Aim: Differential diagnosis of parenchymal thyroid diseases by gray-scale ultrasound is quite difficult for a radiologist as the findings are very similar to each other. In this study we aimed to assess some quantitative spectral Doppler parameters, resistivity index (RI), acceleration time (AT), and quantitative elastography [shear wave velocity (SWV)] together to show their reliability for differential diagnosis of parenchymal thyroid diseases. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed findings of 227 patients (179 females, 48 males) that underwent spectral Doppler ultrasound and acoustic radiation force impulse between October 2013 and March 2016. Ages of the patients were between 18 and 74 years (39.52 ± 12.67). Based on clinical and laboratory findings, patients were divided into five groups (N: Normal, EH: Early Hashimoto, H: Late Hashimoto, M: Nodular Thyroid Disease, HM: Hashimoto + Nodular Thyroid Disease). Detailed statistical analyses were done on parameters such as age, gender, volume information, and RI, AT (ms), SWV (m/s). Results: No significant effect of gender or volume on the differentiation of disease pattern (Chi-square test: P = 0.306, Kruskal-Wallis test: P = 0.290) was found in this study. RI (0.41 ± 0.06) and SWV values (1.19 ± 0.18 m/s) were the lowest. AT values (>55 ms) were the highest in EH group (area under the curve: 0.913). Existence of H decreased RI and SWV values, while it extended AT in a different thyroid disease. Conclusion: Thyroid parenchymal diseases could be classified and differentiated from each other by measuring RI, AT, and SWV values quantitatively. So, in suspicious cases, these parameters could be a reliable asset for differential diagnosis.

Spinal epidural abscess as a complication of Crohn's disease

A 39-year-old woman with a history of Crohn’s disease presented with complaints of fever, low back pain, and right leg weakness. C-reactive protein was 91 mg/L and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 140 mm/h. Pelvic computed tomography revealed wall thickening of the ileal loops and a gas-containing abscess in the presacral space characteristic of Crohn’s disease (Fig. 1). Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated fistulae between distal ileum, sigmoid colon, and intraspinal extradural space, causing epidural abscess with air and lumbosacral spondylitis (Fig. 2). Following 10 days of medical treatment, surgery including a diverting end sigmoid colostomy and presacral abscess drainage was performed. This treatment with appropriate antibiotics conveyed recovery, without requiring spinal surgery. Spinal epidural abscess is a serious and rare complication of Crohn’s disease. It must be kept in mind along with caudal neurologic symptoms and leg pain in Crohn’s disease [1].

A Rare Complication of Behcet’s Disease: An Incidentally Detected and Spontaneously Thrombosed Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm

Fig 2. 30-year-old female patient with known Behcet’s Adisease was administered to our hospital with dyspnea and tachypnea. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed. CT revealed thrombi in the pulmonary arteries with areas of infarction. Furthermore, an aneurysmal sac measuring 3 3 and containing mural thrombus on the left coronary sinus localization was spotted. This aneurysm did not enhance with contrast medium on axial CT images and therefore was supposed to be a thrombosed left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (Fig 1). For further investigation, an 11-monthold CT from other radiology institute was examined