Serdar Tarhan

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonographic evaluation of the patients with knee osteoarthritis: a comparative study.

The objectives of the present work were (1) to establish the prevalence of the abnormalities detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US); and (2) to compare these imaging techniques in detail. The study group consisted of 58 patients with symptomatic knee OA and 16 volunteer control subjects. Knee joint was evaluated for femoral condylar cartilage changes, effusion, synovial thickening and popliteal cysts using MRI and US. All knees with OA had cartilage abnormalities on US examinations and normal cartilage was detected in less than 3% of these knees by MRI. Majority of the knees with OA had effusion using US (70%) or MRI (85%). Synovial thickening observed on US (34%) and MRI (50%) were common in the knees with OA. Popliteal cysts were detected in 40% of the knees with OA using US and 35% using MRI. This study confirmed that there was a significant correlation between the MRI and US techniques for evaluating the cartilage and soft tissue changes in the patients with knee OA. There were more significant differences between the controls and the symptomatic knees which had Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade 2 or more OA for the cartilage and soft tissue abnormalities on MRI and US. The prevalence of cartilage changes, effusion, synovial thickening and popliteal cyst using MRI and US were increased as the radiographic grade of OA increased. US examinations could be an alternative to initial evaluation tool to MRI in patients with knee OA.

Prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population

Testicular microlithiasis is a rare, usually asymptomatic, finding of the testes associated with various genetic anomalies and infertility. It is also widely believed that testicular microlithiasis is strongly associated with testicular tumor. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the true prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in an asymptomatic population by means of ultrasound screening. Healthy male volunteers (17–42 years old) were recruited from the annual Army Reserve Officer Training Corps training camp at Manisa, Turkey. A screening genitourinary history was obtained and a physical examination and screening scrotal ultrasound scan were performed. All men diagnosed with testicular microlithiasis underwent complete clinical evaluations, physical examinations and determination of tumor markers. Fifty-three men with testicular microlithiasis were identified from the 2179 ultrasound scans, giving a prevalence of testicular microlithiasis of 2.4% in this asymptomatic population. The age (mean±SD) of subjects with testicular microlithiasis was 23.9±4.2 years (range 20–31 years). Our results suggest that there is no significant association between TM and testicular cancer, although it is difficult to rule out such an association without further studies with a longer follow-up period.

Effect of varicocele on testicular artery blood flow in men--color Doppler investigation.

Objective: Varicocele can be defined as an abnormal tortuosity and dilatation of the veins of the pampiniform plexus. Contradictory results have been obtained from experimental animal models and a few clinical human studies on testicular arterial blood flow in varicocele. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in testicular arterial blood flow parameters in patients with varicocele. Material and Methods: A total of 62 patients with a clinical diagnosis of left varicocele and a scrotal vein with a diameter of S 3 r mm on color Doppler ultrasonography were included in the study. A total of 44 fertile normal male volunteers served as controls. Results: Median testicular arterial blood flow and median flow rate in milliliters per minute per 100 r g of testicular tissue were found to be significantly decreased in the patient group compared to the control group: blood flow, 1.42 and 2.00 r ml/min; flow rate, 9.63 and 12.35 r ml/min/100 r g, respectively ( p r < r 0.05). Positive correlations were found between sperm concentration and left testicular artery blood flow ( p r < r 0.05) and between left testicular volume and testicular artery blood flow ( p r < r 0.05). Conclusions: Testicular arterial blood flow was found to be significantly decreased in men with varicocele. This may be a reflection of the impaired microcirculation. Following decreased testicular arterial blood flow, impaired spermatogenesis may result from defective energy metabolism in the microcirculatory bed.

Comparison of 3 Physical Therapy Modalities For Acute Pain in Lumbar Disc Herniation Measured by Clinical Evaluation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE This study measures and compares the outcome of traction, ultrasound, and low-power laser (LPL) therapies by using magnetic resonance imaging and clinical parameters in patients presenting with acute leg pain and low back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS A total of 60 patients were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned into 1 of 3 groups equally according to the therapies applied, either with traction, ultrasound, or LPL. Treatment consisted of 15 sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations were done before and immediately after the treatment. Physical examination of the lumbar spine, severity of pain, functional disability by Roland Disability Questionnaire, and Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire were assessed at baseline, immediately after, and at 1 and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS There were significant reductions in pain and disability scores between baseline and follow-up periods, but there was not a significant difference between the 3 treatment groups at any of the 4 interview times. There were significant reductions of size of the herniated mass on magnetic resonance imaging after treatment, but no differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that traction, ultrasound, and LPL therapies were all effective in the treatment of this group of patients with acute LDH. These results suggest that conservative measures such as traction, laser, and ultrasound treatments might have an important role in the treatment of acute LDH.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without stents

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to present our endoscopic DCR operation method without the use of silicone tubing and our results on the patients suffering from chronic epiphora with postsaccal stenosis. METHODS Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy operations were performed to 21 sides of 18 patients who had chronic epiphora. No silicone tubing was used in any of the cases. In the postoperative healing period, the rhinostomy opening was maintained with frequent removal of nasal debris and using eyedrops. The patients were evaluated by fluoresceine test and endoscopic controls. RESULTS Symptomatic improvement was achieved in 19 out of 21 sides of the patients (90.5%) and the results were confirmed by the fluoresceine test under endoscopic control. CONCLUSION Our results of 21 sides of 18 cases underwent primary DCR without stents are as successful as those reported in the literature and the technique seems to be promising.

CT study on morphometry of frontal sinus

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and morphological characteristics of the frontal sinus in an adult population. This study was conducted retrospectively on paranasal CT scans in the axial and coronal planes of 300 cases (123 male and 177 female). The mean age was 40.74 ± 13.34 (range 20–83). Measurements of the width, height and anteroposterior length for each sinus and total width were obtained from CT scans. Measurements were compared statistically with relation to side and sex. The cases were divided into subgroups according to age for each sex and each measurement parameter was also compared among the subgroups. All measurements tended to be larger on the left side and were significantly larger in males than females. There was a significant difference in the anteroposterior lengths of right and left sides in both males and females and height for males and width for females. In both sexes, the highest values of measurements were usually observed at the 31–40 age group and there was a tendency to decrease with aging. The larger diameters of the left frontal sinus imply that it may be more possibly violated during surgical interventions. Morphometric features differed significantly in the two sexes at different ages and comparison with previous studies presented great regional variability. The size of the frontal sinus was seen to be related to age and sex. The knowledge provided in the present study is useful for some surgical procedures and widens the anthropometric knowledge of humanity. Clin. Anat. 21:287–293, 2008.

Organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus mimicking tumor

The authors present two cases of organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus. Both patients showed no bleeding abnormalities. Clinical symptoms, signs and radiologic appearance of the mass mimicked tumor during the initial diagnosis of the disease. To our knowledge, this is the first article describing organized hematoma in the maxillary sinus mimicking tumor without bleeding history and disorders. A provisional diagnosis of organized hematoma should be considered when a patient with history of epistaxis develops a slow-growing mass of the cheek and/or nasal obstruction.

Injury to the Lacrimal Apparatus After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Surgical Implications From Active Transport Dacryocystography

In order to evaluate the lacrimal drainage system injury after functional endoscopic sinus surgery, surgical records and postoperative active transport dacryocystography imaging of 31 patients were analyzed. Presence of the lacrimal bone dehiscence and no passage of the contrast material into the inferior meatus were noted as the signs of injury to the lacrimal canal on active transport dacryocystography. Bony dehiscence was detected in 53.2% of the operated sides but 20% of the nonoperated sides. No passage of the contrast material into the inferior meatus was observed in 14.9% of the operated sides. There were no cases of epiphora postoperatively. The lacrimal drainage system injury was more frequently observed on the left sides operated. We conclude that lacrimal drainage system injury might occur in various extents during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. However, it does not necessarily result in postoperative epiphora. Performing the middle meatal antrostomy in posteroinferior direction, and uncinectomy with backbiting forceps or a shaver might help in reducing the lacrimal injury. Active transport dacryocystography can be adopted as an alternative diagnostic tool in detection of the lacrimal injury.

Long-term effect of microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy on testicular blood flow.

We aimed to investigate the long-term effect of microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy on testicular blood flow using color Doppler sonography (CDS) in this observational study. A total of 30 patients clinically diagnosed with left varicocele who underwent a microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy were examined 3 times with CDS for testicular blood flow parameters, first before, then 3 months after, and finally 6 months after the operation. CDS values of testicular blood flow (peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, resistive index, and pulsatility index) were measured from testicular, capsular, and intratesticular arteries. We also evaluated preoperative and postoperative semen parameters. The mean values of blood flow velocities in the left testicular artery (peak systolic and end diastolic) increased and resistance indices (resistive and pulsatility) in the left capsular and intratesticular arteries decreased significantly after surgery (P < .05). No significant difference was detected between the preoperative and postoperative blood flow parameters in the right testicular, capsular, or intratesticular arteries (P < .05). In the semen analysis run 3 months after the operations, statistically significant increases were found in sperm concentration (P < .001), morphology percentage (P < .001), and total motile sperm concentration (P = .009). The increase in blood flow velocity in the testicular artery and the decrease in resistive and pulsatility indices in the capsular and intratesticular branches of the artery may be strong indicators of an increase in testicular arterial blood flow into the testicular tissue. Our data show that a significant improvement occurs in testicular blood supply and sperm parameters after microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy.

Endothelıal dysfunctıon ın patıents wıth prımary Sjögren’s syndrome

The aim of this study was to determine the endothelial function in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). We also aimed to determine whether endothelial (dys)function correlates with extraglandular manifestations, specific autoantibodies and the severity of salivary gland involvement of SS. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation and endothelium-independent vasodilation of the brachial artery were assessed by a high-resolution ultrasound on 25 patients with primary SS and on 29 healthy controls. Patients with primary SS had significantly less mean endothelium-dependent vasodilation than did controls (3.0±0.4% vs 4.2±0.3%; p=0.012). Endothelium-independent vasodilation induced by sublingual glycerol trinitrate was not different between the two groups (12.9±1.4% vs 14.1±1.2%; p=0.86;). We concluded that endothelium-dependent vasodilation was impaired in primary SS patients, in particular those presenting with Raynaud’s phenomenon, when compared with the healthy controls and this impairment was not associated with the presence of RF, ANA, anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B and with the other extraglandular manifestations of the disease.