The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in the differentiation of transudative and exudative pleural effusions. This monocentric study comprised 60 cases (17 transudative, 43 exudative).Transthoracic SWE was performed in 60 cases for whom to use thoracentesis for the pleural fluid analysis was planned. The mean SWE values of each patient were recorded, and the correlation between the biochemical analysis results of pleural fluid after thoracentesis and SWE findings was evaluated. The effusion SWE values and biochemical analysis results were compared. Of the 60 patients who participated in this study, 32 (53.4) were male and 28 (46.6%) were female. The mean ± SD age was 59 ± 17.09 years (range = 21-89 years). Simultaneous serum biochemical analysis was performed for the patients with PE. The mean ± SD shear-wave velocity value of the transudative fluid was calculated 2.29 ± 0.41 (1.6-2.94), whereas the mean ± SD shear-wave velocity value of the exudative pleural fluid was calculated as 3.29 ± 0.63 (2.01-4.88) (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that sensitivity and specificity were found as 91% and 76.5%, respectively, when the cutoff value was selected as 2.52 m/s in the differentiation of the transudative and exudative effusions.Shear-wave elastography may help in the differentiation of transudative and exudative of the pleural effusions.
To evaluate the feasibility of quantitative analysis of muscle stiffness by Acoustic Radiation Forced Impulse (ARFI) elastography over a course of graduate isometric voluntary contractions.The stiffness of the bilateral biceps muscle of 13 healthy volunteers was measured in real time by ARFI elastography, while the forearm was in neutral-extended position, 90 degree self-flexed positions and 90 degree self-flexed position, with altered weights ranging from 1 to 8 kg placed on flattened palmar surfaces consecutively. The determined increases in biceps muscle stiffness were measured for both arms and correlated with the loadings weights adopted at progressive trial stages.The mean shear wave velocity (SWV) values of biceps muscles in a neutral position, in 90 degree flex position and 90 degree flex position with 1 to 8 kg weights on palmar surfaces were 2.162+/-0.302 m/sec, 3.382+/-0.581 m/sec, and 3.897+/-0.585 to 5.562+/-0.587 m/sec, respectively. Significant correlations between the muscle SWV values and related palmar weights and between the SWV values of right and left sides at different trial stages were identified (r=0.951 and r=0.954, respectively). A mutual propagation path of deep regions to entire areas was described to account for the distribution of increase in stiffness with increases in palmar weights. The confidence of method regarding inter-observer difference was confirmed by the correlation analyses of the results (r=0.998).ARFI elastography is a feasible imaging modality for quantifying the stiffness of isometrically voluntarily contracting muscles.
Acute epidural hematoma is a critical emergency all around the world, and its aggressive diagnosis and treatment are of vital importance. Emergent surgical evacuation of the hematoma is known as standard management; however, conservative procedures are also used for small ones. Spontaneous rapid resolution of these hematomas has also been reported in eight pediatric cases. Various theories have been proposed to explain the underlying pathophysiology of this resolution. Herein, we are reporting a new pediatric case with spontaneously resolving acute epidural hematoma 12 hours after admission to the emergency room.
Objective: We aimed to consider the multi-detector computed tomography findings of patients with the prediagnosis of bride ileus by pathologic results and surgical correlations. Methods: 65 patients with surgically confirmed diagnosis of bride ileus were enrolled in this study that were referred to general surgery department in the period between January 2010 and January 2014. Abdominal-pelvic multi-detector CT examinations of the patients were performed by a 64-Slice CT machine at breath-holding periods; the scanning was started from the level of xiphoid process to symphysis pubis including the inguinal canal orifices. Radiologic findings were considered according to surgical and pathological findings
ERCP has a complication rate ranging between 4% and 16% such as post-ERCP pancreatitis, hemorrhage, cholangitis and perforation. Perforation rate was reported as 0.08% to 1% and mortality rate up to 1.5%. Besides, injury related death rate is 16% to 18%. In this study we aimed to present a retrospective review of our experience with post ERCP-related perforations, reveal the type of injuries and management recommendations with the minimally invasive approaches.Medical records of 28 patients treated for ERCP-related perforations in Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital between March 2007 and March 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Patient age, gender, comorbidities, ERCP indication, ERCP findings and details were analyzed. All previous and current clinical history, laboratory and radiological findings were used to assess the evaluation of perforations.Between March 2007 and March 2013, 2972 ERCPs were performed, 28 (0.94%) of which resulted in ERCP-related perforations. 10 of them were men (35.8%) and 18 women (64.2%). Mean age was 53.36 ± 14.12 years with a range of 28 to 78 years. 14 (50%) patients were managed conservatively, while 14 (50%) were managed surgically. In 6 patients, laparoscopic exploration was performed due to the failure of non-surgical management. In 6 of the patients that ERCP-related perforation was suspected during or within 2 hours after ERCP, underwent to surgery primarily. There were two mortalities. The mean length of hospitalization stay was 10.46 ± 2.83 days. The overall mortality rate was 7.1%.Successful management of ERCP-related perforation requires immediate diagnosis and early decision to decide whether to manage conservatively or surgically. Although traditionally conventional surgical approaches have been suggested for the treatment of perforations, laparoscopic techniques may be used in well-chosen cases especially in type II, III and IV perforations.
BACKGROUND:In the present study, the role and efficiency of strain elastography (SE) were evaluated in diagnosis and staging of acute appendicitis in pediatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS:We enrolled 225 pediatric patients with suspected clinical and laboratory findings of acute appendicitis. Gray-scale sonographic findings were recorded and staging was made by the colorization method of SE imaging. Appendectomy was performed in all patients and the results of the surgical pathology were compared with the imaging findings. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of SE imaging were determined in terms of evaluating the "acute appendicitis". RESULTS:Sonographic evaluation revealed acute appendicitis in 100 patients. Regarding the SE analysis, cases with appendicitis were classified into 3 groups as: mild (n=17), moderate (n=39), and severe (n=44). The pathological evaluation revealed 95 different stages of appendicitis and normal appendix in 5 cases: acute focal (n=10), acute suppurative (n=46), phlegmonous (n=27), and perforated (n=12), regarding the results of surgical pathology. Five patients with pathologically proven "normal" appendix were noted as "mild stage appendicitis" based on gray scale and SE analysis. In total, when gray-scale and SE results were compared with pathology results regardless of the stage of appendicitis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy rates were 96%, 96%, 95%, 96.8%, and 96%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was detected between other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:In acute appendicitis, the use of SE imaging as a supportive method for the clinical approach can be useful in diagnosis, and its results are closely correlated with the histopathologic stage of appendix inflammation.