Carpal tunnel syndrome: What is the diagnostic value of usg with high resolution transducers?

Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy, caused by the entrapment of the median nerve. Ultrasonography (USG) has been used as a cost-effective and comfortable technique in the examination of the carpal tunnel and the median nerve in the last decade. Material and Methods: Thirty-five wrists of 21 patients with the signs, symptoms and electromyelography (EMG) confirmed diagnosis of CTS and 40 wrists of healthy adults were evaluated by ultrasonography (USG), performed with a 7.5-12 MHz transducer. Results: All of the 35 wrists of 21 patients with CTS diagnosed by EMG and 40 wrists of 20 healthy adults were diagnosed accurately. Conclusion: USG may be performed as a first step test in the diagnosis of suspected CTS

Contribution of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging to Diagnosis and Staging of Cervical Cancer

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common female malignancy worldwide. Although its incidence has decreased in developed countries due to screening with Papanicolaou test, it is still the leading cause of cancer-related female death in developing countries. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements calculated from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) images had any contribution in differentiation of normal cervical tissue from malignant lesions preoperatively, and whether there was a correlation between the mean ADC values and tumor type, grade, or stage in malignant lesions. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Mean ADC values in 25 patients who had cervical cancer proved histopathologically, and 20 patients with otherwise normal uterus were compared. Also in the study group, mean ADC values were compared between histopathologic subtypes, tumor grades, and stages. Results: In the study group the mean ADC values (0.96±0.15x10-3 mm2/s) were statistically lower than that of the control group (1.67±0.17x10-3 mm2/s) (p0.05). There was also no significant difference between the mean ADC values of the tumor grades (p>0.05). The mean ADC values in early stage cervical cancer (0.86±0.05x10-3 mm2/s) were significantly lower than the mean ADC values in late stage disease (0.98±0.06x10-3 mm2/s) (p<0.05). Conclusion: ADC value measurements may provide useful information in diagnosis of cervical cancer as well as in preoperative assessment of the tumor stage

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: What Is the Diagnostic Value of Usg with High Resolution Transducers?

Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy, caused by the entrapment of the median nerve. Ultrasonography (USG) has been used as a cost-effective and comfortable technique in the examination of the carpal tunnel and the median nerve in the last decade. Material and Methods: Thirty-five wrists of 21 patients with the signs, symptoms and electromyelography (EMG) confirmed diagnosis of CTS and 40 wrists of healthy adults were evaluated by ultrasonography (USG), performed with a 7.5-12 MHz transducer. Results: All of the 35 wrists of 21 patients with CTS diagnosed by EMG and 40 wrists of 20 healthy adults were diagnosed accurately. Conclusion: USG may be performed as a first step test in the diagnosis of suspected CTS

Clinical evaluation of the eye-to-visual-pathway integrity of glaucomatous neurodegeneration using 1.5T MR imaging: The integrity of glaucomatous neurodegeneration

Aim: Accumulating data imply that glaucoma may represent a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the entire visual system. We evaluated retrobulbar glaucomatous damage with favorable techniques for 1.5T diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging and we compared those techniques with clinical data in a large case series.&nbsp;Material and methods: This Cross-sectional study included 130 eyes of 65 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Patients with no known ocular or systemic concomitant disorders, neurological diseases, previous glaucoma surgeries, or antioxidant usage were selected. A decrease in thickness and deterioration in the optic nerve diffusion of severely glaucomatous eyes of patients with asymmetrical involvement was observed in optic nerve tractography. Optical coherence tomography and visual field results of the subjects were recorded. Glaucoma analysis with optical coherence tomography and standard automated perimetry results of the subjects were recorded. Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging analysis of optic nerves and radiations were performed, computing fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. Correlation between the diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging and clinical eye parameters of glaucomatous neurodegeneration were statistically evaluated.&nbsp;Results: The correlations between diffusion parameters and age were highly significant. Statistically significant correlations were found between ganglion cell complex and apparent diffusion coefficient, axial and radial diffusivities of optic nerves.&nbsp;Conclusion: Eye-brain connection in glaucoma can be evaluated with routine clinical instruments. Our study also revealed a limited correlation of retrobulbar glaucomatous neurodegeneration with ophthalmic damage. A better understanding of retrobulbar damage will enable us to develop more efficient strategies and a more accurate understanding of glaucoma

Comparison of CT severity index and modified CT severity index in patients with acute pancreatitis, in determining the severity of the disease Akut pankreatitli hastalarda, hastalığın şiddetini belirlemede bilgisayarlı tomografi ve modifiye bilgisayarlı tomografi şiddet indekslerinin karşılaştırılması

Objective: In our study, the correlation between computed tomography severity index (CTSI) and modified computed tomography severity index (MCTSI) regarding assessment of severity parameters in acute pancreatitis, and Ranson criteria were investigated. Patients and Methods: The study was retrospective and included 50 patients. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded. The size of the pancreas, peripancreatic inflammation, pararenal fascia thickening, necrosis, abscess, lymphadenopathy and abdominal ascites were investigated by computed tomography (CT) imaging. According to the data obtained, the CTSI and MCTSI values of each patient were calculated. The severity parameters of the disease; age, duration of hospitalization, abscess, pleural effusion and death were determined. Biliary, non-biliary pancreatitis and Ranson criteria were calculated. Results: In both groups and subgroups (mild, moderate and severe), there were no significant differences regarding age, hospital stay, gender and pleural effusion. but significant differences were detected for the presence of abscess and distribution of death. To determine compliance with each three subgroups in both scoring systems, Kappa test was used but the results were not consistent. No statistically significant correlation was observed between CTSI and MCTSI and Ranson scores. Conclusion: Our study shows that the CTSI and MCTSI are significantly correlated with mortality and abscess detection rate, only MCTSI is significantly correlated with the duration of hospitalization. Both of the severity indexes are not correlated with each other and Ranson ScoreAmaç: Çalışmamızda, radyolojik skorlama sistemleri olan bilgisayarlı tomografi şiddet indeksi (BTŞİ) ve modifiye bilgisayarlı tomografi şiddet indeksi (MBTŞİ)‘nin pankreatitli hastalarda, hastalığın şiddet parametreleri ile korelasyonu, skorlama sistemlerinin biribirleri ile olan korelasyonu, ayrıca skorlama sistemleri ve Ranson kriterleri arasındaki korelasyon araştırılmıştır. Hastalar ve Yöntem: Çalışmamızda 50 hasta retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. Hastaların, demografik, klinik ve laboratuvar verileri kayıt edilmiştir. BT görüntülemede pankreas boyutları, peripankreatik planlarda inflamasyon bulguları, pararenal fasyada kalınlaşma, nekroz oranı, abse, lenfadenopati ve intraabdominal sıvı araştırılmış ve bu verilere göre hastaların BTŞİ ve MBTŞİ değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Şiddet parametreleri, yaş, hastanede kalış süresi, abse, plevral sıvı ve ölüm olarak belirlenmiştir. Bilier ve non-bilier pankretit hastaları belirlenerek Ranson kriterleri hesaplanmıştır. Bulgular: Her iki grupta, hafif, orta ve şiddetli alt grupların arasında, yaş ortalamaları, hastanede yatış süreleri, cinsiyet ve plevral sıvı varlığı açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık saptanmamış, ancak abse varlığı ve ölüm dağılımları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık saptanmıştır. Her iki skorlama sistemindeki 3 alt grubun birbiri ile uyumunu belirlemek için ağırlıklı Kappa testi kullanılmış, ancak sonuçları uyumlu bulunmamıştır. Ranson skorları ile BTŞİ ve MBTŞİ skorları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı korelasyon gözlenmemiştir. Sonuç: Çalışmamız göstermektedir ki, BTŞİ ve MBTŞİ’inde mortalite ve lokal komplikasyonlardan abse saptanma oranı ile, ve sadece MBTŞİ’inde ise, hastanede yatış süresi ile ilgili anlamlı korelasyon vardır. Her iki şiddet indeksinin biribirleri ile ve Ranson skoru ile korelasyon saptanmamıştır