Radiological staging in neuroblastoma : computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging?

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the staging of neuroblastomas according to the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Staging System (INRGSS). Material and methods: In this single-centre retrospective study we identified a total of 20 patients under the age of 18 years, who were admitted to our hospital with neuroblastoma between January 2005 and May 2018, and who had both CT and MRI examination. The INRGSS stages of tumours were evaluated by CT scan and MRI. Then, stages of tumours were described according to the INRGSS for CT and MRI, separately. The Spearman rank correlation test was used for statistical analysis. The p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The median age was 11 months, and the age range was one month to nine years. In our results; both MRI and CT were significant in the determination of radiological staging of NBL, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively. MRI was superior to CT in radiological staging. MRI was also superior for the detection of intraspinal extension, involvement of multiple body compartments, metastatic disease, and bone marrow infiltration. CT was more useful to consider the relationship between tumours and vascular structures. Conclusions: MRI and CT have high diagnostic accuracy rates in the staging of pre-treatment neuroblastomas. MRI is important in pre-treatment evaluation of neuroblastomas because of the higher detection of metastases as well as the lack of ionising radiation

Lung density analysis using quantitative computed tomography in children with pectus excavatum

Purpose: To evaluate the mean lung density in children with pectus excavatum (PE) and to assess the correlation between the cardiac rotation angle, Haller index, pulmonary function test, and lung density. Material and methods: This retrospective study included 33 children with PE and 31 healthy controls. The densities of lung parenchyma were evaluated by quantitative computed tomography (CT). Three lung levels were determined: T4 vertebra level, T10 vertebra level, and the level of the measurement of the cardiac rotation angle. The cardiac rotation angle and the Haller index were calculated. All measurements were done by 2 radiologists, independently. Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test, intraclass correlation coefficients, Pearson or Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: All the lung levels in the PE group had lower mean densities than healthy children, with statistical significance in the right lung at the T10 vertebra level (−818.60 ± 33.49 HU, −798.45 ± 40.24 HU; p = 0.028). There was a correlation between the cardiac rotation angle and the Haller index (r = 0.593; p < 0.001). There were no correlations between mean lung density and cardiac rotation angle, Haller index, and pulmonary function tests. Conclusions: The lower mean lung densities were found in PE, especially in the right lower lobe. The parenchymal aeration should be considered independently from the severity of PE

Clot-based radiomics features predict first pass effect in acute ischemic stroke

Purpos

Immunization status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A multicenter study from Turkey

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to detect the prevalence and the factors associated with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and outcomes of vaccination during 2013-2014 season in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study performed in 53 different centers in Turkey. RESULTS: During the study period, 4968 patients were included. COPD was staged as GOLD 1-2-3-4 in 9.0\%, 42.8\%, 35.0\%, and 13.2\% of the patients, respectively. Influenza vaccination rate in the previous year was 37.9\%; and pneumococcus vaccination rate, at least once during in a life time, was 13.3\%. Patients with older age, higher level of education, more severe COPD, and comorbidities, ex-smokers, and patients residing in urban areas had higher rates of influenza vaccination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, higher education levels, presence of comorbidities, higher COPD stages, and exacerbation rates were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. The number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was 2.73 +/- 2.85 and 0.92 +/- 1.58 per year, respectively. Patients with older age, lower education levels, more severe COPD, comorbid diseases, and lower body mass index and patients who are male and are residing in rural areas and vaccinated for influenza had significantly higher rates of COPD exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in COPD patients were quite low, and the number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was high in Turkey. Advanced age, higher education levels, comorbidities, and higher COPD stages were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination