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Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to report the clinical features and MR imaging findings of patients with brucellar spondylodiscitis., Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with spondylodiscitis, recruited among 152 patients with brucellosis referred from the Department of Infectious Diseases. Patients were diagnosed based on positive clinical findings, > or =1/160 titers of brucella agglutination tests and/or positive blood cultures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to all of the patients with spondylodiscitis. Signal changes and enhancement of vertebral bodies, involvement of paravertebral soft tissues and epidural spaces, nerve root and cord compression and abscess formation were assessed., Results: All of the patients (n=22; 7 F, 15 M) had > or =1/160 titers of brucella agglutination test and blood culture was positive in 9. A great majority of the patients had involvement at only one vertebrae level (n=21, 95.5%), whereas one patient (4.5%) had multilevel involvement. In MRI, eight patients had soft tissue involvement and three had abscess formation. All cases had vertebral and discal enhancement. Additionally epidural extension was detected in four cases, posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) elevation in five cases and root compression in two cases., Conclusion: Brucella is still a public health problem in endemic areas. MRI is a highly sensitive and non-invasive imaging technique which should be first choice of imaging in the early diagnosis of spondylodiscitis.

Purpose: We have investigated the role of sonography in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis., Materials and Methods: This study evaluates 39 patients with plantar fasciitis and control group of 22 healthy volunteers. The plantar fascia thickness was measured 5 mm distal to the insertion of the calcaneus of plantar aponeurosis. Qualitative parameters such as decreased echogenity, biconvexity, perifascial fluid and calcification of plantar fascia were also noted., Results: Mean plantar fascia thickness was measured 2.9 mm in patients with unilateral heel pain, 2.2 mm for contralateral normal heel and 2.5mm for control group. There was a statistically significant difference between heel with plantar fasciitis, contralateral normal heel and control groups (p=0.009 and 0.0001, respectively). Mean body mass index was 28 kg/m(2) in patients with heel pain and 25 kg/m2 in control group. Body mass index measurements were significantly different between plantar fasciitis and control groups. We found reduced plantar fascia echogenity in 16 cases (41%), calcaneal spur in 20 cases (51%), biconvex appearance in two cases (5.1%) and perifascial fluid in one case (2.5%)., Conclusion: We conclude that in patients with plantar fasciitis, ultrasound may detect relatively small differences in plantar fascia thickness even in clinically unequivocal plantar fasciitis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to search sonographically for morphological and hemodynamic changes in hepatic and splanchnic vasculature of alcoholic patients having no signs of hepatic damage, and compare these with normal healthy subjects., Methods: Thirty alcohol-dependent patients and 30 control subjects with no alcohol problem or hepatic impairment were included in the study. All patients were evaluated by gray-scale and spectral Doppler ultrasound. The diameter of the portal vein, portal venous velocity, peak systolic and end diastolic velocities of hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries were assessed. RI, PI and systolic/diastolic velocity ratios were also calculated., Results: Portal vein cross-sectional area was greater in alcoholic patients compared to control group (P = 0.0012). Portal vein velocity, hepatic artery peak systolic and end diastolic velocity, superior mesenteric artery peak systolic and end diastolic velocity were significantly greater in alcoholic patients than in control group (P < or = 0.001). No statistically significant difference was detected between other parameters evaluated., Conclusion: In alcohol-dependent patients, some hemodynamic and morphologic changes occur in hepatic and splanchnic circulation, even before the signs of hepatic damage develop. These changes can be detected by means of Doppler and gray-scale sonogrsphy.

Objective: In virgin policystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients transabdominal sonography is the preferential method of the pelvic examination. The purpose of this study was to determine ovarian morphology by the transabdominal route by pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in virgin PCOS patients and to compare the diagnostic image quality with conventional B-mode ultrasonography (CBU)., Methods: Fifty-two ovaries in 26 virgin patients were evaluated by the transabdominal approach. Each ovary was examined using both PIHI and CBU. The sharpness of the follicular cysts walls, degree of internal echo definitions of the follicle cysts and overall ovarian conspicuity was assessed subjectively, using 4 point scoring (0, being worst; 3, being best score). The number of countable follicles, the size of largest and smallest ovarian follicle and ovarian volumes were assessed quantitively by both techniques. The effect of body mass index (BMI) on qualitative and quantitative scoring was evaluated., Results: The sharpness of the cyst wall and internal echo structure was significantly better with PIHI than with CBU (P < 0.001 P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). PIHI improved overall ovarian conspicuity in 41 (78.8%) of 52 examination. The number of countable follicles was significantly lower with CBU (P < 0.001). The maximum diameter of the largest follicle was larger with PIHI sonography to compared CBU (P < 0.001). Mean ovarian volume was significantly larger with CBU (P < 0.001). When data were analyzed separately according to BMI, number of non-diagnostic overall ovarian conspicuity scores with CBU was markedly high in obese patients (88% with CBU versus 3.8% with PIHI). On the other hand, mean number of countable follicles with CBU became much more lower in the obese group (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: In virgin PCOS patients, when compared to transabdominal CBU, PIHI significantly improved the detection of ovarian follicles, especially in high BMI obese subjects, through increased contrast sensitivity for cystic structures and decreased intrafollicular artifactual echoes. Transabdominal ultrasonographic examination by PIHI mode can contribute to the evaluation of ovaries.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between age and renal resistive index (RI) and to determine the normal values and ranges of RI in intrarenal arteries in healthy children., Materials and Method: Color duplex Doppler sonography of interlobar or arcuate arteries was performed in 115 children without clinical or laboratory pathologic changes of the urinary tract. Of these 115 healthy children, 23 were under 12 months of age (group 1), 24 between 12 and 35 months (group 2), 23 between 36 and 71 months (group 3), and 45 between 72 months and 16 years (group 4). Normative data for RI were established for each age group., Results: When age groups were compared, statistically significant differences were observed between age groups 1 and 2 (P=0.007), 1 and 3 (P=0.00), 1 and 4 (P=0.00) and 2 and 4 (P=0.00). No significant differences were observed between age groups 2 and 3 (P=0.452), and 3 and 4 (P=0.078). There was no significant difference between mean RI values of right and left kidney within any age group (P=0.315)., Conclusion: Results obtained in this study demonstrates that RI is age dependent; it is the highest at birth, from birth declines gradually with increasing age and stabilizes in a certain range (mean RI range regarded as normal for adults) by reaching adult levels.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of bronchiectasis in coal workers with or without coal worker pneumoconiosis (CWP) and to assess the extent of bronchiectasis, severity of bronchial wall dilatation and thickening by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT)., Materials and Methods: The retrospective study consisted of HRCT archieves of 93 coal workers. The coal workers with previous diagnosis of COPD (six), asthma (one) and tuberculosis (three) were excluded. Five coal workers with progressive massive fibrosis were not included into the study. The resulting patient group consisted of 78 patients (43 CWP; 35 non-CWP). Pneumoconiosis profusions of CWP workers were between p0/1 and p2/2 according to ILO 1980 chest X-ray classification. HRCT examinations of all subjects were evaluated for the presence, extent, dilatation and thickness of bronchiectasis. Analysis of extent, dilatation and thickness were performed according to established criteria., Results: The diagnosis of bronchiectasis was put on 19 of 43 CWP (44.1%) and 7 of 35 non-CWP workers (20.0%). There were statistically significant differences between bronchiectasis positive and negative coal workers with CWP concerning age and exposure duration (P = 0.012 and 0.009, respectively). Then, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to define exact risk factors. Exposure duration was only found to be related with presence of bronchiectasis [(odds ratio) OR = 1.494, 95% confidence interval 1.168-1.912]., Conclusions: The data from the present study shows that bronchiectasis is frequent and severe in CWP workers than without. Bronchiectasis is influenced by coal dust exposure. Thus, coal dust protection measures must be controlled efficiently to prevent bronchiectasis in coal workers.

Object: aim of this study was to analyse the observer variability in the diagnosis and definition of disc pathologies with low and high-field strength MR scanners., Material and Methods: 95 patients with low back pain or radicular pain who were referred from two different centers were included in the study. Fifty-seven patients were scanned with 0.3 T MR (group 1) and 38 patients with 1.5 T (group 2). The intraobserver and interobserver reliability were assessed with the cappa coefficient which was characterised as follows: values less than 0.0 = 'poor' agreement, values 0.01-0.2 = 'slight' agreement beyond chance, 0.21-0.4 = 'fair' agreement, 0.41-0.60 = 'moderate' agreement, 0.61-0.80 = 'substantial' agreement and 0.81-1.00 = 'almost perfect' agreement., Results: intraobserver agreement in group 1 and group 2 for both readers was 'almost perfect' in differentiating normal and pathological discs; 'substantial-almost perfect' in defining the disc pathologies, 'moderate-substantial' in root compression, and 'moderate-substantial' in spinal stenosis. Interobserver agreement was 'almost perfect' in differentiating normal and pathological discs, 'substantial' in defining disc pathologies, 'moderate' in root compression and 'moderate' in spinal stenosis in the group 1, whereas in group 2, it was 'almost perfect' in differentiating normal and pathological discs, 'almost perfect' in defining disc pathologies, 'slight-substantial' in root compression and 'moderate' in spinal stenosis., Conclusion: in the diagnosis of root compression and spinal stenosis, the intra and interobserver agreements were relatively poor with both high and low-strength field MRIs, indicating a need for more objective criteria. In differentiating normal and pathologic appearance of disc, the interobserver agreement was considerably better with high-field compared to low-field strength MRI. In cases where this definition is important, high-field strength scanners should be preferred.

Background: There are only few reports describing the texture of the inferior turbinate bone in normal and pathologic conditions. In this study, different types of human inferior turbinate bones were classified and radiological features of each type were defined., Methods: The shape, structure and density of the inferior turbinate bones were evaluated using paranasal sinus computed tomography images of 283 patients. The cross-sectional areas of the bony part of the inferior turbinate were measured in bone windows., Results: Human inferior turbinate bones were classified into four groups on the basis of different shape and structure as: Type I, lamellar; Type II, compact; Type III, combined type (compact with spongious component); Type IV, bullous. The distribution was as follows: 352 (62.19%) lamellar, 50 (8.83%) compact, 162 (28.63%) combined, and 2(0.35%) bullous type., Conclusion: Inferior turbinate bone is not in a uniform shape and structure. These diversities should be taken into consideration in radiological and clinical evaluation.

Introduction: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive than chest X-ray (CXR) in the depiction of parenchymal abnormalities. We aimed to present and compare CXR and HRCT findings in coal workers with and without early and low-grade coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP)., Materials and Methods: 71 coal workers were enrolled in this study. All workers were male. The CXR and HRCT of those workers were obtained and graded by two trained readers. HRCT's were graded according to Hosoda and Shida's Japanese classification. After grading, 67 workers with CXR profusion 0/0-2/2 were included in the study. Four patients with major opacity were excluded. Profusion 0/1 to 1/1 cases were accepted as early and profusion 1/2 and 2/2 cases as low-grade pneumoconiosis., Results: Discordance between CXR and HRCT was high. Discordance rate was found higher in the early pneumoconiosis cases with negative CXR than low-grade pneumoconiosis (60, 36 and 8%, respectively). When coal miners with normal CXR were evaluated by HRCT, six out of 10 cases were diagnosed as positive. In low-grade pneumoconiosis group, the number of patients with positive CXR but negative HRCT were low in comparison to patients with CXR negative and early pneumoconiosis findings. Most of the CXR category 0 patients (10/16) were diagnosed as category 1 by HRCT. Eleven cases diagnosed as CXR category 1 were diagnosed as category 0 (7/11) and category 2 (4/11) by HRCT. In CXR category 2 (eight cases), there were four cases diagnosed as category 1 by HRCT., Conclusions: Discordance between CXR and HRCT was high, especially for CXR negative and early pneumoconiosis cases. The role of CXR in screening coal workers to detect early pneumoconiosis findings should be questioned. We suggest using HRCT as a standard screening method instead of CXR to distinguish between normal and early pneumoconiosis.

Air in vascular compartments has been rarely reported. We report a case in whom air within transverse sinus and sinus confluence through ruptured superior sagittal sinus (SSS) due to fractures of parietal and frontal bones was disclosed by computed tomography (CT). Although air in transverse sinus has been reported rarely this could be the first case with air in transverse sinus through the SSS after cranial trauma.

Objective: Reflux is an important criterion for the diagnosis of varicoceles and in the existence of reflux more than 1 s is the lower limit for the diagnosis of varicoceles. We proposed to assess the relationship of vein diameters with the incidence, duration and flow volume of reflux using color Doppler sonography (CDS) in patients with clinically diagnosed varicocele., Materials and Methods: Forty-seven patients with varicocele (aged 16-43) were included into the study. Reflux was assessed in spectral analysis using CDS and the duration, velocity and flow volume were measured., Results: Mean duration of reflux on right side was 1.5 +/- 0.3 s in 14 patients, throughout the Valsalva's maneuver in eight patients and no reflux in 25 patients. Mean duration of reflux on the left side was 1.5 +/- 0.3 s in 25 patients, throughout the Valsalva's maneuver in 18 patients and no reflux in four patients. The incidence of reflux in the testicular veins with a diameter lower than 3 mm was 62.3% whereas 94.4% in veins more than 3 mm in diameter. Flow volume of reflux was less than 10 ml/min in four patients and 21.7 +/- 24.3 ml/min in 18 patients on right side. Four patients had flow volume of reflux less than 10 ml/min and 39 patients had 27.9 +/- 35.6 ml/min on the left side. Flow volume meaningfully rose with increasing in vein diameter (r=0.83 on right; r=0.65 on left, P<0.01)., Conclusion: Measurement of flow volume of reflux has been considered as a more valuable method with respect to presence of reflux and/or measurement of venous diameter since flow volume reflects a combination of the vein diameters, duration and velocity of reflux.

We evaluated the efficacy of intestinal sonography in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal involvement of Henoch-Schönlein syndrome (HSS). Intestinal sonography was performed in 20 children who were clinically diagnosed as HSS and sonographic findings of the intestinal system were reviewed. Out of 20 patients, 10 who suffered from abdominal pain demonstrated sonographic findings consistent with small intestinal involvement (dilatation of intestinal segments, hypomotility, and eccentric thickening of the intestinal wall). Our results reveal that sonography of the intestine may be useful in the evaluation of the involvement of HSS.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of parasternal ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing internal mammary lymph node metastases in breast cancer, an important site of occult metastases, adversely affecting the disease-free interval and long-term survival. Thirty-five patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer were examined for internal mammary lymph node (IMLN) involvement with parasternal US, and results were correlated with computed tomography (CT). Longitudinal and transverse images of the first through sixth parasternal rib interspaces were evaluated with a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer. The enlarged nodes were demonstrated as discrete, spherical or ovoid hypoechoic lesions in six cases with parasternal US, and corresponding CT scans confirmed the presence of lymphadenopathy. Our results suggest that parasternal US may be helpful in the evaluation of IMLN metastases in breast cancer as a part of staging the disease.