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Background:Renal resistive index (RRI) scanned through renal Doppler is a practical marker employed in measuring blood flow in renal and intrarenal arteries and in noninvasive evaluation of renal vascular resistance. We aimed to investigate the renal hemodynamic variations in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Material and methods:Seventy-nine FMF patients and 51 healthy subjects suitable for age and sex were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to their urinary albumin excretion. Fifty-two patients with 0–29 mg/day albuminuria were included in the normoalbuminuric group while 27 patients with 30–299 mg/day albuminuria were included in the microalbuminuric group. Results:RRI values were higher in patients with FMF compared to the healthy subjects (p < 0.0001). Additionally, RRI values were found to be higher in the microalbuminuric patients group compared to the normoalbuminuric patients group, and RRI values were also higher in normoalbuminuric patients group compared to the control group (p = 0.002,p < 0.0001). The ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimum RRI cutoff value for microalbuminuria in patients was 0.63, sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 60%, andp = 0.013. Conclusion:RRI may be a marker that may be used in assessing resistance to renal blood flow, early renal damage, and progression of renal damage in FMF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Without appropriate control measures, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) incidence has been claimed to be overestimated. Purpose: To evaluate the relationship and the difference between differential serum creatinine (DsCr), which is currently surrogating as a marker of CIN, and measured differential GFR values as a control measure (DGFR) in hospitalized patients. Material and Methods: GFR was measured two times by Tc-99m DTPA, before and 48 h after contrast media (CM), along with sCr and BUN in 35 inpatients (22 men, 13 women, mean age ± SD = 61 ± 14) with no known chronic kidney disease. Results: Relationship was moderate between GFR and sCr (R = 0.50, P<0.01) in the study population. Pre-CM vs. post-CM values of GFR, sCr and BUN were not statistically different as (mean ± SD); 78 ± 36 vs. 73 ± 35 mL/min/1.73m2, 0.95 ± 0.26 vs. 0.94±0.26 mg/dl and 21±16 vs. 19±13 mg/dl, respectively, in the study group. According to basal GFR values, 14 patients (40%) seemed carrying risk of CIN (GFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2) in whom only two had sCr .1.5 mg/dl. Twenty-five patients (71%) had discordant results in relation to DsCr and DGFR and two of them had CIN according to classical definition of DsCr, although having basal sCr ,1.1 mg/dl. Yet, both had low, but stable GFR values. None of patient from the study group underwent hemodialysis. Conclusion: Significant discordance was observed between differential serum creatinine and measured differential GFR in hospitalized patients, suggesting that CIN incidence calculations only based on hospital registry may carry risk of error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the objective of creating standards for the volume of the thyroid gland by ultrasonography in the 0-16-year age group, thyroid volumes of 302 healthy children (150 boys, 152 girls) were measured by ultrasonography. The transverse (x), sagittal (y) and anteroposterior (z) lengths of the right and left lobes and isthmus were measured. Volumes of these were calculated by the ellipsoid volume formula [V = (π/6) × x × y × z]. Statistical analysis was done using the Kruskal-Wallis and Student t tests. The cases were divided into six and eight groups by age and height, respectively. There was a significant positive corelation between thyroid volume, age, height and weight. Thyroid volumes in children of 12 years and over were significantly different from those in the younger age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of pneumocephalus without a history of intracranial or intrathecal procedures is a significant radiographic finding. Although pneumocephalus means a violation of the dural barrier or the presence of infection, intravascular pneumocephalus is different from intraparenchymal pneumocephalus and its benign nature must be known in the presence of intravenous catheterization. Herein, we present a case of iatrogenic intravascular pneumocephalus with CT findings. To our knowledge, there are only a few reported cases of iatrogenic intravascular pneumocephalus in the literature. Careful intravenous catheterization and diagnosis of the condition on imaging helps to prevent unnecessary treatment procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this retrospective review of patients with craniofacial fibrous dysplasia (FD), the clinical and radiological findings of CT and MR scan were analyzed., Material/methods: The study material included 32 patients, at 9 to 68 years of age that were directed for differential diagnostics of several disorders in the head. We recorded CT and MRI data related to the lesion number, location, sidedness, appearance, and sex of the cases with craniofacial FD., Results: Of 32 patients involved in this study, 17 had monostotic and 15 had polyostotic involvement pattern. Bones most commonly involved by monostotic involvement in females were, in descending order, mandibular, maxillary, and sphenoid bones, while the sphenoid bone was involved the most in males. Leontiasis ossea was observed in 2 patients. Sclerotic and mixed lesion types were more common in both females and males. In T1- and T2-weighted MRI sequences, hypointensity was more common compared to hyperintensity or heterogeneous intensity. The type of enhancement of lesions was found similar after contrast medium administration., Conclusions: In the presence of craniofacial FD during CT or MRI imaging of the head, a detailed description of FD lesions may provide an important clinical benefit by increasing radiological experience during the diagnostics of this rare disorder.

Radiological practice includes classification of illnesses with similar characteristics through recognizable signs. In this report, twenty-eight important and frequently seen neuroradiological signs in childhood are presented and described using X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) images, illustrations and photographs.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect age-related changes on the MRI-based parameters related to several measurement of temporal lobe in the lifespan of adult persons. MRI scans of head (n=236) were reviewed retrospectively to identify abnormalities of temporal lobe, third ventricle, and temporal horn of lateral ventricle. Patients were divided into 3 study groups according to their age. Using axial and coronal views of the cerebral hemispheres, interuncal distance, thickness of temporal lobe, Evans' ratio, and the width of third ventricle, height of hippocampus, width of choroid fissure, and width of the temporal horn were measured. The mean age of study group was 44.2±17.7 (18 to 86). The gender ratio (F/M) of study group was 129/107. There is mild-moderate significant correlation between age and Evans' ratio (r=0.35, p<0.05). There is mild significant correlation between age and interuncal distances (r=0.24, p<0.05). There was no correlation between age and third ventricle widths, temporal lobe widths, and temporal horn widths of left and right sides of brain (p>0.05). A mild and significant correlation was present between these variables (r=0.14 and r=0.17, respectively; p<0.05). There was a mild and significant correlation between these variables. (r=-0.14 and r=-0.19, respectively; p<0.05). Although several parameters including our measurements were developed for the assessment of size and structure of temporal lobe. It is not ease to determine MRI-based markers for the prediction, diagnosis, and follow-up of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in the elderly.

Background: We investigated the changes in the values of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and Doppler index measurements in the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and hemodialysis (HD) patients., Material and Methods: Twenty outpatients on HD (mean age 46.1 ± 16.4), 27 outpatients on PD (mean age 45 ± 12.4), and 26 normotensive outpatients with ADPKD (mean age 52.4 ± 16.7) as the case groups and 21 healthy subjects (mean age 48.4 ± 7.2), as the control group, were included. The participants underwent ultrasonography of the common, right, and left carotid arteries for the IMT and Doppler flow measurements., Results: Overall, compared to the normal group, in the study groups, the IMT and peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were significantly higher in common carotid arteries; however, their differences were not meaningful in internal carotid arteries (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Overall, ADPKD, PD, and HD increase the IMT, PSV, EDV, RI, and PI values of CCA; however, their effect considerable less on the study parameters of ICA. There is no considerable difference among the effects of ADPKD, HD, and PD on the study parameters. Of CKD patients during the first diagnostic and follow-up workups, the measurements of carotid IMT and Doppler indices may provide valuable data for improving success of the clinical management.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for pediatric patients often requires deep sedation or anesthesia because they must remain completely immobile for a relatively long period to obtain high-quality images., Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of propofol i.v. or inhalation of sevoflurane anesthesia with the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for children undergoing MRI., Methods: Children aged 2 to 6 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status of I to II who were scheduled for MRI were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups. The propofol group was administered propofol 4 mg/kg i.v. followed by infusion of 150 microg/kg x min(-1). Patients in the sevoflurane group were induced with sevoflurane 8% by face mask and maintained with an air/oxygen mixture followed by sevoflurane 1.5%. Data recorded included age, weight, scan time, LMA insertion, removal, and recovery times, hemodynamic parameters, complications, pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) scale score, child movement, and MRI interruption. A higher PAED score indicated a higher level of delirium., Results: Eighty-eight children were enrolled and randomized to treatment. Nine children were excluded from analysis due to protocol violations. After completion of the study, there were 37 children in the propofol group (male/female, 18/19; mean [SD] age, 42.1 months; weight, 15.2 [4.9] kg; scan time, 20.5 [4.6] min) and 42 in the sevoflurane group (male/female, 15/27; mean [SD] age, 44.4 [26.1] months; weight, 15.1 [5.2] kg; scan time, 20.6 [4.8] min). No significant differences were found between the study groups with regard to age, weight, scan time, and hemodynamic parameters at baseline and during the study period. Mean LMA insertion, removal, and recovery times were significantly longer in the propofol group (4.8, 5.2, and 8.8 minutes, respectively) than in the sevoflurane group (3.3, 2.5, and 3.9 minutes, respectively) (P < 0.05). The mean PAED score in the propofol group was significantly lower than that in the sevoflurane group (mean [SD], 6.1 [4.0] vs 10.5 [3.7]; P < 0.05). The percentage of MRI interruption in the propofol group was significantly higher than that in the sevoflurane group (4 [11%] vs 0, respectively; P < 0.05). No episodes of hypotension or bradycardia occurred during the study, and alterations in the propofol infusion rate or sevoflurane concentration were not necessary. One child vomited in the sevoflurane group during the postoperative period., Conclusions: This small study found that sevoflurane, at the doses used in this study, provided shorter induction and faster recovery times than i.v. propofol for LMA anesthesia in these selected children undergoing MRI. The percentage of MRI interruption in the propofol group was significantly higher than that in the sevoflurane group. Sevoflurane was associated with a significantly higher score on the PAED scale, indicating greater emergence delirium.

Objective: We wanted to compare the efficacies of 95% ethanol and 20% hypertonic saline (HS) sclerotherapies that were performed in a single session under CT guidance for the management of simple renal cysts., Materials and Methods: A prospective series of 74 consecutive patients (average age: 57.6 +/- 8.1 years) with simple renal cysts were enrolled in this study. They were randomized into two groups and 95% ethanol or 20% HS, respectively, corresponding to 25% of the aspiration volume, was injected. Treatment success was determined six months later with follow-up clinical evaluation and performing ultrasonography., Results: The sclerotherapy was accepted as technically successful without major complications in all except two patients who were excluded because of a communication between the simple renal cyst and the pelvicalyceal collecting system. Thirty-six patients in the ethanol group received sclerotherapy with 95% ethanol and 36 patients in the HS group underwent sclerotherapy with 20% HS. The complete regression ratio of the ethanol group was significantly higher (94% versus 72%, respectively) than that of the HS group. There was one patient with partial regression in each group. The failure ratio of the ethanol group was significantly lower (3% versus 25%, respectively) than that of the HS group., Conclusion: Ethanol sclerotherapy under CT guidance is a successful and safe procedure and it can be used for the treatment of simple renal cysts. Sclerotherapy with 95% ethanol is more effective than 20% HS sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy with HS may be an option for patients preferring to undergo a less painful treatment procedure.

The reliabilities of the delayed images of helical computed tomography (CT) in detecting renal mass lesions of 30 mm or less in diameter was compared. Nephrographic, excretory and nephrographic+excretory phase images of all patients were evaluated separately to detect mass lesions of < or = 5 and 5-30 mm. There was not any statistically significant difference in the results of three groups. Nephrographic, excretory and nephrographic + excretory phase images are not different from or superior to each other in lesion detection., (Copyright 2003 Elsevier Science Inc.)