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Background: The pulmonary artery area (PAA) is a valuable non-invasive method for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Purpose: To compare the change in PAA in patients with COVID-19 with the computed tomography (CT) severity index using follow-up imaging. Material and Methods: A total of 81 patients who were followed up and underwent CT assessment more than once at our hospital's pandemic department were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with progression were separated into three groups: progression ranging from mild-to-mild infiltration (Group A, CT severity index of 0–2); progression from mild to severe infiltration (Group B, CT severity index of 0-2 to 3–5); and progression from severe-to-severe infiltration (Group C, CT severity index of 3–5). The PAAs were calculated separately. Results: The mean age was 56 ± 12 years. In terms of those patients showing progression in the CT images, the number of patients in Groups A, B, and C was 29, 40, and 12 in the right lung; 32, 45, and 4 in the left lung; 23, 45, and 13 on both lungs, respectively. There was no significant difference between the main, right, and left PAAs in Group A (P > 0.05). In Group B, there were significant increases in the areas of the main, right, and left PAAs (P < 0.05). There were also significant increases in the areas of the right and main pulmonary arteries in Group C (P < 0.05). Conclusion: PAAs increase as disease involvement advances in cases with COVID-19 pneumonia, which is thought to be correlated with progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of needle size in pediatric percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) placement in terms of complications and success rates. Methods: Seventy one percutaneous nephrostomies were performed in 51 patients aged 1 month to 18 years (mean 6.03 ± 5.88 years) between May 2012 and March 2020. Demographic data, indication for PN placement, puncture technique (calyceal entry level: upper, middle, lower pole or pelvis) and needle size, anesthesia type (general or local anesthesia), duration of catheter use and complications were retrospectively retrieved from the hospital electronic recording system. Results: Thirty procedures were performed using a 21 gauge needle and 41 procedures using a 18 gauge needle. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, degree of hydronephrosis, and calyceal entry level. Technical success and complication rates were similar in two groups (p = 0.423). Conclusions: In the pediatric age group, both 18 and 21 gauge needle techniques can be used safely based on the preference of the interventionalist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancellations of surgeries for elective cases and late admissions of symptomatic cases during the pandemic period might have increased the number of cases of acute cholecystitis and its complications. Purpose: To compare the severity of acute cholecystitis and complication rates during the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Material and Methods: We evaluated the computed tomography (CT) findings observed for the diagnosis of complications for both acute simple and acute complicated cholecystitis during both the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Patients admitted to the hospital between March 2020 and December 2020 made up the study group and the corresponding appropriate patients from one year earlier were studied as the control group. In addition to the CT findings, clinical and laboratory findings, co-morbidities such as diabetes, as well as the admission time to hospital from the onset of the initial symptoms to hospital admission were also evaluated. Results: A total of 88 patients were evaluated (54 in the study group, 34 in the control group; mean age = 64.3 ± 16.3 years). The male-to-female ratio was 51/37. The number of patients diagnosed with complicated cholecystitis were significantly higher in the study group (P = 0.03). Murphy finding and diabetes status were similar between the two groups (P = 0.086 and P = 0.308, respectively). Admission time to the hospital was significantly different for study and control groups in simple cholecystitis patients (P = 0.045); with no significant difference in cases of complicated cholecystitis (P = 0.499). Conclusion: Our study reveals the course of acute cholecystitis during the pandemic period was much more serious with higher complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sternum radiograph is used in determination of age after 21 years old according to manubriosternal body (MB) and xiphisternal joint body (XB) ossification. In this study, we intend to estimate age using multi-slice CT images as radiographs have lower sensitivity and CT images demonstrate ossification better. Materials and Methods: Multi-slice thorax CT images found in PACS archive are evaluated retrospectively. Cases between 21-65 years old are selected. Coronal reconstruction images were obtained. MB and XB joint ossification presence and degree are evaluated in respective age groups. MB joint ossification is graded as 0-3 and XB joint ossification graded as 0-1. Relation between variables is examined with Spearman correlation coefficient. Threshold for age variable is calculated using ROC analysis. Results: Multi-slice CT images of 396 cases are examined (198 females, 198 males). In females and males, MB and XB fusion was seen to start between age group of 21-25 years but there were complete fusion in a few. In 61-65 age groups there were cases without complete fusion. There was statistically significant difference in males and females according to MB and XB joint ossification in between age groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Evaluation of MB and XB joint ossification with CT scan in age estimation is not appropriate between wide age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]