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Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease with significant importance for public health in endemic regions. Spinal cystic echinococcosis, however, is a rare form that may lead to severe complications due to its localization. In this manuscript, we presented a 16-year-old male patient who admitted with abdominal and back edema for 2 months, evaluated with preliminary diagnoses of Pott’s abscess and malignant mass, subsequently diagnosed with spinal cystic echinococcosis. It was concluded that cystic echinococcosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of large cystic masses and percutaneous aspiration, injection, reaspiration method might be a safe and effective treatment option particularly for cases of complicated spinal cystic echinococcosis.

PURPOSETo assess the effectiveness and safety of autologous intraparenchymal blood patch (IBP) application in reducing the frequency of pneumothorax (PTX) after percutaneous transthoracic pulmonary core needle biopsy.METHODSThe records of patients who underwent the transthoracic pulmonary core needle biopsy procedure under CT guidance between January 2015 and October 2018 were screened retrospectively. Patients whose traversed pulmonary parenchymal length was ≥20 mm during biopsy were included in the study irrespective of lesion size. The IBP procedure was made a department policy in November 2017; patients who underwent biopsy after this date comprised the IBP group, while those who underwent the procedure before this date comprised the control group. IBP recipients received 2–5 mL of autologous blood injection to the needle tract. Demographic data, procedural reports, tomography images, and the follow-up records of patients were assessed.RESULTSA total of 262 patients were included in the study. Of the 91 patients that received an IBP, PTX developed in 13 (14.1%), with 7 (7.7%) requiring a thoracic tube. Of the 171 patients who did not receive an IBP, PTX developed in 45 (26.3%), with 19 (11.1%) requiring a thoracic tube. Patients who received an autologous IBP showed a significantly lower rate of PTX development versus those who did not (P = 0.01). Similarly, a significantly lower number of patients who received the blood patch required chest tube placement (P = 0.015).CONCLUSIONAutologous IBP is a safe, inexpensive and easy to use method that reduces the rate of PTX development and thoracic tube application after percutaneous core needle biopsies of the lung.

Cushing's syndromes (CS) due to thymic carcinoids are rarely seen. In this text, a case with CS due to ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreting atypical thymic carcinoid tumor is presented. A 50-year-old Turkish male patient was admitted to our emergency department with typical CS features. Basal hormone profile, low- and high-dose dexamethasone suppression tests, and inferior petrosal sinus sampling results were consistent with ectopic ACTH secretion. Thorax computerized tomography showed an upper mediastinal mass, and trans-thoracic biopsy showed atypical thymic carcinoid with positive ACTH staining. Since the vascular invasion was detected, tumor was accepted inoperable; somatostatine receptor analogs, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were planned. Ectopic CS can be derived from atypical thymic carcinoid. In this case, ACTH staining was used to confirm ACTH secretion from thymic tissue, and positive staining was detected. ACTH staining routinely was not performed for extra hypophyseal tissue tumors. In suspicious and difficult cases, ACTH staining can be helpful to confirm the presence of ACTH in tumor tissues.

Aim. Colonic polyps and thyroid nodules are common diseases and their frequency increases with age. In the literature, there is no study investigating the coexistence of colonic polyps and thyroid nodules. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate thyroid nodule prevalence in patients with colonic polyps. Material and Methods. Sixty-six patients with colonic polyps and 146 patients without colonic polyps enrolled into the study. Age and sex matched control group was composed from patients without colonic polyps. Colonoscopic examinations, thyroid ultrasonographies were performed in all patients, and TSH were measured. Results. Male/female ratio in polyp and control groups were 40/26 versus 68/78, respectively (P=0.058). Mean ages were similar in both groups (53.3±11.4 versus, 51.8±11.4, P=0.373). Thyroid nodule was detected in 44 (66.7%) patients with polyps and in 61 (41.8%) controls (P=0.001). Patients with adenomatous polyps had 5 or more thyroid nodules compared to patients with hyperplastic polyps (P=0.03). Thyroid nodules were more prevalent among patients aged 50 or older compared to 50 years or less (P=0.023). Conclusion. Thyroid nodules were detected more common in patients with colonic polyps. Further studies are needed to clarify this coexistence.