Incidental pulmonary nodule frequency in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary nodules are common incidental findings on computed tomography (CT). In Turkey, there is no available data about the follow-up of the frequency of incidental nodules. Our aim is to assess the frequency and size distrubition of incidental pulmonary nodule in our country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2015 and December 2016, computed tomographies, taken of all outpatient and emergency department that recorded in the screening database were examined retrospectively. Nodules and their characteristics (number, size, density, localization) and relationship between age and gender were evaluated. RESULT: The age range of the cases was mean 58.99 ± 16.20 years, 256 (42.5%) were women and 347 (57.5%) were men. A total of 288 (48.25%) cases had 420 nodules. Solid nodule was present in 184 cases (30.5%). The number of cases with one solid nodule was 119 (64.7%). There were 124 solid nodules (55.36%) of ≥ 4-< 6 mm diameter, 64 solid nodules (28.57%) of ≥ 6-< 8 mm diameter and 36 solid nodules (16.07%) of ≥ 8 mm diameter. Nodule frequency increased statistically significantly with the age (p= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of incidental nodule was found higher than in our country than in developed countries.

Evaluation of the facial nerve and internal auditory canal cross-sectional areas on three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition magnetic resonance imaging in Bell's palsy

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the facial nerve (FN) and internal auditory canal (IAC) on three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to define possible structural differences in cases of Bell's palsy (BP). Materials and methods: Fifty-six patients presenting with BP were included in this study. The measurements of the diameters and the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the FNs and IACs obtained on 3D-FIESTA MRI both on the affected and unaffected sides of all patients were compared. Results: A significant difference was found between affected and unaffected sides of the patients in terms of the mean CSA of the FN and IAC (P < 0.001). The CSAs of the FN were larger and the CSAs of the IAC were smaller on the affected sides than the equivalents on the unaffected sides of the patients, respectively. The difference in terms of the ratios of IAC CSA to FN CSA between affected and unaffected sides of the patients was also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: We have found that FN and IAC size differ on the affected sides of patients with BP. These anatomical differences may contribute to the risk for this disease.