Saccular mycotic aneurysm of descending thoracic aorta secondary to vertebral hydatid disease: A rare case.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Hydatid disease of the aorta is very rare. Hydatid disease can result in saccular aneurysm of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. CASE REPORT: We report a rare case of saccular aneurysm of the distal descending thoracic aorta. The diameter of the aneurysm was 60 mm. It was managed by Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair. After 41 months, computed tomography angiography revealed a multi-loculated cystic lesion with 86 × 83×80 mm dimensions in the prevertebral area at the T10-T11 level with bony destruction and erosion of the anterior margin of the vertebral bodies. A computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration of the paravertebral cystic lesion was performed. Microscopic study of the fine-needle aspiration specimen demonstrated Echinococcosis granulosus diagnostic of hydatid disease. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the case was a mycotic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta secondary to vertebral hydatid disease.

Correlation Between Low-Dose Chest Computed Tomography and RT-PCR Results for the Diagnosis of COVID-19: A Report of 27,824 Cases in Tehran, Iran.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard for confirmation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite having many disadvantages. Here, we investigated the diagnostic performance of chest computed tomography (CT) as an alternative to RT-PCR in patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 27,824 patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 infection who underwent unenhanced low-dose chest CT from 20 February, 2020 to 21 May, 2020 were evaluated. Patients were recruited from seven specifically designated hospitals for patients with COVID-19 infection affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. In each hospital, images were interpreted by two independent radiologists. CT findings were considered as positive/negative for COVID-19 infection based on RSNA diagnostic criteria. Then, the correlation between the number of daily positive chest CT scans and number of daily PCR-confirmed cases and COVID-19-related deaths in Tehran province during this three-month period was assessed. The trends of admission rate and patients with positive CT scans were also evaluated. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation between the numbers of daily positive CT scans and daily PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases (r = 0.913, p < 0.001) was observed. Furthermore, in hospitals located in regions with a lower socioeconomic status, the admission rate and number of positive cases within this three-month period was higher as compared to other hospitals. CONCLUSION: Low-dose chest CT is a safe, rapid and reliable alternative to RT-PCR for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in high-prevalence regions. In addition, our study provides further evidence for considering patients' socioeconomic status as an important risk factor for COVID-19.

Surgical management of the fourth ventricular tumors using telovelar approach and the role of neuroendoscopy: Post-operative outcome and long-term results in a series of 52 cases.

OBJECTIVES: The telovelar approach is a surgical method performed through natural corridors of the brain to access the fourth ventricle. The aim of this study is to assess the results of this approach as well as the role of neuroendoscopy in surgical management of fourth ventricle tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed, and a series of 52 consecutive patients (32 male, 20 female) with fourth ventricle tumor undergoing telovelar approach was undertaken. In 10 patients (19 %) with a tumor invading the rostral fourth ventricle, an adjustable angle endoscope was also used to ensure total resection of the tumor. RESULTS: Complete resection was obtained in majority of patients (94 %). 30 patients (57 %) required insertion of an external ventricular drain which was discontinued in all patients after 72 h. 2 patients (4 %) underwent permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The postoperative complications included meningitis (8 %), transient facial nerve paralysis (8 %), transient sixth cranial nerve paralysis (6 %) and transient unilateral absence of the gag reflex (4 %). No patient experienced mutism and there was a mortality rate of 2 % (1 case) in current study. CONCLUSION: In our experience, a high rate of total resection of the fourth ventricle tumors could be achieved with the telovelar approach associated with a low risk of surgical morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the use of an adjustable angle endoscope could be useful in patients with a tumor involving the rostral fourth ventricle to ensure total resection of the tumor and also to minimize the extent of telovelar dissection.