Erratum to: Hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic blood supply from right renal artery.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjab391.].

Prevalence of allergic fungal sinusitis among patients with nasal polyposis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of allergic fungal sinusitis among patients with nasal polyps, and to compare Lund-Mackay scores of patients with and without allergic fungal sinusitis. METHODS: The cross-sectional longitudinal study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare centre in Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2016 to November 2018, and comprised patients with sinonasal polyposis undergoing surgery. The patients were categorised as having allergic fungal sinusitis when histopathology showed allergic mucin with fungal hyphae and culture was positive for fungal growth. Lund-Mackay scoring of each patient was noted and mean scores of allergic fungal sinusitis and non-allergic fungal sinusitis patients were compared. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. RESULTS: Of the 114 patients, 61(53.5%) were males. The overall mean age was 37.3±15.3 years. Of the total, 27(23.7%) patients had allergic fungal sinusitis. There was a significant relationship between asthma and allergic fungal sinusitis (p=0.03). The mean Lund-Mackay score was significantly higher for allergic fungal sinusitis patients (p<0.01). Recurrence was seen in 11(9.6%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: About one-fourth of patients with nasal polyps had allergic fungal sinusitis, and such patients showed significantly high mean Lund-Mackay score.

An Assessment of the Impact of Flow Disruptions on Mental Workload and Performance of Surgeons During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the impact of intraoperative disruptions on surgeons' workload and performance during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Materials and methods A structured and standardized tool was used to identify disruptions and interferences that occurred during 33 PCNL procedures. The surgical steps during PCNL were divided into four phases: ureteric catheter placement (phase I), puncture and tract dilation (phase II), intra-calyceal navigation and stone fragmentation (phase III), and tube placement (phase IV). Surgeons' workload was evaluated using a validated tool: Surgery Task Load Index (SURG-TLX), and correlated with the mean observed intraoperative disruptions. All operating team members evaluated the teamwork immediately after the procedure. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 22 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Results A total of 1,897 disturbances were observed, with an average of 57.48 ± 16.36 disruptions per case. The largest number of disruptions occurred during phase III of PCNL (32.06 ± 14.12). The most common cause of the disruption was people entering or exiting the operating room (OR) (29.1 ± 10.03/case), followed by the ringing of phones or pagers (6.42 ± 2.4). The mean observed intraoperative disruptions were significantly associated with the operating surgeon's mental workload, and it had a significant impact on all domains of surgeons' mental workload as measured by SURG-TLX. Compared to other team members, surgeons' assistants experienced an inferior sense of teamwork (r=-0.433; p=0.012). Conclusion Significant intraoperative disruptions were observed during PCNL. They were observed to directly correlate with the surgeon's workload and had a detrimental effect on teamwork. Improving OR dynamics by reducing unnecessary disruptions would help establish an efficient and smooth surgical work environment for safe surgical care.

Angioembolisation for the Treatment of Pseudo-aneurysm of Internal Maxillary Artery.

Pseudo-aneurysm of internal maxillary artery, following a road traffic accident, is a rare clinical scenario. The consequence of pseudo-aneurysm may be spontaneous rupture of the arterial wall, which may eventually lead to life-threatening hemorrhage. We report a case of a 20-year male who presented with recurrent epistaxis. CT scan was performed, which revealed a pseudo-aneurysm of the internal maxillary artery; this was successfully treated by angioembolisation. Similar cases of traumatic pseudo-aneurysms have been reported, however, none presented with recurrent epistaxis after management of pan-facial fractures. Key Words: Epistaxis, Pseudo-aneurysm, Angioembolisation, Pan-facial fracture.

Role of Preoperative Embolization in Management of Central Nervous System Tumours.

Preoperative embolization plays a significant role as an adjunct to surgical intervention in the cases of certain vascular tumours of the brain. While the procedure has resulted in facilitated resection of the tumour, and has reduced morbidity and mortality, its application remains debatable within the neurosurgical community, owing to rare, but major post-procedural complications. Herein, we have reviewed the literature to assess the safety and efficacy of preoperative angiographic embolization for brain tumours.

The Correlation Between STONE Nephrolithometry Score and Hemoglobin Drop in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Objective In this study, we aimed to determine the correlation between the STONE score [(S)ize of the stone, (T)opography or location, degree of (O)bstruction of the urinary system, (N)umber of stones, and (E)valuation of Hounsfield units] and postoperative hemoglobin drop in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Methods This was a prospective observational study and all adult patients aged 18-65 years undergoing unilateral, single-tract PCNL using 26 Ch. Amplatz sheath for renal calculi were included. The five variables of the STONE nephrolithometry score were calculated prior to the procedure. The stone-free rates were assessed on imaging at four weeks and complications were graded using the modified Clavien system. Results Of the 142 patients included, 75% were below 55 years of age. More than half of our patients were diabetic with more than 60% having a body mass index (BMI) above 25 kg/m2. The mean STONE score was 7 with 33% having a high (>9) STONE score. The mean hemoglobin drop was 1.15 +0.92 g/dL with eight patients (5.63%) requiring transfusion and one (0.7%) requiring angioembolization; one patient required readmission for observation. Complete STONE clearance was achieved with PCNL alone in 78.2% of the patients. There was a significant correlation of hemoglobin drop with the STONE score, stone size, and preoperative creatinine clearance. Patients with a hemoglobin drop of >1 g/dL had a higher STONE score and mean stone size. The overall complication rate was significantly higher (10.5%) in patients with a hemoglobin drop of >1 g/dL as compared to those with a hemoglobin drop of <1 g/dL (2.8%). Conclusion Stone complexity as measured by the STONE score correlates with post-PCNL hemoglobin drop, stone clearance, and complication rates. The STONE score may be used for preoperative counseling and to evaluate the potential need for transfusion.

Validation of S.T.O.N.E nephrolithometry and Guy's stone score for predicting surgical outcome after percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to validate and compare Guy's and S.T.O.N.E. scoring systems in predicting perioperative and postoperative outcome following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2015 to June 2017, 190 patients with renal stones who underwent single tract unilateral PCNL in the prone position were included in our study. Guy's and S.T.O.N.E. nephrolithometry scores were calculated in each case based on preoperative computed tomography images. The association of these scoring systems with stone-free status, length of hospital stay, operative time, and postoperative complications was studied. Regression analysis was done, and receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted. RESULTS: Mean S.T.O.N.E. and Guy's stone scores were 8.76 ± 2.29 and 2.70 ± 1.0, respectively. When compared with patients with residual stones, stone-free (SF) patients had significantly lower mean Guy's score (2.58 ± 1.01 vs. 3.23 ± 0.77 [P < 0.001]) and S.T.O.N.E. scores (8.44 ± 2.24 and 10.17 ± 2.0 [P < 0.001]), respectively. On logistic regression analysis, both Guy's score (odds ratio [OR] = 0.48, P = 0.001) and S.T.O.N.E score (OR = 0.78, P = 0.001) were found to be significantly associated with SF status. Both of these scoring systems were also significantly associated with longer operative time (>90 min), prolonged hospital stay (>3 days) and overall complications. No significant difference was found in the area under curve for both scoring systems for stone clearance. CONCLUSION: Both the S.T.O.N.E and Guy's scoring systems were found to predict the outcome of PCNL, either of these could be used in the routine clinical practice for patients' counseling.

Complications of Ultrasound-guided Liver Biopsy at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan: An Audit.

Introduction Liver diseases account for two million deaths per year worldwide, half of which are attributed to complications of cirrhosis. Liver conditions have wide-ranging serological findings and imaging appearances and may require biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. Despite ultrasound (US) guidance, liver biopsy is an invasive procedure and the expected benefit must outweigh risks involved.  Objective  The purpose of the audit was to calculate complication rates of US-guided liver biopsy and summarize institutional data pertaining to the procedure.  Materials and Methods The audit was performed at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. All consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsy from February 2017 - February 2018 were included. Medical records of patients were reviewed for complications of liver biopsy.  Results The study population consisted of 157 adult and 21 pediatric patients. Complications were encountered in nine patients (5%), minor complications in seven (4%) and major complications in two (1.1%). Among the minor complications, haematoma formation was noted in four patients (2.2%), minor abdominal pain in two patients (1.1%), and minor hemorrhage during the procedure in one patient (0.5%). Minor complications were seen more frequently in pediatric (14%) patients as compared to adults (3.8%). One patient developed a major hemorrhage (> 2 g/dl drop in hemoglobin (Hb)), and another patient developed severe vasovagal hypotension. There was no mortality in the study population resulting from complications of the liver biopsy. The audit standards set were met for all parameters, except major hemorrhage (< 0.5%) which was narrowly missed (0.56%). Conclusion US-guided liver biopsy at our institution has a good safety profile with complication rates within the expected range. Departmental practices are compliant with established practices and guidelines.

Correlation of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter with Direct Measurement of Intracranial Pressure through an External Ventricular Drain.

Background Early diagnosis and management of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is essential for preventing brain damage and even death. Invasive monitoring is the gold standard to measure raised ICP but it may not be feasible in a heterogeneous group of patients. Noninvasively, a simple bedside ocular ultrasound can detect elevated ICP. The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and direct ICP measurements and to determine sensitivity and specificity of ONSD measurements to detect elevated ICP (>15 cm H2O). Methods This prospective study was conducted at the intensive care unit/high dependency units/wards of Aga Khan University Hospital. Patients with external ventricular drain (EVD) for intracranial hypertension were enrolled. Ocular ultrasound was performed with a 7.5 MHz linear probe. For each subject, three measurements on each eye were performed and the mean of the six measurements was determined. EVD was temporarily occluded and the ICP was recorded every minute for five minutes. A receiver operative characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the optimal ONSD cutoff to detect ICP above 15 cm H2O. Results A total of 35 adult patients were included in this study. The ONSD was linearly correlated with ICP in both right and left eyes (r = 0.662, p = 0.0005 and r = 0.449; p < 0.002) respectively. Pearson correlation of ONSD between two eyes (right and left) was 0.749; p = 0.0005 and 0.726; p = 0.005 at day 1 and day 2, respectively. ROC curve was created and observed that AUC of right and left eyes was 0.815 (95% CI: 0.61 to 0.99) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.37 to 0.99). Conclusion According to this study, ventriculostomy measurements of ICP are directly correlated with ultrasound ONSD measurements. Hence, we conclude that ONSD measured by ocular ultrasound is a simple yet effective method to detect raised ICP.

Image-guided Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for Osteoid Osteoma: Experience from a Developing Nation.

Objective The purpose of this study is to report our experience in using image-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of osteoid osteoma (OO) and the subsequent duration of pain relief over a period of about six years (May 2013-March 2019; 70 months) at a tertiary-care hospital in a developing nation. Methods A retrospective study was performed at the radiology department of Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. All patients who had undergone image-guided percutaneous RFA for OO between May 2013-March 2019 were included. All cases had been performed with CT-guidance under general anesthesia, with an additional local anesthesia injection also administered to the patients. A soloist needle had been used for RFA. The primary success rates, complications, symptom-free intervals, and follow-ups were evaluated. Results In total, 15 patients (11 males, 4 females) of a mean age of 13.93 years (range: 5-25 years; median age: 14.5 years) with OO underwent image-guided percutaneous RFA during a period of 70 months. Eleven lesions were located in the femur, three in the tibia, and one in the humerus. The mean nidus size was 8.1 x 5.73 mm [range: (4.9-11.5) x (3.8-9.1) mm]. All patients were successfully treated and experienced resolution of pain in 2.36 months (range: 1-4 months). During the follow-up period (range: 3-40 months; mean: 13.85 months; median: nine months), none of the patients experienced any relapse or persistent symptoms. No major complications were reported. Conclusion Image-guided percutaneous RFA is a minimally invasive and safe treatment option with high efficiency and a high rate of technical success for the treatment of OO. The risk of recurrence is remote with all patients achieving independent recovery.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Computed Tomography Scout Film and Chest X-ray for Detection of Rib Fractures in Patients with Chest Trauma: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Rib fractures are a major source of morbidity in patients with chest trauma. Computed tomography (CT) scout film is a low-dose image that is obtained prior to a complete chest CT study for all patients undergoing a CT scan. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of CT scout film vis-à-vis that of chest X-ray for detection of rib fractures using chest CT scan as the reference standard. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed at the radiology department of Aga Khan University Hospital (Karachi, Pakistan) from October 1, 2013 to September 31, 2014. Patients who underwent CT chest for evaluation of thoracic trauma were included in the study. Sensitivity and specificity of chest X-ray and CT scout film were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 207 patients were included in the study (193 were male). Penetrating and blunt thoracic injuries affected 104 (50.2%) and 103 (49.8%) patients respectively. On CT chest, 75 (36.2%) patients had evidence of rib fractures. Sensitivity and specificity of CT scout film for detection of rib fractures were 56% and 87.9%, while those of chest X-ray were 61.3% and 98.5% respectively. The overall accuracy of CT scout film and chest X-ray for detection of rib fractures were 76.3% and 85% respectively. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic performance of CT scout film for detection of rib fractures was comparable to that of the plain chest radiograph. CT scout film does not provide any additional information or advantage over a plain chest radiograph. In patients with severe thoracic trauma, CT chest remains the modality of choice for accurate delineation of rib fractures and associated internal injuries.

Effectiveness of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) due to vaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae post introduction of the vaccine into the routine immunization program in Pakistan. METHODS: A matched case-control study was conducted at 16 hospitals in Sindh Province, Pakistan. Children aged <5years (eligible to receive PCV10) who presented with radiographically confirmed pneumonia and/or meningitis were enrolled as cases. PCR for the lytA gene was conducted on blood (for radiographic pneumonia) and cerebrospinal fluid (for meningitis) samples to detect S. pneumoniae. The proportion of IPD due to vaccine serotypes (including vaccine-related serogroups) was determined through serial multiplex PCR. For each case, at least five controls were enrolled from children hospitalized at the same institution, matched for age, district, and season. RESULTS: Of 92 IPD patients enrolled during July 2013 to March 2017, 24 (26.0%) had disease caused by vaccine serotypes. Most case (87.5% of 24) and control (66.4% of 134) children had not received any PCV10 doses. The estimated effectiveness of PCV10 against vaccine-type IPD was 72.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) -7.2% to 92.6%) with at least one dose, 78.8% (95% CI -11.9% to 96.0%) for at least two doses, and 81.9% (95% CI -55.7% to 97.9%) for all three doses of vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: The vaccine effectiveness point estimates for PCV10 were high and increased with increasing number of doses. However, vaccine effectiveness estimates did not reach statistical significance, possibly due to low power. The findings indicate the likely impact of vaccine in reducing the burden of vaccine-type IPD if vaccine uptake can be improved.

Lumbar Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Renal Biopsy.

Lumbar artery pseudoaneurysms have previously been described as rare iatrogenic complications following percutaneous interventional procedures involving the flanks. We describe a case of a 71-year-old man who became unstable and dropped 3 grams of hemoglobin within 24 hours following renal biopsy. A post-biopsy hemorrhage was suspected, and a pseudoaneurysm of his second right lumbar (L2) artery was found on computed tomography angiogram (CTA). Successful coil embolization was performed in the right L2 artery. This case discusses the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of this unusual complication as well as the anatomical and technical factors involved in the embolization of the lumbar arteries.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Digital Mammography in the Detection of Breast Cancer.

Introduction Breast cancer has a high prevalence in the community and places very high demands on resources. Digital mammography provides a good quality image with reduced radiation dose and can detect breast carcinoma in its earlier stages, resulting in good prognosis and improved patient survival. Objective To calculate the diagnostic accuracy of digital mammography in the detection of breast cancer, using histopathology as a gold standard in women aged over 30 years, who are undergoing mammography for screening and diagnostic purposes. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional analytical study, conducted in the department of radiology, for a total duration of 10 months. A total of 122 patients of age above 30 years, referred for digital mammography for the evaluation of different symptoms related to breast diseases, followed by biopsy/surgery and histopathology, were included in the study. Result Our data confirmed that digital mammography is a highly accurate tool for breast cancer detection having a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 64.5%, a positive predictive value of 89%, and a negative predictive value of 90.9%, with a diagnostic accuracy of 89.3%. Conclusion Considering our results, we recommend that digital mammography should replace screen-film mammography as a basic tool to detect breast cancer for both screening and diagnostic purposes.

Outcome Of Traumatic Brain Injury In Children By Using Rotterdam Score On Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: The Rotterdam Score (RS) on CT head is a new evolving clinical tool as a predictor of mortality in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The objective of this study is to assess the outcome of children with TBI admitted in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary-care, university hospital by using RS. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted on children (age: 1mo -16yr) with TBI admitted in PICU of Aga Khan University Hospital from 2013 to 2016. RS on CT was calculated by a radiologist. All patients were managed according to according to Paediatric Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines 2012.Demographic data, clinical variables and outcomes were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the association between outcome and R.. RESULTS: Ninety-two cases were enrolled during four years. The median age was 77 months (3 months to 16 years) and 73 (79%) were male. The main cause of injury was RTA (60.9%) followed by fall (39.1%). Sixty-two patients (67%) had a post-resuscitation GCS of 8 or less. 54% (51) patients were managed conservatively. The RS of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were present in 19, 36,19,15 and 3 patients. The mean RS was 2.4. The higher mortality rate was observed in high RS. The RS was significantly associated with mortality (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.03-2.95; p<0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Rotterdam Score on CT head can be used to predict mortality in paediatric patients with TBI.

Role of multi-parametric (mp) MRI in prostate cancer.

Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly being recommended as standard imaging modality for prostate cancer diagnosis and staging. It comprises structural T2 and T1 sequences supplemented by functional imaging techniques, i.e. diffusion-weighted, dynamic contrast enhanced and spectroscopic imaging. Pre-biopsy multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for both detection and staging as it avoids biopsy artefact, and when normal, has a negative predictive value of 95% for significant cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy targets only area(s) considered to be suspicious for prostate cancer, hence resulting in improved accuracy. Dynamic contrast enhancing helps in the detection of cancer and for the assessment of extra-capsular extension, distal urethral sphincter and seminal vesicles involvement. The role of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging in follow-up of patients on active surveillance is also increasingly recognised. Its role is now further expanded to facilitate targeted therapies. This review focuses on the evolving role of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis and management of prostate cancer.

Ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter Measurement for raised intracranial pressure in a Tertiary care centre of a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hypertension is not an uncommon life-threatening syndrome, caused by a variety of non-neurological and neurological illnesses, and quick diagnosis, timely treatment of Raised Intracranial Pressure (ICP) is associated with improved outcome. Our aim of study was to determine ultrasonographic measurement of Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) for raised ICP. METHODS: Prospective case series done in Emergency and Paediatric critical care unit of Aga Khan University Hospital. ONSD measurement in millimetres was done by placing linear probe of ultrasound on eye ball. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included in study with mean age of 7.5±5.0 years with 21/48 (43.8%) between 1-8 years and 19/48 (39.6%) >8 years with 32/48 (66.7%) were male. Non-traumatic coma was most common diagnosis 41/48 (85.4%) with infectious cause being most common while Traumatic brain injury constitutes 7/48 (14.6%). Ct scan brain was done in 39/48 (81.3%) while MRI brain in rest of patients. Raised ICP was found in 83.33% (40/48) patients with Ultrasonographic ONSD measurement as compared to CT scan/MRI 14/48 (29.2%). 85% of patients, showed ultrasonographic ONSD measurement suggestive of Raised ICP with GCS ≤12. Mean ONSD with signs of raised ICP in infants 4.64 (±0.48), in 1-10 years 6.44 (±0.65), and in adolescent >10 years 6.28 (±0.62) ONSD respectively with ROC Curve showing Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.814 ( 95% CI, 0.692-0.936). CONCLUSIONS: We identified threshold of Ultrasonographic ONSD measurement in infants >4.0 mm, in children 1-10 yrs >4.71 mm, in adolescent >10 yrs >5.43 mm for raised ICP with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 60-66.7% respectively. 85% of patients showed raised ICP with Ultrasonographic ONSD measurement with GCS ≤12.

Persistent fetal lobulation of kidney mimicking renal tumour.

Renal pseudotumour is a term coined to describe conditions of renal anatomic variants that simulate focal renal pathology like a tumour on ultrasonography. These include persistent fetal lobulation, hypertrophy of Bertin columns and dromedary humps. We report a case of a 30-year-old nulliparous woman who was managed in gynaecology clinic for menorrhagia and was subsequently referred to us for management of recurrent urinary tract infections. The clinical examination was normal and on ultrasound scan, she was found to have multiple enlarged heterogeneous solid masses in both kidneys with significantly increased vascularity, suspicious for neoplastic lesions. She subsequently underwent a CT urogram and her case was discussed in uro-radiology meeting where a diagnosis of persistent fetal lobulation was made excluding other diagnoses. She was managed conservatively. We also present grey scale and Doppler ultrasound and CT urogram findings of this condition along with the literature review.

Comparison of ureteric stone size, on bone window versus standard soft-tissue window settings, on multi-detector non-contrast computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference in mean stone size, as measured on bone window vs standard soft-tissue window setting using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients with a solitary ureteric stone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 60 patients presenting to the emergency and outpatient departments of a University Hospital from May 2015 to October 2015 and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. A 64-slice MDCT was used to assess the locations and size of the ureteric stones. A consultant radiologist independently analysed the MDCT scans of all the patients. The mean difference in stone size was calculated between both window settings in axial and coronal planes. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 37.13 (11.9) years. Males constituted ∼68% of the cohort and 32% were female. In all, 85% of the patients had left ureteric stones and 15% had right ureteric stones. The mean (SD) stone size, as measured on the soft-tissue window setting was 6.68 (2.01) mm, and on the bone window setting was 4.8 (1.9) mm. The mean (SD) difference in stone size between the two window settings was +1.85 (0.55) mm. The two means were compared using Student's t-test, and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The stone size measured using the soft-tissue window setting on a MDCT is significantly different from the measurement on the bone window setting.