MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES OF INCIDENTAL THYROID 18F-FDG UPTAKE IDENTIFIED ON 18F-FDG PET/CT IMAGING.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical significance of incidental thyroid 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake in oncology patients with the focus achieving the most appropriate management of this challenging situation. Materials and method: Two thousand five hundred and eighty 18F-FDG PET/CT studies performed at our institute in the past 4 years were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with incidental FDG uptake in the thyroid gland were further analysed. Results: The prevalence of incidental FDG uptake in thyroid gland was 7.6% (129 patients). 26 patients (20.1%) had diffuse 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake, 103 patients (79.1%) had nodular uptake in thyroid gland. All diffuse uptake patients who were further examined diagnosed to be a benign condition. 53 patients in the nodular uptake group were further examined and the final histopathology examinations revealed an 18.8% malignancy rate. SUV max values ranged from 2 to 21.8 with a significant highness in malignant lesions. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake in the thyroid gland may be diffuse or nodular. Diffuse uptake needs no further examination as it usually accompanied by benign thyroid disorders. Patients with nodular uptake whose general condition is good should be further examined due to high rates of malignancy.

Ramadan Fasting Increases Socialization in Patients Who Underwent Sleeve Gastrectomy: An Observational Study.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of obesity is increasing along with the number of sleeve gastrectomies. Patients' mental health and social life, along with their physical health, should be considered. Their cultural and religious values are an important part of treatment. Fasting is an important act of worship in all religions. Ramadan fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on quality of life in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data regarding the demographic characteristics, weight, the time elapsed after surgery, and the amount of liquid and solid food consumed during fasting were collected with two surveys, one of which was carried out at the beginning and the other at the end of Ramadan. In addition, the SF-36 health survey questionnaire was administered to evaluate the impact of Ramadan fasting on patients' quality of life. RESULTS: Fifty-one people participated in the first survey, but the second survey included 19 of them. While the median weight of the patients was 86.52 ± 17.78 kg before fasting, the median weight after 25 days of fasting was 83.31 ± 17.06 kg. A significant decrease was observed in weight after 25 days of fasting (p < 0.001). A comparison of the SF-36 scores for quality of life revealed a significant increase in the social functioning (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Ramadan fasting caused significant weight loss in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy. Besides, it did not adversely affect the quality of life, but rather increased social functioning.

Significance of Gastric Wall Thickening Detected in Abdominal CT Scan to Predict Gastric Malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of gastric cancer is one of the most important parameters affecting the survival of the disease. In this study, we aimed to stress the importance of antrum wall thickness in CT examination. METHOD: The study included 111 patients between ages of 18 and 95 who had antral wall thickening in computed tomography and also had endoscopic evaluation performed in the same clinic. The patients were divided into two groups as benign and malignant according to the pathology results. The thickness of the antrum wall in computed tomography, hemoglobin and albumin levels, and age was compared among these two groups. Parameters with significant differences were further analyzed by multivariate analysis using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 111 patients included in the study, 57 were male and 54 were female. Mean age was 65 years. Fifty-one patients were classified as benign and 60 patients as malignant. Mean age of the malignant patients was 70, while that of benign patients was 59 (p < 0.05). Antrum wall thickness was 13.68 ± 3.27 mm in malignant patients and 9.22 ± 2.17 mm in benign patients (p < 0.05). Similarly, hemoglobin level was significantly different in malignant and benign patients (10.78 ± 1.57 g/dl and 12.64 ± 1.43 g/dl, respectively; p < 0.05). Albumin levels were 3.36 ± 0.57 mg/dl in malignant patients and 3.97 ± 0.57 mg/dl in benign patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of antrum wall thickness, age, hemoglobin, and albumin values together may contribute to distinguishing the benign and malignant pathologies involving this region in patients with suspected stomach wall thickening in abdominal CT scan.

Colonic Wall Thickening Reported in Abdominal CT: Does It Always Imply Malignancy?

AIM/BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of patients with colon cancer is one of the most important parameters affecting the survival of patients. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of the age, hemoglobin (Hb), albumin, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), thrombocyte lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet values (MPV) on the separation of benign and malignant diseases in patients with suspected colon wall thickness (CWT) observed in abdominal computed tomography (CT) examination. METHOD: The study included 116 patients between the ages of 18 and 95 who had CT examination where the colon wall could be evaluated and who also had colonoscopy. Patients suspected for CWT in CT with difficulties in differential diagnosis were divided into two groups according to colonoscopic-histopathological evaluations. Normal or benign pathological causes were included in the first group, while malignant causes constituted the second group. Whether the two groups differed in terms of CWT, Hb, age, albumin, NLR, PLR, and MPV values was investigated with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen patients (74 males, 42 females) with CT examinations and colonoscopic sampling were included in the study. After colonoscopic and histopathological evaluations, there were 64 cases in the first group and 52 in the second group. According to the results of the univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression, CWT, Hb, NLR, and MPV were identified to be independent variables for determining colon cancer. CONCLUSION: A combined evaluation of Hb, NLR, and MPV values in patients with CWT in abdominal CT examination may contribute to the separation of benign and malignant pathologies.