Translation and validation of the Turkish version of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQOL) questionnaire.

The Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire is a disease-specific measure of needs-based quality of life developed in the UK and the Netherlands. This study describes translation, validation, and reliability of the scale into Turkish population. The ASQoL was translated into Turkish using the dual-panel process. Content validity was assessed via cognitive debriefing interviews with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Patients with AS according to modified New York criteria were recruited into the study from 12 hospitals of all part of Turkey. Psychometric and scaling properties were assessed via a two administration survey involving the ASQoL, the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), and Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Classical psychometrics assessed reliability, convergent validity (correlation of ASQoL with NHP, BASFI, and BASDAI) and discriminative validity (correlation of ASQoL with perceived AS-severity and general health). Cognitive debriefing showed the new Turkish ASQoL to be clear, relevant, and comprehensive. Completed survey questionnaires were received from 277 AS patients (80% Male, mean age 42.2/SD 11.6, mean AS duration 9.4 years/SD 9.4). Test-retest reliability was excellent (0.96), indicating low random measurement error for the scale. Correlations of ASQoL with NHP sections were low to moderate (NHP Sleep 0.34; NHP Emotional Reactions 0.83) suggesting the measures assess related but distinct constructs. The measure was able to discriminate between patients based on their perceived disease severity (p < 0.0001) and self-reported general health (p < 0.0001). The Turkish version of ASQoL has good reliability and validity properties. It is practical and useful scale to assess the quality of life in AS patients in Turkish population.

Stent implantation in chronic mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is a life-threatening disorder, which is usually associated with stenosis or occlusion of celiac or mesenteric arteries. PURPOSE: To review our experience and to assess short-term results of stent placement in stenotic mesenteric arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Primary stent placement was performed in 15 patients who had nausea, vomiting, postprandial pain, and weight loss due to steno-occlusive diseases of mesenteric arteries. After stenting, the patients were followed clinically and with Doppler ultrasound at 1, 6, and 12 months. Symptomatic patients with restenosis were examined with digital subtraction angiography and were referred for retreatment with balloon dilatation. RESULTS: Twenty-three stenoses and 11 occlusions were detected in 15 patients, and 18 stenoses were treated with primary stenting. Single-vessel endovascular treatment was performed in 12 patients. In three patients, two arteries were stented in the same session. Technical success rate was 18/18 (100%). Clinical success was achieved in 13/15 (86.6%) patients. First-month mortality was 13%. During the mean 16.1-month follow-up period, restenoses developed in three patients. One of them was successfully treated with balloon angioplasty. Primary patency was 9/11 (81%) and primary assisted patency was 81% at 12 months. The complication rate was 1/15 patients (0.06%). CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that stent placement has a potential role in chronic mesenteric ischemia with low incidence of complications and high technical and clinical success rates.

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumor of the retroperitoneum mimicking kidney tumor.

A case of extragastrointestinal tumor of the retroperitoneum in a 48-year-old woman complaining right sided flank pain without hematuria is reported. The mass was excised from the kidney without a positive margin. The histopathological examination revealed an extragastrointestinal stromal tumor of the retroperitoneum. These tumors usually originate from the small intestine or stomach. On the other hand, they are rarely located in the retroperitoneum. These tumors typically exhibit CD117 immunoreactivity, whereas they may reveal CD34, neuron specific enolase, smooth muscle actin, desmin and S-100 protein. In our case the specimen of the patient was positive for CD117, actin and desmin.

Effect of short-term finasteride therapy on peroperative bleeding in patients who were candidates for transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P): a randomized controlled study.

In the present study we aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of short-term pretreatment with finasteride in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P). For this purpose 40 patients with BPH, who were candidates for TUR-P, were randomized into two groups. The first group (n=20) received 5 mg finasteride/day for 4 weeks prior to surgery and the second group (n=20) remained as the control. Patients who underwent prior prostate or urethral surgery and had a diagnosis of prostate cancer or chronic renal failure, patients who received finasteride, aspirin, coumadin or similar anticoagulant drugs prior to surgery and patients who had capsule perforations or open sinuses during the surgery were excluded from the study. All patients had a normal digital rectal examination and PSA values less than 4 ng/ml. As we look at the results there was no statistically significant difference between the finasteride group and control group regarding age, IPSS, PSA, prostate volumes, preoperative serum hemoglobin, hematocrit values and mean operating times and used irrigating fluids. The total amount of bleeding and bleeding per gram resected tissue were significantly lower in the finasteride group regardless of prostate volume. Furthermore the decrease in the hemoglobin and hematocrit values was higher in the control group. As a conclusion four weeks of finasteride pretreatment provided a significant decrease in peroperative bleeding regardless of prostate volume without any major side effects.

Mammographic density changes during different postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of change in mammographic breast densities during different types of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Ege University Hospital. PATIENT(S): The mammographies of 216 women on various postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies were evaluated. INTERVENTION(S): Estrogen alone (n = 76) or estrogen in cyclic (n = 44) or continuous (n = 61) combination with progestin or tibolone-only (n = 35) replacement therapies were used. Mammographic density was quantified according to the Wolfe classification in patients with different hormone replacement regimens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mammographic density changes were interpreted. RESULT(S): An increase in mammographic density was much more common among women receiving continuous combination hormone replacement therapy 31.1% (19 of 61) than among those receiving estrogen-only 3.9% (3 of 76) treatment. There were no significant mammographic breast density changes among women receiving cyclic continuous combination hormone replacement therapy or tibolone-only treatment. The increase in density was apparent already at first visit after the start of hormone replacement therapy. In continuous combined postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy with norethisterone acetate, the increase in mammographic density was 34.1% (15 of 44), followed by medroxyprogesterone acetate 23.5% (4 of 17). CONCLUSION(S): Our findings show that mammographic breast density changes related to postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy are dependent on the selected hormone regimen. The continuous administration of the progestin component of the combined-hormone replacement therapy seems to effect the breast density most.

Takayasu arteritis in Turkey.

Takayasu arteritis is a non-specific inflammatory process of unknown etiology affecting the aorta and its branches. A retrospective study was done in 14 patients diagnosed as Takayasu arteritis. Eleven patients were female and three were male. Ages ranged from 12 to 30 years. Seven patients had type I arteritis, three patients type II arteritis, and four patients type III Takayasu arteritis. Successful angioplasty was performed in five cases.

Metastatic intramammary lymph nodes: mammographic and ultrasonographic features.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mammographic and ultrasonographic findings in patients with intramammary lymph node (IMLN) involvement in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mammograms of 1655 histopathologically proven breast cancer cases diagnosed during the last 10 years were retrospectively reviewed. There were 16 cases in which metastasis to intramammary lymph nodes was suspected mammographically and proven histopathologically. The clinical and radiological features of these 16 cases were evaluated. RESULTS: On mammograms, the involved lymph nodes were all well circumscribed, homogeneous, oval or round opacities in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. They were all larger than 1 cm in size. On US, they were seen as well circumscribed, homogeneously hypoechoic masses with mild acoustic enhancement. In one case, besides enlargement, development of malignant microcalcifications was seen inside the node in the follow up period. In another case with IMLN metastasis, the primary focus of the breast cancer could not be detected either mammographically or histopathologically. So the case was accepted as occult breast carcinoma. All of the primary tumors detected were invasive histopathologically and their sizes varied between 1-6 cm (mean, 3 cm). CONCLUSION: The involvement of the IMLN can be suspected with mammographic and ultrasonographic features. Metastatic disease from breast cancer to IMLN may be the first clinical and/or radiological sign of breast cancer.

Fat necrosis of the breast: clinical, mammographic and sonographic features.

OBJECTIVE: the purpose of this study was to describe and quantitate the clinical, mammographic and sonographic (US) features and to evaluate the evolution of fat necrosis in the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a retrospective review of the clinical, mammographic and US findings of 126 fat necrosis lesions in 94 patients, diagnosed between 1989 and 1999, was done. All the cases included in the study had at least 3 years follow-up mammograms. In addition, 48 patients with a total of 62 fat necrosis lesions, also had an US follow-up. Fat necrosis was diagnosed on the basis of histologic (n=25) and initial or follow-up imaging (n=69) findings. RESULTS: the predominant mammographic features of the 114 lesions apparent on mammograms were radiolucent oil cyst (n=34, 26.9%), round opacity (n=16, 12.6%), asymmetrical opacity or heterogenicity of the subcutaneous tissues (n=20, 15.8%), dystrophic calcifications (n=34, 26.9%), clustered pleomorphic microcalcifications (n=5, 3.9%), and suspicious speculated mass (n=5, 3.9%). In five patients with 12 (9.5%) palpable masses, mammograms were normal. The predominant US features of the 112 lesions apparent on sonograms were solid (n=18, 14.2%), anechoic with posterior acoustic enhancement (n=21, 16.6%), anechoic with posterior acoustic shadowing (n=20, 15.8%), cystic with internal echoes (n=14, 11.1%), cystic with mural nodule (n=5, 3.9%) and increased echogenicity of the subcutaneous tissues (n=34, 26.9%). In five patients with 14 (11.1%) lesions, sonographic examination was normal. Mammographic follow-up showed that five of the radiolucent oil cysts developed curvilinear calcifications, six of the round opacities decreased in size and density, and another two disappeared. Eleven of the dystrophic calcifications became even more coarse. Six of the asymmetrical opacities became vague and one developed an oil cyst and coarse calcifications. The only nonoperated speculated mass developed a typical small radiolucent oil cyst in the centre. US follow-up showed that 18 of the 29 increased subcutaneous tissue echogenicity turned back to normal, while in the remaining 11 small cysts formed. In 19 solid appearing masses, 15 showed decrease in size, while four remained stable (biopsy disclosed fat necrosis). The four complex masses in two patients showed increase in size and appeared more cystic (FNAB was consistent with fat necrosis). CONCLUSION: a spectrum of imaging findings is associated with fat necrosis. Knowledge of the mammographic and US appearance and evolution of these patterns may enable imaging follow-up of these lesions, reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies.

Mucinous (colloid) breast cancer: mammographic and US features with histologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: Mucinous carcinoma of the breast presents with different survival rates in pure and mixed types. The purpose of this study was to correlate the mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of mucinous carcinoma with histologic features in different types and mucin rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients (2.3%) had mucinous cancer after retrospective review of the 1439 breast cancers diagnosed between 1990 and 1996. Twenty-seven patients, 19 pure and eight mixed type of mucinous carcinomas of the breast, were included in this study to evaluate the imaging findings. In 22 of these, the microscopic slides were available and re-evaluated to estimate the volume of extracellular mucin. The volume of the extracellular mucin was classified histologically as: (+), less than 50% of mucin; (++), 50-80% of mucin; and ( ), more than 80% of mucin. Mammographic features with emphasis on margin characteristics and sonographic echo pattern of tumors were correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS: Ten cases (53%) of pure mucinous type carcinomas had a circumscribed mass lesion on the mammograms. The well-defined, lobulated margins of the masses were well correlated with pure histologic type (P<0.01; chi(2) analysis) Two-thirds of these tumors had high volume extracellular mucin. All mixed type mucinous carcinomas demonstrated poorly defined or spiculated margins with no relation to the mucin rates (P<0.01). The sonographic appearances of the tumors showed correlation with histologic types. Most of the pure type carcinomas (53%) were seen with isoechogenic echo texture relative to that of subcutaneous fat, while all of the mixed type carcinomas were hypoechogenic (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The mammographic and sonographic features of mucinous breast carcinoma show differences in pure and mixed types of the tumor. The most common mammographic appearance of pure mucinous carcinomas with high percentages of mucin is a mass lesion having well-defined margins, which is isoechogenic relative to fat on the sonographic examination. Pure type of carcinomas with small percentages of mucin and mixed type carcinomas have more aggressive imaging characteristics.

Transcatheter arterial embolization of internal mammary artery in a hepatocellular carcinoma with abdominal wall invasion.

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is alternatively employed to surgical resection in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TAE through the hepatic artery is sometimes insufficient since the blood supply to HCC may be from the collateral vessels as well. We report a case of HCC with abdominal wall invasion who underwent TAE through the right internal mammary artery after insufficient embolization of the tumor through the hepatic artery.

Evaluation of palpable breast masses with 99Tcm-MIBI: a comparative study with mammography and ultrasonography.

We evaluated the feasibility of 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) as a tumour localizing agent in patients with palpable breast masses in comparison with mammography and ultrasonography (US). Forty-one patients with palpable masses were studied. An additional 12 women with no palpable breast anomaly also underwent 99Tcm-MIBI breast study. Multiple views were obtained and semiquantitative evaluation was applied. Mammography and US revealed all of the malignant breast masses but differential diagnosis of fibroadenomas could not be achieved. Twenty-five of 27 breast carcinomas were detected using 99Tcm-MIBI scintigraphy. Two patients with invasive lobular carcinoma showed absent MIBI accumulation. Eight of 14 axillary lymph-node metastases showed positive uptake (57%). Twelve of 14 patients with pathologically proven benign breast lesions did not demonstrate any MIBI accumulation. Focal MIBI uptake could be observed in two fibroadenomas. The sensitivity and the specificity of semiquantitative MIBI analysis were 93 and 86%, respectively. Subjective grading offered no additional help in the further differentiation of malignant breast masses. There was no significant difference between histopathological types of breast carcinomas and uptake grades. Our results indicate that 99Tcm-MIBI scintigraphy may provide additional information in the differentiation of malignant pathologies from benign lesions in patients with palpable breast anomalies.

A severely disabling disorder: fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare hereditary disorder characterised by progressive heterotopic ossification of the soft tissues. The resulting progressive immobilisation of the limbs, jaw and chest wall generally leads to severe disability. We present an 18-year-old girl with advanced FOP. She had three operative interventions to excise her ectopic bones but all resulted in failure. Treatment strategies for this disorder should include the avoidance of exacerbating factors.

The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO). The patient group included 43 females aged between 55 and 78 years with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. The control group consisted of 43 healthy female volunteers whose ages matched those of the patients. All of the participants were evaluated using both QUALEFFO and SF-36. In the reliability studies, internal consistency within the domain of QUALEFFO was generally good, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging between 0.70 and 0.96. Convergent and discriminant validity rates of domains were both found to be between 89% and 100%. Significant correlations existed between scores of similar domains of QUALEFFO and the SF-36, especially for pain, physical function, social function and general health perception. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of QUALEFFO and the SF-36 indicated that all five domains in each questionnaire were significantly predictive of vertebral fractures. However, when comparing similar domains of the two questionnaires, the social function domain of QUALEFFO demonstrated a significantly better performance. In conclusion, the Turkish version of QUALEFFO was found to be reliable and valid in the evaluation of patients with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis. Our study also suggests that the patients with vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis have impairment in quality of life.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy, described by Wynne-Davies et al., is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is characterised by generalised platyspondyly and epiphyseal involvement, with enlargement of both ends of the short tubular bones of the hands. Clinical features include onset in childhood, a disproportionately short stature and premature osteoarthritis. We describe the clinical and radiographic findings of a young woman suffering from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy.

Bioembolisation for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results of a translational research study.

Lack of effective treatment for surgically unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma has made this disease dismal. Although, systemic and/or locoregional chemotherapy and chemo-embolization are among the established treatment options, the results of these modalities are still far from being satisfactory. Systemic interferon administration is also used for the treatment of this disease however it has high toxicity rates. We conducted a pharmacology guided phase I/II study with the aim to explore the effect of hypoxy and interferon alpha-2a in vitro using the HepG2 Hepatoma cell line. We then translated the in-vitro results to the clinical setting and designed a treatment protocol. This schema consisted of lipiodol embolisation via a hepatic artery port in between two sets of seven loco-regional injections of IFNalpha-2a, 3 MU every other day. The in-vitro study revealed the best sequence of hypoxy and IFN as IFN-Hypoxy-IFN. Based on this finding, ten patients with HCC were treated with loco-regional IFN and lipiodolisation. Seven of them achieved partial response and the mean duration of response was 10 months. There was no Grade 4 toxicity. In conclusion, our preliminary clinical results suggest that the combined use of IFN and lipiodolisation in the optimal sequence may provide a new therapeutic option for patients with HCC.

Epididymal metastasis from gastric signet ring cell adenocarcinoma.

We report a 55 year old man complaining of painless left testicular swelling that developed over 2 months. The imaging studies revealed an epididymal mass separate from the testicle. The patient underwent left radical orchiectomy. The histopathological examination of the orchiectomy specimen revealed poorly differentiated signet cell metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Liver transplantation in a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to factor V Leiden mutation.

A point mutation in the factor V Leiden gene is the most common hereditary thrombophilic state and an important risk factor for Budd-Chiari syndrome. We report on a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to factor V Leiden mutation, who underwent successful liver transplantation. Following liver transplantation, his thrombophilic state was corrected and he did not require anticoagulation therapy. There has been no recurrent venous thrombosis for 14 months after transplantation. Although his activated protein C sensitivity was normal, showing the normalization of protein C-factor V interaction, PCR analysis demonstrated that heterozygosity for factor V Leiden mutation was still present. We suggest checking resistance to activated protein C, rather than PCR analysis of factor V Leiden mutation in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome after liver transplantation; the presence of the second does not effect clinical outcome.

Management of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. Nursing perspective from the interventional radiology room.

Most patients with obstructive jaundice caused by primary pancreaticobiliary malignancies and metastatic disease cannot be cured by surgical resection when diagnosed. Biliary drainage in the management of obstructive jaundice therefore represents one of the most important issues in the palliative treatment of these patients. For more than 20 years, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedures have allowed a nonsurgical approach to the management of malignant biliary obstruction. Improvements in radiologic access systems have extended the use of the percutaneous biliary approach, especially since the advent of metallic stents. Nursing care of these patients before, during, and after the percutaneous biliary intervention is challenging. Patient and family need to be educated about the aim and consequences of the procedure as well as its complications. To care for these patients, the nurse must understand the techniques of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. The purpose of this article is briefly to review the etiology of biliary obstruction, the current treatments to relieve obstructive jaundice, and the basic steps of biliary intervention techniques. The nursing management throughout the procedure, the patient preparation before the procedure, and most importantly, the postprocedural nursing care are discussed.

Catheter and MR angiography of persistent trigeminal artery associated with occipital arteriovenous malformation.

We present a patient with an occipital arteriovenous malformation fed by the posterior cerebral artery coexisting with an ipsilateral persistent trigeminal artery. These anomalies were well demonstrated by MR angiography and confirmed by catheter angiography.