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.

Lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio: a putative predictive factor for intestinal ischemia in strangulated abdominal wall hernias.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to estimate systemic inflammation and intestinal ischemia in incarcerated hernias using the lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR). METHODS: A total of 116 patients who underwent an emergency operation due to incarcerated abdominal wall hernia were investigated retrospectively. The patients with incarcerated hernias were divided into two groups: those who did not undergo intestinal resection and those who underwent intestinal resection due to strangulation. The two groups were analyzed based on sex, surgical operation (open, laparoscopic), length of stay, complications and mortality rates as well as preoperative period laboratory analyses, such as white blood cell, neutrophil, thrombocyte, and lymphocyte counts and C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and LCR values. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (21.6%) underwent intestinal resection due to strangulated hernia. Neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, CRP, platelet count, NLR, and LCR were significantly different in the strangulated hernia group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis results showed that an LCR level below 0.02 had 80% sensitivity (58-92%) and 80.2% specificity (70-87%) for the diagnosis of strangulation. CONCLUSION: A low preoperative LCR level in incarcerated hernias could be used as a bioindicator that helps to estimate the intestinal ischemia.

The effect of polyethylene glycol adhesion barrier (Spray Gel) on preventing peritoneal adhesions.

The prominent cells in the late phase of wound healing during proliferation and matrix deposition are fibroblasts. Foreign materials in the operation site like prosthesis prolong the inflammation and induce fibroblast proliferation (8). 3 different prostheses used in this study induced chronic inflammation and fibrosis and provided an effective repair. Dense and thick adhesions due to fibrosis also induced strong adhesions to omentum and small intestine if only polypropylene mesh used for hernia repair. However, there was no difference between SprayGel treated polypropylene mesh and Sepramesh when compared for fibrosis. It also prevents the intraabdominal adhesion formation. It is nontoxic, sticky adherent, non- immigrant and easy to use both in open and laparoscopic surgeries. This experimental study revealed that polyethyleneglycol applied polypropylene mesh accomplishes hernia repair with significantly less adhesion formation than polypropylene mesh alone while securing a remarkable economy than adhesion barrier coated dual meshes (Tab. 6, Fig. 7, Ref. 23). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Femoral hernia: a review of 83 cases.

We evaluate the factors that affect morbidity and mortality in patients who underwent surgery due to femoral hernia. The medical records of 83 patients who underwent femoral hernia repair between January 1996 and June 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. The femoral hernias were repaired either with McVay or mesh plug hernioplasty. Sex, age, surgical repair technique, presence of incarceration/strangulation, incarcerated/strangulated organs, postoperative complications, duration of hospitalization, recurrence rate, and factors that affect mortality and morbidity were studied. There were 83 patients with femoral hernia in our study. Patients' age ranged from 10 to 75 years (mean age was 46.84) with a predominance of female (71%). Thirty-six patients (40%) underwent emergency surgery with the diagnosis of strangulation or incarceration of femoral hernia. Seventeen patients had strangulation and underwent resection; eleven of these patients had omentum in the hernial sac, whereas six patients had intestines. Four of these patients underwent laparotomy. The remaining 19 patients had incarceration and underwent simple reduction of hernial sac content without resection. Forty-seven (60%) patients underwent elective surgery. McVay technique was used for 79 patients, while the other four patients were treated with mesh-plug. Twelve patients (15%) developed a variety of complications (nine patients (25%) in emergency, three patients (6%) in elective group). There was one mortality. Recurrences occurred in two patients. Femoral hernia is an important surgical pathology with high rates of incarceration/strangulation and intestinal resection. Emergency surgery can increase morbidity and mortality especially in the elderly. Early elective surgery may reduce complication.