Should new organ involvement be included in Response Evaluation Criteria in PSMA Imaging?

PURPOSE: The current study is intended to investigate the effect of new organ involvement on overall survival (OS) and modify the Response Evaluation Criteria in PSMA Imaging (RECIP) by including new organ involvement to RECIP 1.0. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study includes 114 patients diagnosed with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) between September 2017 and June 2022 who had received docetaxel treatment and had baseline and post-treatment prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images. The inclusion criteria were patients with pre- and post-treatment [18F]FDG PET/CT images and whose [18F]FDG PET images were negative. Those whose data were unavailable, who had additional malignancy, or who received abiraterone, enzalutamide, or Lutetium (Lu)-177 treatment were excluded. Age, Gleason score (GS), TPSA (total prostate-specific antigen) levels, surgical history, and OS information were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The 114 patients herein had a median age of 72.5 (51-91) years and a median GS of 8 (7-10). New lesions were observed in 59 patients (51.7%) and new organ PSMA uptake was observed in 14 patients (12.2%). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, volume-based treatment response (vTR)-total lesion PSMA (TLP), RECIP PSMA-VOL, modified RECIP (mRECIP) PSMA-VOL, and mRECIP TLP were independent prognostic factors for mortality (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, p = 0.003, and p = 0.003, respectively). The median OS of patients with new organ involvement and new lesion with PSMA uptake was 9.3 months (95% CI 2.1-16.5 months) and 11.8 months (95% CI 7.4-16.2 months), respectively. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that new organ involvement had a shorter OS than new lesion involvement. In the mRECIP that we developed, unlike RECIP, we demonstrated that both PSMA-VOL and TLP value were independent prognostic factors for mortality.

Successful Treatment of COVID-19-Related Immune- Complex Glomerulonephritis, Case Report.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) , proteinuria in the nephrotic or subnephrotic range and hematuria might be seen in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In this case study we present a 59 years old manwho was diagnosed with immune-complex glomerulonephritis after development of rapidly progressive kidney failure accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage, 2 months after COVID-19 infection. The patient was hospitalised with the diagnosis of acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome. Hemodialysis was performed due to uremic symptoms. Cyclophosphamide, methylprednisolone and plasmapheresis were started. Pathologic examination of kidney biopsy revealed features compatible with immune complex-related acute glomerulonephritis. Cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis were discontinued , and treatment with 1 mg/kg/day methylprednisolone was continued. Immune-complex glomerulonephritis can be seen following COVID-19 infection. It is important to diagnose this disease entity as soon as possible . Steroidtherapy and other supportive modalities might be sufficient in the treatment.  DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.6527.

Evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients with 2D shear wave elastography with propagation map guidance: a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to evaluate liver fibrosis with two-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), to compare 2D-SWE with histopathology and to determine the change in liver stiffness values after antiviral therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 253 patients with CHB were included in this prospective study. 2D-SWE with propagation map guidance to measure liver stiffness, fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) scoring and additional liver biopsy were performed in patients with CHB. Liver stiffness was measured again at 24 and 48 weeks in all patients. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyse the correlation between variables, and receiver operating curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance in terms of fibrosis. RESULTS: Liver stiffness measurements made with 2D-SWE demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the fibrosis stage and FIB-4 score (rs = 0.774 and 0.337, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). The area under the curve value for kPa for the prediction of significant fibrosis was 0.956 (95% CIs) (0.920-0.991), and the optimal cut-off value was 8.2 kPa (sensitivity: 92.7% and specificity: 78.9%); these values were 0.978 (95% CIs, 0.945-1.000) and 10.1 kPa (sensitivity: 92.9% and specificity: 96.4%) for the prediction of severe fibrosis. After antiviral treatment, a decrease in liver stiffness values measured by 2D-SWE was detected (mean kPa values at 0 and 48 weeks; 9.24 and 7.36, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the measurement of liver stiffness with 2D-SWE has high diagnostic performance in the determination of hepatic fibrosis and can be used to evaluate the response to treatment in patients receiving antiviral therapy.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio for long-term outcomes of patients with peripheral arterial disease underwent endovascular treatment.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is part of the systemic atherosclerotic process that is highly associated with cardiovascular diseases. Despite successful endovascular treatment (EVT) strategies, mortality and morbidity rates still remain higher in PAD patients. C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin are biomarkers of inflammation and malnutrition that play key roles in the progression of peripheral arterial disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR) and mortality and amputation-free survival in patients with PAD after successful EVT. METHOD: Our study enrolled 149 consecutive patients who underwent EVT on atherosclerotic obstruction of iliac, femoral, popliteal and/or below-knee arteries with the clinical features of PAD and/or chronic limb-threatening ischaemia between January 2015 and January 2020. Clinical and prognostic follow-up of patients had been done at the outpatient clinic and were collected from institution's medical records. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 22 months (14-40). All-cause mortality and amputation rates of patients in the high CAR group were significantly higher than those in the low CAR group (21.3% vs. 6.8% and 18.7% vs. 5.4%, respectively). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significantly better survival for patients in the low CAR group (log-rank p = 0.0058). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, CAR was found to be an independent predictor of amputation and all-cause mortality even after adjusting for other confounding risk factors. ROC curve analysis revealed the optimal cut-off value of CAR for predicting all-cause mortality and amputation to be >1.476 with a sensitivity of 48.5% and specificity of 94.0%. CONCLUSION: The inflammatory state reflected by CAR levels was strongly associated with all-cause mortality and amputation after EVT in patients with PAD. Furthermore, CAR was found to be an independent predictor of these clinical outcomes after adjusting for other clinically associated parameters.

Cutaneous fistulization of the hydatid disease: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review.

AIM: To provide an overview of the medical literature on cutaneous fistulization in patients with hydatid disease (HD). METHODS: According to PRISMA guidelines a literature search was made in PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and Google databases were searched using keywords to identify articles related to cutaneous fistulization of the HD. Keywords used were hydatid disease, hydatid cyst, cutaneous fistulization, cysto-cutaneous fistulization, external rupture, and external fistulization. The literature search included case reports, review articles, original articles, and meeting presentations published until July 2016 without restrictions on language, journal, or country. Articles and abstracts containing adequate information, such as age, sex, cyst size, cyst location, clinical presentation, fistula opening location, and management, were included in the study, whereas articles with insufficient clinical and demographic data were excluded. We also present a new case of cysto-cutaneous fistulization of a liver hydatid cyst. RESULTS: The literature review included 38 articles (32 full text, 2 abstracts, and 4 unavailable) on cutaneous fistulization in patients with HD. Among the 38 articles included in the study, 22 were written in English, 13 in French, 1 in German, 1 in Italian, and 1 in Spanish. Forty patients (21 males and 19 females; mean age ±â€Šstandard deviation, 54.0 ±â€Š21.5 years; range, 7-93 years) were involved in the study. Twenty-four patients had cysto-cutaneous fistulization (Echinococcus granulosus); 10 had cutaneous fistulization (E multilocularis), 3 had cysto-cutaneo-bronchio-biliary fistulization, 2 had cysto-cutaneo-bronchial fistulization; and 1 had cutaneo-bronchial fistulization (E multilocularis). Twenty-nine patients were diagnosed with E granulosis and 11 had E multilocularis detected by clinical, radiological, and/or histopathological examinations. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous fistulization is a rare complication of HD. Complicated HD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases presenting with cutaneous fistulization, particularly in regions where HD is endemic.

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas: Report of an undiagnosed case of pancreatic hydatid cyst and brief literature review.

AIM: To overview the literature on pancreatic hydatid cyst (PHC) disease, a disease frequently misdiagnosed during preoperative radiologic investigation. METHODS: PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and Google databases were searched to identify articles related to PHC using the following keywords: hydatid cyst, hydatid disease, unusual location of hydatid cyst, hydatid cyst and pancreas, pancreatic hydatid cyst, and pancreatic echinococcosis. The search included letters to the editor, case reports, review articles, original articles, meeting presentations and abstracts that had been published between January 2010 and April 2014 without any restrictions on language, journal, or country. All articles identified and retrieved which contained adequate information on the study population (including patient age and sex) and disease and treatment related data (such as cyst size, cyst location, and clinical management) were included in the study; articles with insufficient demographic and clinical data were excluded. In addition, we evaluated a case of a 48-year-old female patient with PHC who was treated in our clinic. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients, including our one new case, (age range: 4 to 70 years, mean ± SD: 31.4 ± 15.9 years) were included in the analysis. Twenty-nine of the patients were female, and 29 were male. The information about cyst location was available from studies involving 54 patients and indicated the following distribution of locations: pancreatic head (n = 21), pancreatic tail (n = 18), pancreatic body and tail (n = 8), pancreatic body (n = 5), pancreatic head and body (n = 1), and pancreatic neck (n = 1). Extra-pancreatic locations of hydatid cysts were reported in the studies involving 44 of the patients. Among these, no other focus than pancreas was detected in 32 of the patients (isolated cases) while 12 of the patients had hydatid cysts in extra-pancreatic sites (liver: n = 6, liver + spleen + peritoneum: n = 2, kidney: n = 1, liver + kidney: n = 1, kidney + peritoneum: n = 1 and liver + lung: n = 1). Serological information was available in the studies involving 40 patients, and 21 of those patients were serologically positive and 15 were serologically negative; the remaining 4 patients underwent no serological testing. Information about pancreatic cyst size was available in the studies involving 42 patients; the smallest cyst diameter reported was 26 mm and the largest cyst diameter reported was 180 mm (mean ± SD: 71.3 ± 36.1 mm). Complications were available in the studies of 16 patients and showed the following distribution: cystobiliary fistula (n = 4), cysto-pancreatic fistula (n = 4), pancreatitis (n = 6), and portal hypertension (n = 2). Postoperative follow-up data were available in the studies involving 48 patients and postoperative recurrence data in the studies of 51 patients; no cases of recurrence occurred in any patient for an average follow-up duration of 22.5 ± 23.1 (range: 2-120) mo. Only two cases were reported as having died on fourth (our new case) and fifteenth days respectively. CONCLUSION: PHC is a parasitic infestation that is rare but can cause serious pancreato-biliary complications. Its preoperative diagnosis is challenging, as its radiologic findings are often mistaken for other cystic lesions of the pancreas.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma arising from the intercostal space.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma is a tumor of unknown etiology that is believed to be of mixed fibroblastic and histiocytic origin. Deep benign fibrous histiocytomas are most commonly found in the lower limbs or the head and neck region; it is relatively rare that they are seen in the intercostal space. Only six case reports of this entity are described in the literature. We report a 20-year-old woman who suffered from a painless swelling in the left chest wall, with a computed tomographic correlation. The lesion was totally excised, and histopathology revealed a benign fibrous histiocytoma. This is the first case of a benign fibrous histiocytoma that arose from the intercostal space reported in the English-language literature. The six cases reported in the medical literature are also discussed.

Is methotrexate an acceptable treatment in the management of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis?

PURPOSE: The treatment of choice for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) has not yet been established. There are limited data on the use of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of IGM. Herein, we investigated the role of MTX in the treatment of IGM patients. METHODS: We present four new cases of IGM treated with MTX and a review of the English language literature concerning the use of MTX in the treatment of IGM. RESULTS: We prospectively investigated the clinicopathological features of four female patients (aged 28-37 years) who were multiparous and had used oral contraceptives. The patients were administered 7.5-15 mg MTX over 2-6 months. No recurrence was detected during the follow-up period of 4-8 months. In five published studies on MTX use in IGM, data were available for 12 patients aged 21-40 years. In nine patients, treatment was changed to MTX because of a lack of response to steroids, recurrence or steroid-induced diabetes mellitus. Steroids were used in combination with MTX as an initial treatment choice in three patients. Satisfactory results were achieved in ten patients treated with MTX, and only two demonstrated recurrence despite the treatment and underwent mastectomy. CONCLUSION: MTX in the present cases of IGM was effective, prevented complications and limited corticosteroid side effects.

Primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst: report of 2 cases and review of 41 published cases.

This paper gives an overview of the literature between 2000 and 2010 on primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst. We reported 2 cases of primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst, and studies published in English literature on hydatid cyst developing in the retroperitoneal space were accessed via Pubmed and Google Scholar databases. Forty-one published primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst cases were evaluated, and 2 patients (1 man, 78 years old; 1 woman, 75 years old) who presented with abdominal mass caused by retroperitoneal hydatid cyst were reported. Twenty-five of the patients were men (including our patient), and 18 were women; patients ranged in age from 3 to 80 years, and the median +/- standard deviation age was 41.37 +/- 20.4 years. On presentation, 72% of the patients complained of back or abdominal pain; 13.9% had urinary tract symptoms, and 65.1% were determined as having a palpable mass. Ultrasonography was performed on 93% of the patients, computed tomography was performed on 81.4%, magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 18.6%, and intravenous pyelography test was performed on 13.9%. The results of these tests showed a cystoid mass located on the left in 32.5% of the patients, on the right in 37.2%, and in the retrovesical area in 16.2%. Serologic tests determined 67.8% of the patients were indirect hemagglutination positive, and 71.4% were positive on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As a surgical approach, total exision was performed on 55.8% of patients, partial cystectomy was performed on 39.5%, and 4.6% of patients underwent unroofing. If a cystic lesion is determined in the retroperitoneal area in a patient living in an area of endemic hydatid disease, a differential diagnosis of hydatid cyst should be considered. Clinical, radiologic, serologic, and histopathologic evaluations should be made for a differential diagnosis.

Left-sided appendicitis: review of 95 published cases and a case report.

AIM: To give an overview of the literature on left-sided acute appendicitis (LSAA) associated with situs inversus totalis (SIT) and midgut malrotation (MM). METHODS: We present a new case of LSAA with SIT and a literature review of studies published in the English language on LSAA, accessed via PubMed and Google Scholar databases. RESULTS: Ninety-five published cases of LSAA were evaluated and a 25-year-old female, who presented to our clinic with left lower abdominal pain caused by LSAA, is reported. In the reviewed literature, fifty-seven patients were male and 38 were female with an age range of 8 to 82 years and a median age of 29.1 ± 15.9 years. Sixty-six patients had SIT, 23 had MM, three had cecal malrotation, and two had a previously unnoted congenital abnormality. Fifty-nine patients had presented to the hospital with left lower, 14 with right lower and seven with bilateral lower quadrant pain, and seven subjects complained of left upper quadrant pain. The diagnosis was established preoperatively in 49 patients, intraoperatively in 19, and during the postoperative period in five; 14 patients were aware of having this anomaly. The data of eight patients were not unavailable. Eleven patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, which was combined with cholecystectomy in two cases. Histopathological examination of the appendix specimens revealed adenocarcinoma in only two of 95 patients. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of left lower quadrant pain is based on well-established clinical symptoms, physical examination and physician's experience.

Giant renal oncocytoma: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Renal oncocytomas are benign neoplasms derived from cells of the distal renal tubule, and comprise 5% to 7% of primary renal neoplasms. Oncocytomas are mostly asymptomatic, and the majority of tumors are discovered incidentally. In this case report, we present a case of a patient with a giant oncocytoma arising from her left kidney. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 25-year-old Turkish woman who was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain and a 3-year palpable abdominal mass, which was found present since her second pregnancy. Examination revealed a 15 x 20-cm mass in her abdominal cavity. Computed tomography revealed a mass with regular outlines, measuring 18 x 11 x 12 cm, associated with the left kidney, and causing marked hydroureteronephrosis. We excised the mass and performed a left nephrectomy on our patient. The immunohistopathology of the mass was consistent with renal oncocytoma. No local or distant metastasis was seen at 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the second largest renal oncocytoma described in the English language literature. This is also the first reported giant oncocytoma that presented during pregnancy.

Radical vs conservative surgery for hydatid liver cysts: experience from single center.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of radical and conservative surgical interventions for liver hydatid disease. METHODS: The study comprised 59 patients in two groups who had undergone radical and conservative surgical procedures for liver hydatid disease in our department between 2004 and 2009. Preoperative diagnostic tools, medical treatments, demographic and clinical characteristics, postoperative follow-up, and recurrence were compared in both groups. RESULTS: This non-randomized retrospective study included 59 patients who had undergone liver hydatid disease surgery. The radical technique was used in 18 patients (mean age: 42.1 +/- 13.5 years, seven male, 11 female), and the conservative technique was used in 41 patients (mean age: 43.5 +/- 13.9 years, 17 male, 24 female). The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 58 mo. Although operative time was significantly shorter in the conservative group (P < 0.001), recurrence was significantly reduced in the radical group (P = 0.045). No statistically significant differences were found in terms of hospitalization duration, cyst count and size, location, postoperative complications, scolicidal solution usage, or follow-up duration between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The more effective method for preventing postoperative recurrence is radical surgery. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for bile leakage in the early postoperative period may decrease the requirement for repeat surgery.

Giant inflammatory fibroid polyp of ileum causing intussusception: a case report.

Inflammatory fibroid polyps are rare, localized, non-neoplastic lesions originating in the submucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Intussusception due to inflammatory fibroid polyps is uncommon; moreover, ileo-ileal intussusception has only rarely been reported. Here, we report an 11 x 7 cm giant inflammatory fibroid polyp of the small bowel that presented as intussusception in a 73-year-old woman. Ultrasonography demonstrated a solid, homogeneous, echogenic mass surrounded by the typical mural layers of an invaginated ileum. The immunohistopathological diagnosis after segmental ileal resection was an ileal inflammatory fibroid polyp. Although encountered rarely in adults, physicians should be aware of invagination and consider it in each case of acute abdomen because of the wide spectrum of clinical settings.

Careless use of turban pins: a possible problem for turbaned patients.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign body ingestion is rare in adults. In recent years, however, ingestion of the pins that are used for securing turbans has frequently been observed among young Islamic women. This article reviews the patients who were admitted to our emergency unit for turban pin ingestion. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2009, 42 patients were admitted to our emergency unit with problems involving turban pins. The patients' characteristics were analyzed, including age; marital status; career; type, number, and location of pins; and history of gastrointestinal surgery. RESULTS: The patients ranged in age between 11 and 48 years. Of the patients, 22 were single, and 20 were married; 19 were students, and 23 were housewives. The patients visited the emergency unit within 1 to 12 h after they had ingested the pins. Eight of the patients had ingested two pins each, while the others had ingested one pin each. The pins ingested most frequently were those with ball heads. Spontaneous excretion took 3 to 16 days. Of the patients who did not pass the pins spontaneously with feces, the pins were extracted at endoscopy in three and at laparotomy in one. The patients were followed up for 4 to 49 months. No pathological problems were noted during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Turban pin ingestion is common in Islamic populations, and the treatment requires a systemic approach and careful follow-up. Pin ingestion can be prevented by increasing public awareness and avoiding holding pins in the mouth when fixing a turban or wearing a type of turban that does not require pins.

Giant vesical diverticulum: a rare cause of defecation disturbance.

Vesical diverticula frequently result from bladder outlet obstructions. However, giant vesical diverticula which cause acute abdomen or intestinal obstruction are very rare. Our review of the English medical literature found 3 cases of bladder diverticula which caused gastrointestinal symptoms. Here, we present a 57-year-old man with a giant diverticulum of the urinary bladder who complained of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, no passage of gas or feces, and abdominal distension for 3 d. A 20 cm x 15 cm diverticulum was observed upon laparotomy. The colonic obstruction was secondary to external compression of the rectum against the sacrum by a distended vesical diverticulum. We performed a diverticulectomy and primary closure. Twelve months postoperatively, the patient had no difficulty with voiding or defecation.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome: multidetector computed tomography findings.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the clinical and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography findings of celiac, mesenteric, and renal artery entrapment by the median arcuate ligament. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 453) who underwent MDCT abdominal aorta angiography in a period of 3 years were retrospectively reviewed for vascular compression by median arcuate ligament known as median arcuate ligament syndrome. The MDCT examinations were performed with 16-slice (n = 292) and 64-slice scanners (n = 161). The median arcuate ligament itself and adjacent vascular branches of abdominal aorta were assessed for compression by 2 different radiologists who are experienced on MDCT angiography more than 3 years. Both axial, multiplanar reformatted images and 3-dimensional angiographies were used for interpretation. RESULTS: Twelve patients were found to have clinically significant vessel entrapments by median arcuate ligament; 6 of them with celiac artery, 4 of them with renal artery, and 2 of them with both celiac and mesenteric artery involvement. Patients with celiac and mesenteric vessel entrapments presented with epigastric pain. All patients with renal artery entrapment had resistant hypertension. The MDCT showed the proximal narrowing caused by compression of median arcuate ligament. The proximal portions of renal arteries pulled down and in toward the aorta, with mild to moderate narrowing. CONCLUSIONS: The MDCT exanimation with multiplanar images and 3-dimensional angiography is a noninvasive imaging technique that can be used with high accuracy in the diagnosis of median arcuate ligament syndrome.

Treatment of hypertension from renal artery entrapment by percutaneous CT-guided botulinum toxin injection into diaphragmatic crus as alternative to surgery and stenting.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to describe the technique and outcome of CT-guided injection of botulinum toxin into the diaphragmatic crus in a patient with hypertension caused by left diaphragmatic crus compression of the left renal artery. CONCLUSION: After the procedure, the patient's hypertension disappeared. We propose this technique, which directly targets inhibition of overactivity of the diaphragmatic crus, for treatment of hypertension caused by diaphragmatic compression of the renal artery as an alternative to surgery and renal artery stenting.