Can deep learning replace histopathological examinations in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy?

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to develop a diagnostic deep learning model using contrast-enhanced CT images and to investigate whether cervical lymphadenopathies can be diagnosed with these deep learning methods without radiologist interpretations and histopathological examinations. MATERIAL METHOD: A total of 400 patients who underwent surgery for lymphadenopathy in the neck between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were examined in four groups of 100 patients: the granulomatous diseases group, the lymphoma group, the squamous cell tumor group, and the reactive hyperplasia group. The diagnoses of the patients were confirmed histopathologically. Two CT images from all the patients in each group were used in the study. The CT images were classified using ResNet50, NASNetMobile, and DenseNet121 architecture input. RESULTS: The classification accuracies obtained with ResNet50, DenseNet121, and NASNetMobile were 92.5%, 90.62, and 87.5, respectively. CONCLUSION: Deep learning is a useful diagnostic tool in diagnosing cervical lymphadenopathy. In the near future, many diseases could be diagnosed with deep learning models without radiologist interpretations and invasive examinations such as histopathological examinations. However, further studies with much larger case series are needed to develop accurate deep-learning models.

Fungus ball in concha bullosa: an unusual cause of retro-orbital pain.

Fungus ball in the concha bullosa is an extremely rare disease. We described a case of the fungus ball in the concha bullosa in a 22-year-old woman. Preoperative diagnosis was based on nasal endoscopy and computed tomography scanning. The patient was endoscopically operated on. The examination of the removed material was reported as fungal infection. This case was found worth writing because of the location of the concha bullosa and its rare occurrence in this location.