Acute muscle loss and early effects of COVID-19 on skeletal muscle in adult patients: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: It is known that COVID-19 has multisystemic effects. However, its early effects on muscle tissue have not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study is to investigate early changes in the pectoral muscle in patients with COVID-19 infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pectoral muscle areas (PMA) and pectoral muscle index (PMI) of 139 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were measured from chest CTs taken at the time of the first diagnosis and within 6 months after the diagnosis. The effect of the infection on the muscle area was investigated by evaluating whether there was a change between the two measurements. Lung involvement of the infection in the first CT was scored with the CT severity score (CT-SS). In addition, the effects of patients' clinics, CT-SS, length of hospital stay, and intubation history on changes in the muscle area were investigated. RESULTS: When the PMA and PMI values were compared, there was a statistically significant decrease in the values in the control CT group compared to the first diagnosis CT group. The difference was found higher in intubated patients. CT-SS was associated with a decrease in PMI. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is one of the causes of acute sarcopenia. Pectoralis muscle is part of the skeletal muscle, and there may be a decrease in the muscle area in the early period of the disease.

Bilateral renal lymphangiomatosis mimicking hydronephrosis: multidetector CT urographic findings.

Renal lymphangiomatosis is a very rare disorder, with only a few reported cases. We present a case of bilateral renal lymphangiomatosis, manifested by bilateral flank pain, that was falsely diagnosed as hydronephrosis. Excretory urographic, ultrasonographic, and computed tomographic urographic findings are described.