Can ultrasound elastography be used as a new technique in the differentiation of undescended testes and reactive lymph nodes in children?

AIM: To determine the diagnostic performance of ultrasound elastography in the differentiation of reactive lymph nodes and undescended testes in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two undescended testes and 34 reactive lymph nodes were prospectively examined with the elastography technique. Four elastographic patterns were used for classification based on the distribution of the blue area. The strain ratios and elasticity patterns of the undescended testes and reactive lymph nodes were evaluated independently by two radiologists. Interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance were analysed. RESULTS: Thirty of the 34 reactive lymph nodes were classified as exhibiting high-strain elastographic patterns (considered Type 1 or Type 2, with blue areas in ˂50% of the tissue) by both observers; in contrast, 67 and 71 of 72 undescended testes were classified as exhibiting low-strain elastographic patterns (considered Type 3 or Type 4, with blue areas in >50% of tissue) by radiologists 1 and 2, respectively. The respective mean strain ratios measured by the two radiologists were 0.60±0.03 and 0.62±0.02 for the reactive lymph nodes and 0.25±0.08 and 0.25±0.09 for the undescended testes. There were significant differences in the elasticity patterns and strain ratios between the reactive lymph nodes and the undescended testes (p<0.001). The interobserver agreement was excellent for the four elasticity patterns with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.872. The concordance of the strain ratios between the observers was excellent in the present study (intra-class correlation score: 0.988). CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of cases, conventional two-dimensional ultrasound could be used to differentiate undescended testes from reactive lymph nodes with acceptable accuracy. Although the incremental value of elastography is limited, this technique might have a role in some specific cases.

Relationship of apelin, procalcitonin, and fetuin-A concentrations with carotid intima-media thickness in acromegaly.

BACKGROUND: Acromegaly is characterized by excess growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations. There is conflicting evidence as to whether acromegaly is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Apelin is an adipose tissue-derived peptide that may be associated with hyperinsulinemia. Fetuin-A is a hepatocyte produced plasma glycoprotein that has an important role as a calcification inhibitor. The aim of this study was to examine apelin, fetuin-A, and procalcitonin concentrations and to assess their relationship with carotid intima medial thickness (cIMT) in subjects with acromegaly. METHODS: Apelin, fetuin-A, and procalcitonin serum concentrations were measured in 37 (20 inactive and 17 active) subjects with acromegaly and 30 control subjects, along with carotid intima medial thickness. RESULTS: The concentrations of apelin, fetuin-A, and procalcitonin were increased in subjects with acromegaly. There were significant correlations between apelin, fetuin-A, and procalcitonin in subjects with acromegaly. Carotid intima medial thickness values were similar between control subjects and subjects with acromegaly. CONCLUSIONS: Carotid intima medial thickness was not increased in subjects with acromegaly. It is possible that the increased apelin and fetuin-A concentrations observed play a protective role against the development of atherosclerosis in subjects with acromegaly.