The clinical and radiological importance of extraarticular contrast material leakage into adjacent synovial compartments on ankle MR arthrography in patients with OCD and anterolateral impingement.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tibiotalar joint capacity and the localisation, frequency and amount of extravasation in patients with extraarticular contrast material leakage into adjacent synovial compartments on ankle magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sites of extravasation were determined in the ankle MR arthrograms of 69 patients. Thirty-four patients without extraarticular contrast material leakage into locations unrelated to the injection path were included as a control group. Volumetric measurements of extraarticular contrast material leakage and the tibiotalar joint capacity were performed on a three dimensional (3D) volume measurement workstation. RESULTS: Extravasation of contrast material occurred through the anterior, posterior, and anterolateral recesses of the tibiotalar joint. The most common site of extravasation was along the flexor hallucis longus tendon synovium (24.6%). The amount of extravasation was significantly higher in patients with ankle osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) than in patients with a different diagnosis (p=0.039). Loose bodies were detected in all OCD's patients with insufficient tibiotalar joint distention. CONCLUSIONS: Connections between the ankle joint and neighboring synovial compartments can decrease the diagnostic value of ankle MR arthrography examinations due to inadequate joint distention. Large injection volumes should be used for ankle MR arthrography of patients with OCD (especially OCD's patients with loose body) and impingement syndrome.

Age and gender related prevalence of intracranial calcifications in CT imaging; data from 12,000 healthy subjects.

PURPOSE: Location and extent of intracranial calcifications have been detected accurately with the use of CT technology and since, many clinical or pathological entities have been linked to these calcifications. Our purpose is to provide data regarding the prevalence of calcifications in various locations in brain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively examined 11,941 subjects who underwent non-contrast enhanced brain CT examination. We determined the prevalence of choroid plexus, pineal gland, habenula, dura mater, basal ganglia and vascular calcifications. RESULTS: Of 11,941 subjects, 70.2% had choroid plexus calcifications. Calcifications were most frequently seen in pineal gland and 71.6% of the study population had pineal calcifications. Habeluna and dural calcifications were present in 19.2% and 12.5% of the population respectively. Basal ganglia calcifications and vascular calcifications only constituted 1.3% and 3.5% of the study population respectively. Male dominance was present in all calcification types except basal ganglia calcifications. CONCLUSIONS: Showing associations and dissociations from the literature, our study provides a baseline data regarding the prevalence of various types of intracranial calcifications.

Diffusion tensor imaging of the hippocampus in chronic cigarette smokers.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have demonstrated neuronal dis-integrity in chronic smokers using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). However, assessment of hippocampal DTI has not been performed in this group. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hippocampal integrity in chronic smokers and non-smokers and to compare this to memory performance. METHODS: We used in vivo DTI to measure the differences in hippocampal integrity between 88 chronic smoker and 88 non-smoking subjects. DTI was performed on a 3T scanner. We administered a verbal learning test to assess new verbal learning capabilities. The immediate recall (IR) was administered immediately after test procedure and delayed recall (DR) after 15min. RESULTS: Mean values of fractional anisotropy (FA) for non-smokers and smokers were 0.46 and 0.40, respectively (p<0.05). Mean IR word number for non-smokers and smokers was 11.6, 9.04, respectively (p<0.05). The mean word number of DR for non-smokers and smokers was 10.2, 7.2, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of hippocampal DTI assessment in the chronic smokers. We found that decreased hippocampal FA associated with neuronal dis-integrity and worse memory performance in chronic smokers than non-smokers. We also found a low positive correlation hippocampal FA values with memory performance in nonsmoking group.

How can we reduce the pain associated with FNA biopsy? Comparison of parallel and perpendicular method.

PURPOSE: To assess the tolerability of two different biopsy methods for thyroid nodules in a patient with nodular thyroid disease (NTD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 58 consecutive patients who had NTD from June 2014 to October 2015. Each patient had, at least, two thyroid nodules were located in two lobes. Parallel and perpendicular fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) were performed. RESULTS: The mean maximum diameters of the assessed thyroid nodules using ultrasound (US) in parallel and perpendicular techniques were 23 ± 7 and 22 ± 6 mm, respectively. Nodule sizes were not significantly different (p > 0.05). For the parallel and perpendicular techniques, the mean numeric rating scale (NRS), verbal rating scale (VRS), and visual analog scale (VAS) values were 3.6 ± 1.9, 2.6 ± 1.1, and 17.2 ± 13 with 6.6 ± 1.7, 3.4 ± 0.5, and 37.8 ± 18, respectively. All these values were statistically significant (p < 0.001); there were no statistical differences between females and males in terms of three pain scales (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients experienced significantly less pain when undergoing FNA of NTD using the parallel technique as opposed to the perpendicular technique. Therefore, we believe that FNA using parallel technique is preferable for NTD patients.

Leptomeningeal Dissemination of Intraventricular Rhabdoid Meningioma: Imaging Findings.

A 20-year-old male patient was admitted to our clinic with a 1-year history of headache. The patient's systemic-neurological examination and laboratory findings were normal. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Imaging findings showed calcified intraventricular mass and subependymal and gyral nodular lesions. There was a slight increase in ventricular volume. Surgical treatment was performed. Pathological specimens revealed the diagnosis of rhabdoid meningioma. Leptomeningeal dissemination refers to diffuse seeding of the leptomeninges by tumor metastases. To our knowledge, leptomeningeal dissemination of intraventricular rhabdoid meningioma is very rare in the literature. We aimed to discuss imaging findings and differential diagnosis of leptomeningeal dissemination of rhabdoid meningioma.

Evaluation of hepatic arterial anatomy by multidetector computed tomographic angiography in living donor liver transplantation.

The aim of this study was to define the different courses and percentages of hepatic artery that were detected during preoperative evaluation of living liver donors by multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA). We evaluated 150 donors before hepatic transplantation. All of the donors were evaluated by multislice CT scan with 256 detectors. For each patient, arterial, portal and venous phase images were obtained. The hepatic arterial variations were evaluated by the same radiologist according to Michels' classification. Common hepatic arterial anatomy (type I) was observed in 95 donors (63.3%). Other arterial variations were determined in the remaining 55 donors (36.6%). The second common variation was type XI which did not match with the description of Michels' classification variation in 15 donors (10%). The remaining variations described in Michels' classification were seen at lower rates. Type VII or X variation was not seen. MDCTA is a useful method to identify the blood supply of the liver before the liver transplantations, and surgeons can make their plan on the basis of CT data.

Assessment of posterior accessory great saphenous vein of the leg using ultrasonography: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency and anatomic distributions of the posterior accessory great saphenous vein of the leg (PAGSVL) and its insufficiency rate using ultrasonography (US) in patients who presented with clinical, etiologic, anatomic, and pathophysiologic (CEAP) scores of 1 and above. METHODS: A prospective US study on 200 limbs of 100 consecutive patients with CEAP scores of 1 and above. RESULTS: Right PAGSVL was seen in 45 % (45 cases), whereas left PAGSVL was seen in 54 % (54 cases) of the patients [49.5 % (99 limbs) in total] (p < 0.05). PAGSVL insufficiency was present in 6 % (6 cases) of the patients [6 limbs in total (6.06 %)]. The type of PAGSVL joining to the great saphenous vein (GSV) was above the knee level in 4 % (4 limbs), at the knee level in 14 % (14 limbs), and below the knee level in 74 % of patients (74 limbs). The relationship between posterior tibial perforators and PAGSVL was seen in 3.03 % of cases (3 limbs). There was no statistically significant relationship between PAGSVL insufficiency and the presence of posterior tibial perforators (p = 0.55) or between the presence of PAGSVL and the GSV insufficiency. CONCLUSION: PAGSVL was seen in half of the limbs with CEAP scores of 1 and above. The frequency of PAGSVL was more common in the left limbs than the right limbs. There was no statistically significant relationship between the presence of PAGSVL, GSV insufficiency, and different CEAP scores. The PAGSVL often joined to the GVS below the knee, but could also join above the knee.

Vici syndrome in siblings born to consanguineous parents.

Vici syndrome (OMIM 242840) is a rare syndrome and since its initial description by Vici et al. [1988], only 29 cases have been reported. We describe two brothers from healthy consanguineous Turkish parents with psychomotor delay, congenital bilateral cataracts, high palate, long philtrum, micrognathia, fair hair, and skin. They both had general hypotonia and elevated muscle enzymes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain confirmed agenesis of corpus callosum in both patients. Secundum type atrial septal defect (in Patient 1) and mild mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary insufficiency (in Patient 2) were detected by echocardiographic examination. Immunological studies were normal, as were chromosome karyotype analyses (46, XY). Both children had bilateral cutaneous syndactyly between second and third toes and also bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Patient 1 had poor feeding and regurgitation necessitating a feeding tube; mild laryngomalacia was subsequently detected by bronchoscopy. Mutation analysis in patient 2 showed a homozygous p.R2483* (c.7447C > T) mutation in EPG5 gene. We report a summary of the clinical findings in our patients and 29 cases from the literature.