Correlation of Clinical Course with Computed Tomography Findings and Biochemical Parameters at the Time of Admission in COVID-19 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the predictive performance of serum inflammatory markers and the semiquantitative computed tomography severity scoring system on diagnosing the Covid 2019 disease and its course. METHODS: Our study is a single-center retrospective cohort study. The data of 213 adults who were confirmed to have coronavirus disease 2019 by polymerase chain reaction tests in the period between April 2020 and August 2020 were evaluated. One hundred eighty four of these patients whose C-reactive protein, d-dimer, and ferritin levels, lymphocyte counts, and thoracic computed tomography images were obtained at the time of admission were included in the study. The semi-quantitative computed tomography severity score was calculated for all patients. RESULTS: The median age of the 184 patients included in the study was 51.5 (19-91) years. The incidence of intensive care need and mortality was 10.3% (n=19) and 5.4% (n=10), respectively. The intensive care need and mortality rate was significantly correlated with higher thoracic computed tomography involvement scores at admission. There was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the computed tomography scores and the C-reactive protein, d-dimer, and ferritin levels. Older age (>65 years-old) and thoracic computed tomography scores of 11 and higher were independent factors correlated with need for intensive care. CONCLUSION: Serum inflammatory markers and semi-quantitative computed tomography severity scoring system were predictive in diagnosing the Covid 2019 disease and its course.

Measuring the shape and dimensions of normal the bony structures in the craniovertebral junction from computed tomography images of the pediatric age group.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to contribute to the literature by determining the morphometric reference values of the bony structures in the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) from computer tomography (CT) images of the pediatric age group. METHODS: In this study, CT's of 151 simple trauma patients aged between 3 and 15 years between 2016 and 2020 were evaluated. All CT examinations were performed using a 32-slice CT and included images of the skull base and C1-C2 junction. A total of 10 measurements were obtained from these images, including Wachenheim clivus canal angle (WCA), Welcher basal angle (WBA), Cran-iocervical tilt angle (CCT), power ratio (PR), Atlantodens interval, McRae Line (MRL), McRae - Dens distance, basion-dens interval (BDI), basion-axis interval (BAI), and atlantooccipital measurement (AOM). RESULTS: In comparison between gender groups, MRL (p=0.011) and AOM (p<0.001) measurements were found to be significantly higher in males. McRae-Dens distance, BDI, and AOM were significantly higher in patients aged 3-9 years (respectively, p=0005, p=0.003, p<0.001), and BAI (p=0.001) was significantly higher in patients aged 10-15 years. The McRae - Dens distance (p=0.119) was similar between patients with and without terminal ossicle in odontoid apex. But BDI of patients without terminal ossicle was significantly higher (p=0.048). All parameters, except the WCA, WBA, CCT, and PR, were statistically significantly correlated with the patient age (respectively, p=0.21, p=0.13, p=0.70, p=0.99). CONCLUSION: In this study, the morphometric reference values of the bone structures at the CVJ were determined from the CT images of the pediatric age group.

A case report of left paraduodenal hernia diagnosed preoperatively and treated laparoscopically.

Paraduodenal hernia is a rare congenital anomaly; however, it is the most common cause of internal herniation. Clinical findings are often indeterminate. Computerized tomography is usually diagnostic; however, the diagnosis is often made intra-operatively. Paraduodenal hernia carries a risk of incarceration leading to bowel obstruction and strangulation; therefore, it should be repaired surgically when diagnosed. Here we present a case of left PDH that was diagnosed preoperatively and repaired laparoscopically.

Mean platelet volume and mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio in risk stratification of pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, some of the hemogram parameters were reported to predict early death in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet count ratio (MPV/P), WBC and red cell distribution width (RDW) in risk stratification of patients with acute PE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with acute PE admitted to the Emergency Department. In addition to the clinical evaluation, the hemogram parameters were measured on admission. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients were included. Patients with RV dysfunction had significantly higher MPV levels and MPV/P than patients without RV dysfunction. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a MPV cut-off of 7.85fL provided a sensitivity of 53.3% and a specificity of 68.5%, and a MPV/P cut-off of 0.0339fL/(10(9)/L) provided a sensitivity of 69.6% and a specificity of 65% for the prediction of RV dysfunction. There was a positive correlation between MPV and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and between MPV and RV diameter. There was a positive correlation between MPV/P and SPAP and between MPV/P and RV diameter. The low-risk PE group had lower MPV and MPV/P than the massive PE and submassive PE groups. CONCLUSIONS: MPV and MPV/P were found to be associated with RV dysfunction and clinical severity in acute PE. Low MPV and MPV/P levels may be an indicator of low risk and, high WBC levels may be an indicator of high risk in patients with acute PE. RDW levels may not reflect severity of acute PE.