Anatomy of the azygos vein examined by computerized tomography imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the anatomy of the azygos vein AV using different parameters. Therefore, the diameter of the AV at its opening into the superior vena cava, the opening level of the AV into the superior vena cava, and the position of the AV, with respect to the vertebral column and carina, were examined by CT. METHODS: Chest CTs of 103 cases (42 female and 61 male) were reviewed at the Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey between July 2004 and February 2005. The CT examinations were performed with a Philips AU E1 spiral CT (Rotterdam, Netherlands) with the following parameters: 120 Hv; 200 mAs; slice thickness: 7 mm; pitch: 1; reconstruction index: 7 mm. The results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The diameter of the AV at the opening into the superior vena cava ranged between 4.3 mm and 16 mm. The AV was in the midline in 41 cases. The arching and opening level of the AV was at the fifth thoracic vertebra in most cases. The opening level was most often at the same level as the carina. Hemiazygos veins were detected in 90 patients. CONCLUSION: The parameters measured in this study may be useful in surgical procedures of the mediastinum and during the interpretation of chest radiographs.

Light and scanning electron microscopic examination of late changes in hair with hereditary trichodysplasia (Marie Unna hypotrichosis).

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the microscopic surface structural alteration in hair with hereditary trichodysplasia. This article presents the results of light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of cases having hereditary trichodysplasia. METHODS: The biopsy specimens were obtained from 2 girls of ages 3 and 5-years, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University in 2001. A large number of hair specimens were obtained from these 2 cases having hereditary trichodysplasia. Routine light microscopic and SEM procedure was performed on the tissue specimen, and then they were examined by light microscopy and SEM. RESULTS: Hair specimens taken from both patients had great similarities. Our results reveal that the atypical looking hair were flattened, twisted and partly scattered at the end. Moreover, these hairs had sheath structures with abnormal proliferation and these structures were damaged, the cuticles had fractures and were degenerative. CONCLUSION: There is only a small number of SEM studies in literature reporting the ultrastructural changes of hereditary trichodysplasia. Scanning electron microscopy is a 3 dimensional examination technique revealing easily comparable images and it is indispensable for diagnosis in various tissues which permit considerable magnification. As it is used in the hereditary trichodysplasia syndrome its routine usage in many dermatologic and hair diseases will result in valuable contributions to scientific literature.