Thirst intensity survey in ADPKD patients.

INTRODUCTION: With increased fluid intake and tolvaptan treatment, the growth rate of cysts can be theoretically decelerated in autosomal polycystic kidney disease. In this prospective study, it was planned to evaluate thirst sensation in these patients and the parameters affecting its intensity. METHODS: Forty-one ADPKD patients on tolvaptan and 40 ADPKD patients not on tolvaptan as the control group were evaluated for thirst distress sensation and intensity. The feeling of thirst and the discomfort caused by excessive fluid intake was assessed with Thirst Distress Scale-HF 12 questions (60/12). Thirst intensity was evaluated with a 100 mm visual scale. RESULTS: Of the whole group, 35.8% (29) were males, and 64.2% (52) were females. The mean age of the tolvaptan group was 39.17 ± 9.35 years and for the control group, it was 41.95 ± 12.29 years. There was a negative correlation between the thirst distress score of the patients and an increase in creatinine level after a year of tolvaptan treatment (r = - 0.335, p = 0.035). The patients not taking thiazide had higher thirst intensity scores (p = 0.004). There was no impact of tolvaptan dosage, total kidney volume, serum sodium, urinary osmolarity or eGFR on thirst distress and thirst intensity scores. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Only thiazide co-treatment had a positive impact on thirst distress and intensity when given tolvaptan. Thirst Distress Scale for ADPKD patients can be used to classify patients before and during tolvaptan treatment.

Evaluation of abdominal computed tomography findings in patients with COVID-19: a multicenter study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and interrogate the relationship between abdominal CT findings and patient demographic features, clinical findings, and laboratory test results as well as the CT atherosclerosis score in the abdominal aorta. METHODS: This study was designed as a multicenter retrospective study. The abdominal CT findings of 1.181 patients with positive abdominal symptoms from 26 tertiary medical centers with a positive polymerase chain-reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were reviewed. The frequency of ischemic and non-ischemic CT findings as well as the association between CT findings, clinical features, and abdominal aortic calcific atherosclerosis score (AA-CAS) were recorded. RESULTS: Ischemic and non-ischemic abdominal CT findings were detected in 240 (20.3%) and 328 (27.7%) patients, respectively. In 147 patients (12.4%), intra-abdominal malignancy was present. The most frequent ischemic abdominal CT findings were bowel wall thickening (n = 120; 10.2%) and perivascular infiltration (n = 40; 3.4%). As for non-ischemic findings, colitis (n = 91; 7.7%) and small bowel inflammation (n = 73; 6.2%) constituted the most frequent disease processes. The duration of hospital stay was found to be higher in patients with abdominal CT findings than in patients without any positive findings (13.8 ± 13 vs. 10.4 ± 12.8 days, P < 0.001). The frequency of abdominal CT findings was significantly higher in patients who did not survive the infection than in patients who were discharged after recovery (41.7% vs. 27.4%, P < 0.001). Increased AA-CAS was found to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic conditions in abdominal CT examinations. CONCLUSION: Abdominal symptoms in patients with COVID-19 are usually associated with positive CT findings. The presence of ischemic findings on CT correlates with poor COVID-19 outcomes. A high AA-CAS is associated with abdominal ischemic findings in patients with COVID-19.

A single-center experience of magnetic resonance imaging findings of fetal sacrococcygeal teratomas.

BACKGROUND: Sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCT) are known as rare tumors, but they are the most common tumor in fetuses and newborns. This study aims to present fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of SCT diagnosed prenatally and compare them with that of the prenatal Ultrasound (US) findings. METHODS: Eleven patients diagnosed as SCT prenatally by US and further assessed by MRI are included. MRI was performed via a 1.5-T magnet with a body coil. The presence, size, content extension, and compressive effects of each mass were determined and correlated with US findings and with postnatal examinations, including surgery and pathology. As complications, the presence of ascites and skin edema or pleural or pericardial effusion was diagnosed as hydrops. The amniotic fluid index was calculated for the assessment of oligo- or polyhydramnios. RESULTS: US findings are found strongly correlated with MRI findings. An agreement on the extent of each mass was observed in eight patients, disagreement in one fetus was an extension of the tumor within the spinal canal recognized only at MR and assessment of intrapelvic-abdominal extension was superior in MRI. There were n = 6 type I, n = 2 type II, n = 1 type III and, n = 2 type IV tumors. MRI was superior to US for detecting displacement of the colon (n = 3), intrapelvic-intraabdominal extension (n = 1), urinary tract complication (n = 2), and intraspinal extension (n = 1). DISCUSSION: MRI is found to be superior to US especially in the assessment of intrapelvic and intraspinal extension of the tumor, colonic displacement, and complications.

The benefit of superb microvascular imaging and shear wave elastography in differentiating metastatic axillary lymphadenopathy from lymphadenitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to detect and compare the diagnostic performances of vascularity index (VI) via superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in metastatic axillary lymphadenopathy and lymphadenitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is based on 45 female patients who were ultrasonographed due to swelling in the axilla and underwent SWE and SMI before tru-cut biopsy, between August 2019 and February 2021. The patients had a total of 53 lymph nodes (LNs), 38 of these were metastatic and 15 were lymphadenitis. RESULTS: The results showed that mean volumes, value of cortex thickness, elasticity and velocity values, and mean VI values were significantly higher in metastatic LAP group compared to lymphadenitis group. Correlation analysis showed that both VI (r: 0.44) and elastography (r: 0.52) values were positively correlated with the cortex thickness, while elastography values were strongly correlated with volume (r: 0.42) and short diameter (r: 0.40). For differentiating lymphadenitis and metastatic LAP, the optimal cut-off VI value was 8.55 while the optimal cut-off elastography value was 31.8 kPa. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, combined grayscale ultrasonography evaluation of lymph nodes with SWE and SMI increase the diagnostic performance in distinguishing lymphadenitis-metastatic LAP.

Evaluation of optic nerve diameters in individuals with neurofibromatosis and comparison of normative values in different pediatric age groups.

AIM: Our study aimed to report the normative values for optic nerve diameter in different age groups in MR imaging (MRI) in the pediatric population and to find a cut-off value for diagnosis in different age groups to be used for the diagnosis of optic glioma in patients with Neurofibromatosis 1(NF1). MATERIALS-METHODS: Orbital MRI obtained from 2011 to 2021 for children with and without NF1 were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: NF1 with glioma (group 1, n = 38), NF1 without glioma (group 2, n = 57), and healthy controls (group 3, n = 295). Two radiologists assessed diameter and tortuosity using validated criteria. The optic nerve measurements were obtained by two radiologists in two plans (axial and coronal sections) at five locations; retroocular, midsegment, and prechiasmatic segment on axial plane and retroocular segment and chiasmatic on coronal plane. RESULTS: Optic nerves were divided into 4 age groups: 0-2 years, 2-6 years, 6-12 years, and 12-18 years. It was observed that optic nerve diameters increased with age in healthy individuals. In subjects in groups 1 and 2, the mean diameter of the optic nerve was significantly greater at all locations compared with control individuals. Tortuosity scores were significantly associated in NF1 subjects with optic glioma than in NF1 subjects without optic glioma. CONCLUSION: We present the normative values obtained by measuring optic nerve diameters in pediatric populations (0-18 years) on MRI of our center. A rapid increase in optic nerve diameter was observed in the first 6 years of life, followed by a slower increase. Quantitative reference values for optic nerve diameter will benefit the development of objective diagnostic criteria for optic nerve gliomas (ONGs) secondary to NF1.

Comparison of superb microvascular imaging and shear wave elastography for assessing liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the effectiveness and applicability of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) in determining the degree of liver fibrosis noninvasively in comparison with shear wave elastography (SWE). METHODS: Ninety-eight consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent ultrasound (US)-guided needle biopsy were examined using US combined with SMI and SWE. The predictive performance of the two US techniques in staging liver fibrosis and inflammation was compared with reference to the histological findings obtained from liver biopsy. The intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of SMI in vascularity scores were evaluated. RESULTS: SWE values and SMI vascular scores were statistically significantly different among fibrosis stages (χ2(3)=76.3, χ2(3)=81.5, P<0.001). The SWE and SMI models significantly predicted fibrosis stages separately, and SMI scores alone predicted fibrosis stages better than SWE values (50.1% for SWE, 63.5% for SMI, P<0.001). A model with both SMI scores and SWE values together explained 73.2% of variance in fibrosis stages. When other clinical and laboratory predictors were added to the model (81.5%, P<0.001), SWE values and SMI scores remained the main predictors of fibrosis stages. SWE and SMI were also applicable in predicting inflammatory grades, explaining 31% and 34% of variance, respectively, and 37.7% when used together (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Both SWE and SMI had good diagnostic performance in determining the degree of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients. The efficacy of SMI was better than that of SWE. SMI can improve diagnostic performance for staging liver fibrosis and shows potential for estimating necroinflammation of the liver.

Prebiopsy multiparametric MRI and PI-RADS version 2.0 for differentiating histologically benign prostate disease from prostate cancer in biopsies: A retrospective single-center comparison.

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic performance of Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2.0 (PI-RADSv2.0) for differentiating clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) from benign prostate disease on prebiopsy multiparametric MRI stratified by total prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 150 patients who had prebiopsy mpMRI, serum PSA concentration and subsequent biopsy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified by PSA concentration (Group1 ≥ 10 ng/mL; Group2 4.0-<10 ng/mL). MRI findings were assessed using PI-RADSv2.0 by two blinded radiologists. Lesions were graded histopathologically using the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) score. Diagnostic performance of PI-RADSv2.0 was evaluated and compared to PSA and PSA Density (PSAD). The performance of the radiologists was compared including inter-observer agreement for PI-RADSv2.0. The correlation between imaging and histopathological biopsy results was analyzed. RESULTS: The differences in total PSA, free/total PSA ratio and PSAD between benign (n = 78) and malignant (n = 72) groups were significant (p < 0.05). The PI-RADSv2.0 scores of the radiologists were strongly correlated (r = 0.912, p < 0.001) with excellent agreement, κ = 0.97 (95%CI: 0.90-1.03; p < 0.005). Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed significantly high predictive power for PI-RADSv2.0, total PSA and PSAD alone. Comparison of age, prostate volume, PSAD, free/total PSA ratio and total PSA values between ISUP1 and ISUP ≥ 2 cases revealed significantly increased PSAD (p < 0.001) and total PSA (p = 0.001) in the ISUP ≥ 2 group. CONCLUSION: PI-RADSv2.0 had high diagnostic accuracy in both PSA groups. PI-RADSv2.0, PSAD and total PSA alone had significant high predictive power to detect csPCa. However, the combination of PI-RADSv2.0 and PSAD or total PSA for each reader showed no statistically significant improvement when compared to PI-RADSv2.0 alone.

Intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging for breast cancer: A comparison with molecular subtypes and histological grades.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the IVIM parameters (D, D *, f) helps to determine the molecular subtypes and histological grades of breast cancer. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with breast cancer were included in the study. All subjects were examined by 3 T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was undertaken with 16 b-values. IVIM parameters [D (true diffusion coefficient), D* (pseudo-diffusion coefficient), f (perfusion fraction)] were calculated. Histopathological reports were reviewed to histological grade, histological type, and immunohistochemistry. IVIM parameters of tumors with different histological grades and molecular subtypes were compared. RESULTS: D* and f were significantly different between molecular subtypes (p = 0.019, p = 0.03 respectively). D* and f were higher in the HER-2 group and lower in Triple negative (-) group (D*:36.8 × 10-3 ± 5.3 × 10-3 mm2/s, f:29.5%, D*:29.8 × 10-3 ± 5.6 × 10-3 mm2/s, f:21.5% respectively). There was a significant difference in D* and f between HER-2 and Triple (-) subgroups (p = 0,028, p = 0.024, respectively). D* was also significantly different between the HER-2 group and the Luminal group (p = 0,041). While histological grades increase, D and f values tend to decrease, and D* tends to increase. While the Ki-67 index increases, D* and f values tend to increase, and D tend to decrease. CONCLUSION: D* and f values measured with IVIM imaging were useful for assessing breast cancer molecular subtyping. IVIM imaging may be an alternative to breast biopsy for sub-typing of breast cancer with further research.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of changes in brain metabolites following electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depressive disorder.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic changes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) induced by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with MDD via 1H-MRS.Methods: The study was conducted on 13 MDD patients receiving ECT treatment and 14 healthy controls matched in terms of age, gender and education. The patients underwent six sessions of ECT. 1H-MRS imaging and psychometric evaluations obtained before 1st and after the 6th sessions. The control group also went through the same procedures except for ECT. N-Acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho) and creatine (Cr) metabolite levels and the creatine to metabolite ratios were measured.Results: There was no significant difference in the ACC metabolite levels of the patients and those of the controls at the baseline. ECT associated with a statistically significant decrease in the NAA/Cr ratio in ACC. All of the patients had responded to ECT treatment as measured with the clinical scales.Conclusions: The results has suggested that indirect proof of an increase in energy metabolism without any evidence of impaired neuronal viability in the ACC induced by ECT. The relative increase in Cr levels following ECT in MDD seems to be associated with improvement in clinical severity.Key pointsECT is one the most effective method in the treatment of acute MDD.The mechanism of ECT's antidepressant activity remains unclear but it is thought to be related to the regulation of prefrontal cortical or cingulate areas.In this study the patients underwent six sessions of ECT and after 1H-MRS imaging.The study revealed that baseline levels of metabolites in patients with MDD were not significantly different than those of control group.

Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging for diagnosing and staging the liver fibrosis and inflammation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model parameters for the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis and inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B and 42 healthy volunteers were included in the study. All subjects were examined by 3 T magnetic resonance imaging. Diffusion-weighted imaging was undertaken with sixteen b values. IVIM parameters [D (true diffusion coefficient), D* (pseudo-diffusion coefficient), f (perfusion fraction)] were calculated. Histological evaluation of biopsy samples was considered the reference standard for the staging of liver fibrosis and inflammation. Differences in IVIM parameters between patient and control groups were analyzed. In the patient group, fibrosis stage and inflammation grade groups were analyzed with respect to IVIM parameters. The correlation was assessed between IVIM parameters and Ishak-modified scale of fibrosis stages and inflammation grades. RESULTS: The D was significantly lower in the patient group than the control group, p = 0.038 with Cohen's d effect size of 0.452. D was significantly different between fibrosis stage levels. D values decreased in fibrosis stages from the minimal to moderate to marked fibrosis. Fibrosis grades significantly negatively correlated with D and D* values, p = 0.001, and 0.021, respectively. In addition, inflammation grades negatively correlated with f values, p = 0.047. CONCLUSION: D values measured with IVIM imaging may help to diagnose liver fibrosis. IVIM imaging could be an alternative to liver biopsy for the staging of liver fibrosis.

Diagnostic performance of conventional diffusion weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging for the liver fibrosis and inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of liver apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measured with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (CDI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with histologic diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis and 34 healthy volunteers were included in this prospective study. All patients and healthy volunteers were examined by 3T MRI. CDI and DTI were performed using a breath-hold single-shot echo-planar spin echo sequence with b factors of 0 and 1000 s/mm(2). ADCs were obtained with CDI and DTI. Histopathologically, fibrosis of the liver parenchyma was classified with the use of a 5-point scale (0-4) and inflammation was classified with use of a 4-point scale (0-3) in accordance with the METAVIR score. Quantitatively, signal intensity and the ADCs of the liver parenchyma were compared between patients stratified by fibrosis stage and inflammation grade. RESULTS: With a b factor of 1000 s/mm(2), the signal intensity of the cirrhotic livers was significantly higher than those of the normal volunteers. In addition, ADCs reconstructed from CDI and DTI of the patients were significantly lower than those of the normal volunteers. Liver ADC values inversely correlated with fibrosis and inflammation but there was only statistically significant for inflammatory grading. CDI performed better than DTI for the diagnosis of fibrosis and inflammation. CONCLUSION: ADC values measured with CDI and DTI may help in the detection of liver fibrosis. They may also give contributory to the inflammatory grading, particularly in distinguishing high from low grade.