Epidemiological features of Turkish patients with sarcoidosis.

Epidemiological characteristics of sarcoidosis differ according to geographical distribution. The aim of our study was to disclose epidemiological characteristics in our country. The data was collected from investigators, who sent information on newly-diagnosed patients via internet. In 2 years 198 female and 95 male patients were enrolled to the study (f/m:2.08). Mean age of patients was 44+/-13 years (17-90). Mean age of male patients was 38+/-12 while mean age of female patients was 48+/-13 (p<0.001). 73.4% of patients were nonsmokers (85.4% of females; 48.4% of males; (p<0.001)). About 50% of our 293 patients were housewives. Familial sarcoidosis was found in 3 patients' first degree relatives. Estimated annual incidence of sarcoidosis for Turkey was calculated as 4 per 100,000 person. According to our study, 2/3 of sarcoidosis patients were women; mean age of patients was 45 and the disease began 10 years later in female patients. 80% of patients were nonsmokers; negative relation between sarcoidosis and smoking was evident especially in women. Familial sarcoidosis frequency was lower compared to other studies in the literature. There was no occupational exposure history in our patients. Our incidence rate, is similar with the results of other European studies.

Gorham-Stout disease of the humerus.

Gorham-Stout disease is characterized by local proliferation of small vascular or lymphatic channels resulting in progressive destruction and resorption of bone. The etiology and pathogenesis of the disease remains mostly unknown, despite some 175 reported cases. A case of Gorham-Stout disease of the humerus in a 14-year-old boy is described. The patient presented with progressive pain and deformity of the right arm. Although the disease was described in different bones of the body its location in the humerus is rare. We report the natural history and clinical follow-up in a young patient. A fibular graft was performed but 10 months later, resorption and pathological fractures occurred again. This study presents the radiographic and MRI features of Gorham disease.

Hibernoma: a benign lipomatous tumor mimicking liposarcoma.

Hibernoma is a rare, benign, slow-growing soft tissue tumor. It was named after its resemblance to the brown fat found in hibernating animals. Due to its rich vascularity and magnetic resonance appearance, this tumor may mimic a liposarcoma before tissue diagnosis. Complete resection with meticulous hemostasis is enough for treatment. Malignant potential has not been demonstrated. Herein we present a case of hibernoma arising from the left groin in a young man. The clinical presentation, radiographic and histopathologic features of this rare benign soft tissue tumor are presented. This tumor is clinically important because it is indistinguishable from malignant lesions.

Non specific magnetic resonance features of chondromyxoid fibroma of the iliac bone.

Chondromyxoid fibroma is a benign cartilaginous neoplasm. The tumor is rare, perhaps the rarest of all bone tumors. It is more common in long bones and rare in pelvic bones. We report a case of a 31-year-old woman with chondromyxoid fibroma arising from the iliac bone and presenting with leg pain due to compression on the femoral nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features were non specific for chondromyxoid fibroma. We emphasize the need to consider it in the differential diagnosis of chondrosarcoma.

Atypical tuberculosis of the spine.

Spinal tuberculosis characteristically involves the paradiscal area of vertebral bodies with a narrowing of the disc space. In this study, we reported four atypical forms of Pott's disease, including one hundred and eighty-four patients treated between 1985 and 1998. Two cases presented with noncontiguous multilevel involvement, where one case had transverse process involvement alone and the other had involvement of the neural arch. Atypical tuberculosis of the spine was found in 2.1% of the patients.

Computed tomographic findings of environmental asbestos-related malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is not an infrequent fatal neoplasm. It is endemically present in some regions of Turkey due to its aetiological relationship to exposure to environmental fibrous minerals. The aim of this study was to determine the thorax computed tomographic (CT) features of environmental asbestos-related MPM. In this study, we examined retrospectively the CT scans of 46 untreated patients with pathological diagnosis of environmental asbestos-related MPM among 151 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in the Izmir Chest Disease and Surgery Hospital. The CT scans were interpreted by consultation of four observers. Malignant pleural mesothelioma was unilateral in 45 (97.2%) of the patients. Pleural effusions were found in 42 (91%) of the patients, pleural calcifications in 12 (26%), contracted hemithorax in 14 (30%), interlobar fissure involvement in 25 (54%) and mediastinal pleural involvement in 26 (57%). A contracted hemithorax was significantly correlated with pleural rind configuration. Pleural thickenings were found in 45 (99%) of the patients. Pleural thickenings were in the form of nodularity in 10 (22%) cases, regular in 12 (27%) cases, as a focal mass in 3 (7%) cases and as a pleural rind in 20 (44%) cases. Pleural thickening was greater than 1 cm in 32 (71%) cases. The most common CT findings in our series were unilateral circumferential pleural thickening, nodular pleural thickening, pleural thickening greater than 1 cm and mediastinal pleural involvement. Generally, pleural effusion was accompanied by this. There was interlobar fissure involvement in half of the patients. There was no pathognomonic CT finding in environmental asbestos-related MPM. But CT was useful in suggesting the diagnosis of malignant pleural disease in the cases with MPM.

Symptomatic lumbar foraminal epidural varix. Case report and review of the literature.

Symptomatic epidural varix is rarely described in the literature and is difficult to diagnose by CT. We present a case of symptomatic foraminal epidural varix associated with bilateral spondylolysis simulating an extreme lateral disc herniation on CT. The literature is reviewed.

Fibrous dysplasia of the spine with sarcomatous transformation: a case report and review of the literature.

A fibrosarcoma is reported in the spine of a 53-year-old man with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. There was no history of endocrine disturbances and no previous irradiation. Malignant transformation in fibrous dysplasia is rare. A review of the literature reveals 101 cases of malignant degeneration occurring in fibrous dysplasia. We believe that this is the first report of sarcomatous change arising in an area of fibrous dysplasia in the spine.