Percutaneous Treatment of Giant Hydatid Cysts and Cystobiliary Fistula Management

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous treatment in cystic echinococcosis (CE) type 1 and 3a giant cysts (with at least one diameter>10 cm) according to the World Health Organization classification and to evaluate the management of complications, especially cystobiliary fistulas (CBFs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 66 patients with 68 CE1 and CE3a giant cysts treated with percutaneous catheterization between January 2016 and December 2021. The characteristics of the cysts, major and minor complications, time to catheter removal, and length of hospital stay were recorded.

RESULTS

Among the 68 cysts, CBFs occurred in 35 (51.5%), cavity infections in 11 (16.1%), recollection in five (7.4%), and anaphylaxis in three (4.5%). There was no mortality. Biliary drainage was observed intraoperatively in 20 (29.4%) and only postoperatively in 15 (22.1%) of the 35 cysts with CBFs. A plastic biliary stent was placed in 18 (51.5%) of the 35 cysts with CBFs. The patients with CBFs had a longer hospital stay and time to catheter removal than those without fistulas (15.3 ± 10.9 vs. 6.1 ± 2.6 days and 32.7 ± 51.8 vs. 6.2 ± 3.1 days, respectively; P < 0.001). Of the patients who developed recollection, three were treated with secondary catheterization, and two underwent surgery. In total, three patients underwent surgery. The rate of clinical success was 95.4%. All cysts were followed up for an average of 19.1 (range, 12-60) months, and there was an average 88.8% reduction in cyst volume compared to the initial evaluation.

CONCLUSION

CE1 and CE3a giant cysts can be treated effectively and safely with high clinical success using the catheterization technique. Contrary to what has previously been reported for these patients, the rate of CBFs is high, but these patients can successfully be treated with percutaneous drainage and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography without the requirement of surgery.

Prognostic Value of Vertebral Bone Density in the CT Scans of Sepsis Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

AIM

To evaluate the prognostic value of vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) and its relationship with mortality using the computed tomography (CT) scans of sepsis patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with sepsis at the intensive care unit between January and December 2022 were evaluated. Bone density was manually measured from the vertebral body using axial CT images. The relationship of clinical variables and patient outcomes with vertebral BMD, mortality, and mechanical ventilation was investigated. A lower BMD (osteoporosis) was defined as ≤100 HU.

RESULTS

The study included 213 patients (95 females, 44.6%). The mean age of all patients was 60.1±18.7 years. At least one comorbidity was present in 64.7% (n=138) of the patients, and the most common comorbidity was hypertension (n=73, 34.2%). The mortality rate was 21.1% (n=45), and the mechanical ventilation rate was 17.4% (n=37), both being statistically significantly higher among the patients with a lower BMD (36.4 vs. 12.9%; p<0.001 and 29.7 vs. 10.8%; p=0.001, respectively). The rate of a lower BMD was significantly higher in the mortality group (59.5 vs. 29.5%; p=0.001). In the regression analysis, a lower BMD [odds ratio (OR), 2.785; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.231-6.346, p=0.014] was a significant independent predictor of mortality. Interobserver agreement for BMD measurement was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.919 (95% CI: 0.904-0.951).

CONCLUSION

Vertebral BMD is a strong independent predictor of mortality and can be easily and reproducible evaluated on the thoracoabdominal CT images of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of sepsis.

Risk factors for the rupture of anterior communicating artery aneurysms: Coexistence of fetal-type posterior cerebral artery and A1 segment hypoplasia/agenesis

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of the coexistence of fetal-type posterior communicating artery (fPCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) A1 segment agenesis/hypoplasia on the rupture of an anterior communicating artery (AComA) aneurysm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 216 patients consecutively presenting with AComA aneurysms between January 2014 and December 2021 on digital subtraction angiography were evaluated. Patients without three-dimensional rotational angiography images, those aged under 18 years, those with suspected mycotic aneurysms, and those with dissecting and giant aneurysms were excluded from the study. The aneurysms were divided into two groups as ruptured and non-ruptured. Hemodynamic filling patterns were classified into four different types.

RESULTS

The study included 192 AComA aneurysms, 44.8% (n = 86) ruptured and 55.2% (n = 106) non-ruptured. According to hemodynamic filling patterns, in type 1, the frequency of non-ruptured aneurysms was statistically significantly higher than that of ruptured aneurysms (39.5% vs 18.9%; p = 0.001). In type 4, where fPCA and ACA A1 segment agenesis/hypoplasia coexists, the frequency of ruptured aneurysms was significantly higher than that of non-ruptured aneurysms (10.5% vs 22.7%; p = 0.026). The most common aneurysm size range was 4-7 mm (n = 85; 44.3%). There was no statistically significant difference in size between the ruptured and non-ruptured aneurysms (p = 0.627).

CONCLUSION

According to the hemodynamic filling classification, we observed that the presence of type 4 filling pattern, i.e., the coexistence of ACA A1 segment agenesis/hypoplasia and fPCA, increased the risk of rupture in AComA aneurysms.

Can peritoneal thickening and enhancement be used to determine perforation in patients with acute appendicitis?

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis (AA) is a common cause of abdominal pain in developed countries. In patients with suspected AA, computed tomography (CT) is considered as the gold standard with the highest sensitivity and specificity, and it is also an im-portant modality, especially in patients with complicated AA. In this study, we aimed to evaluate age and laboratory findings, as well as specific CT findings in differentiating between perforated and non-perforated appendicitis.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 252 patients diagnosed with AA and underwent appendectomy between November 2015 and December 2019 in Somalia Mogadishu Recep Tayyip Erdogan Education and Research Hospital. Patients under 18 years of age and those with no pre-operative CT scans were excluded from the study. The demographic, laboratory, CT findings, and pathological data of all patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

This study included 80 patients, 32 (40%) classified as perforated appendicitis (Group-1) and 48 (60%) as non-perforated appendicitis (Group-2). The C-reactive protein value was found to be statistically higher in Group-1 than in Group-2 (177.5±118.9 and 100.2±87.3 mg / L, respectively; p=0.001). The appendix lumen diameter (p=0.002), appendix wall defect (p<0.001), peritoneal thickening and enhancement (p<0.001), ascites (p=0.031), intra-abdominal abscess (p=0.003), jejunal thickening (p=0.019), ileal thick-ening (p=0.008), and ileus (p=0.035) values were significantly higher in Group-1. In the binominal logistic regression analysis performed with statistically significant data, an appendiceal wall defect (OR: 0.069, 95% CI=0.014-0.327, p=0.001) and peritoneal thickening and enhancement (OR: 0.131, 95% CI=0.024-0.714, p=0.019) were identified as independent variables for perforated appendicitis.

CONCLUSION

Among CT findings, appendix wall defects and peritoneal thickening and enhancement play an important role in detecting perforation.

The Prognostic Value of Vertebral Bone Density on Chest CT in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of the vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) on chest computed tomography (CT) in COVID-19 patients. The chest CT of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were evaluated for Pneumonia Severity Score (PSS) as the ratio of the volume of involved lung parenchyma to the total lung volume. In addition, BMD was manually measured from the vertebral corpus using axial CT images. The relationships of clinical variables, PSS and vertebral BMD with patient outcomes, namely mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation were investigated. Lower BMD was defined as ≤100 HU. The study included 209 patients (118 males, 56.4%). As a result of the univariate analysis, the rates of mortality, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation were 17.2% (n = 36), 24.8% (n = 52), and 20.6% (n = 43), respectively, and they were significantly higher among the patients with lower BMD (38.1 vs 13.0%, p < 0.001; 33.4 vs 21.2%, p = 0.002; and 38.1 vs 8.2%, p < 0.001, respectively). In the mortality group, PSS was significantly higher (median, 9 vs 5; p < 0.001) and vertebral BMD was significantly lower (median, 83 vs 139; p < 0.001). Severe clinical incidence was significantly higher in patients with lower BMD compared to those with higher BMD (39.7 vs 24.7% and p = 0.028). There was a significant correlation between clinical classification and lower BMD (r = 0.152 and p = 0.028). The multivariate analysis revealed vertebral BMD [odds ratio (OR), 1.028; 95% CI, 1.011-1.045, p = 0.001) and lower BMD (OR, 4.682; 95% CI, 1.784-12.287, p = 0.002) as significant independent predictors of mortality. Vertebral BMD is a strong independent predictor of mortality that is reproducible and can be easily evaluated on the chest CT images of COVID-19 patients.

Imaging findings in patients after the bomb explosion in Somalia on December 28, 2019

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to present the radiological findings of injuries in victims as a result of a suicide bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia.

METHODS

Of the 82 injured cases admitted to the emergency department within the first six hours after the explosion, those who were radiologically evaluated were included in this retrospective and descriptive study. To analyze and identify the distribution of primary, secondary, and tertiary injuries, they were classified according to the body areas as head-neck, thorax, abdominopelvic, extremity, and vertebra.

RESULTS

The mean age (mean ± SD) of 63 patients included in the study was 28.6 ± 10.2 years. Twenty-four (38.1%) of the injured patients were female and 39 (61.9%) were male. Secondary blast injury was the most common type of injury in the study group with a rate of 39/63 (62%). The total number of bomb fragments was 235, of which 113 (47.8%) were seen in the head and neck region, followed by 86 (36.5%) in the extremities. There were 10 patients (15.9%) with lung injury and 13 (20.6%) with tympanic membrane perforation due to the primary blast mechanism.

CONCLUSION

Radiological imaging plays an important role in identifying specific findings and patterns of explosive injuries. Therefore, we consider that patients with stable hemodynamics should be radiologically examined for a fast and accurate diagnosis or treatment.

Ovarian Torsion Due to Mature Cystic Teratoma During the Early Postpartum Period: A Rare Case Report

Mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is a benign and unilateral ovarian neoplasm usually seen in premenopausal women. Its most common complication, torsion, is a well-known cause of acute abdominal pain. However, it is rare in the early postpartum period. In this paper, we present a case of ovarian torsion due to MCT, which was diagnosed radiologically in the early postnatal period and surgically confirmed. A 25-year-old woman vaginally delivered a healthy baby on time and without any problems. She presented with acute abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant on the postpartum 5th day. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an ovarian mass containing fat and calcification in the right adnexa and non-enhancing ovarian parenchyma. The patient was discharged on the 5th day after the salpingo-oophorectomy operation without any complications. US and CT provided crucial information to make an accurate and rapid management decision in ovarian torsion due to MCT.

Frequency of hepatic steatosis and its association with the pneumonia severity score on chest computed tomography in adult COVID-19 patients

BACKGROUND

Recent studies of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) demonstrated that obesity is significantly associated with increased disease severity, clinical outcome, and mortality. The association between hepatic steatosis, which frequently accompanies obesity, and the pneumonia severity score (PSS) evaluated on computed tomography (CT), and the prevalence of steatosis in patients with COVID-19 remains to be elucidated.

AIM

To assess the frequency of hepatic steatosis in the chest CT of COVID-19 patients and its association with the PSS.

METHODS

The chest CT images of 485 patients who were admitted to the emergency department with suspected COVID-19 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups as COVID-19-positive [CT- and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive] and controls (CT- and RT-PCR-negative). The CT images of both groups were evaluated for PSS as the ratio of the volume of involved lung parenchyma to the total lung volume. Hepatic steatosis was defined as a liver attenuation value of ≤ 40 Hounsfield units (HU).

RESULTS

Of the 485 patients, 56.5% (n = 274) were defined as the COVID-19-positive group and 43.5% (n = 211) as the control group. The average age of the COVID-19-positive group was significantly higher than that of the control group (50.9 ± 10.9 years vs 40.4 ± 12.3 years, P < 0.001). The frequency of hepatic steatosis in the positive group was significantly higher compared with the control group (40.9% vs 19.4%, P < 0.001). The average hepatic attenuation values were significantly lower in the positive group compared with the control group (45.7 ± 11.4 HU vs 53.9 ± 15.9 HU, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight, and obesity there was almost a 2.2 times greater odds of hepatic steatosis in the COVID-19-positive group than in the controls (odds ratio 2.187; 95% confidence interval: 1.336-3.580, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of hepatic steatosis was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients compared with controls after adjustment for age and comorbidities. This finding can be easily assessed on chest CT images.

Does COVID-19 cause an increase in spleen dimensions? Possible effects of immune activation, hematopoietic suppression and microthrombosis

Purpose

To radiologically examine how the spleen size, which has important functions in hematological and immunological balance, is affected in COVID-19.

Methods

Between July 1 and August 31, 2020, consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were analyzed. Among these patients, those who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) examination at the time of presentation, patients with follow-up CT due to clinical deterioration were included in the study. The CTs of the patients were evaluated in terms of spleen size and volume.

Results

A total of 160 patients (88 females, 55%) were included in the study. The mean time between the initial and follow-up CT was 7.2 ± 2.8 days. The splenic volume (244.3 ± 136.7 vs. 303.5 ± 156.3 cm³) and splenic index (421.2 ± 235.5 vs. 523.2 ± 269.4 cm³) values were significantly higher in the follow-up CT compared to the initial CT (p < 0.001). The increase in the splenic volume and splenic index values was 59.2 ± 52.4 cm³ and 101.9 ± 90.3 cm³ (p < 0.001), respectively. The COVID-19 severity score was significantly higher in the follow-up CT compared to the initial CT (3.7 ± 4.2 vs. 12.5 ± 5.7, respectively; p < 0.001). The spleen width measured separately on the initial and follow-up CTs showed a highest positive correlation (r = 0.982, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study indicates that spleen size increases slightly-moderately in the first stages of the infection, and this increase is correlated with the COVID-19 severity score calculated on the chest CT data, and in this respect, it is similar to infections presenting with cytokine storm.

Bomb blast: imaging findings, treatment and clinical course of extremity traumas

Background

To describe the severity and types of blast-related extremity injuries and the presence of accompanying vascular injuries (VI) and amputation, and to identify the associated factors affecting the treatment management and clinical course.

Methods

The study included 101 patients with extremity injuries caused by a bomb explosion. The radiographs and computed tomography angiographies of the patients were evaluated in terms of injury patterns, presence of penetrating fragments and fractures, and localization (upper or lower extremity) and type (open or closed) of injury. The Gustilo-Anderson classification was used for open fractures. According to their severity, open fractures classified as types 1 and 2 were included in Group 1 and those classified as type 3A, 3B and 3C in Group 2.

Results

As a result of blast exposure, 101 (57.7%) patients had extremity injuries, of which 76 (75.2%) presented with at least one fracture. Of the total of 103 fractures, nine (8.8%) were closed and 94 (91.2%) were open. Thirty-eight (40.4%) of the open fractures were located in the upper extremities, and 56 (59.6%) in the lower extremities and pelvis. Open fractures were most frequently localized in the femur (n = 20; 21.2%), followed by the tibia (n = 18; 19.1%). The majority of patients with open fractures were in Group 1 (71.4%). The duration of hospital stay was longer in Group 2 (12.1 ± 5.8 vs. 6.3 ± 6.7 days, p <  0.0001, respectively). Mortality among patients in Group 2 (45.0%) was significantly higher than in Group 1 (8.0%) (p <  0.0001). Similarly, the injury severity score (ISS) was higher in Group 2 (median 20 vs. 9, p <  0.0001). VI was present in 13 (12.9%) of all patients, and amputation in seven (7.9%).

Conclusion

The presence of severe open fractures, VI, and high ISS score can be considered as important factors that increase morbidity and mortality. In extremity traumas, through the secondary blast mechanism, contaminated-fragmented tissue injuries occur. Therefore, we believe that it will be beneficial to apply damage control surgery in places with low socioeconomic level and poor hygienic conditions.

Cancer Incidence and Distribution at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Somalia from 2017 to 2020: An Initial Report of 1306 Cases

PURPOSE

To determine the type, frequency and distribution of all cancers in Somalia from 2017 to 2020.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective and descriptive study included the review of a total of 5238 pathology reports obtained from the medical records of the Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Education and Research Hospital. Patient characteristics, lesion localization, and histopathology were recorded. Patients with an unconfirmed cancer diagnosis, borderline tumors, intraepithelial neoplasms and metastatic cancers were excluded from the study. The cases were classified according to gender, age, and organ involvement.

RESULTS

Of the 1306 patients included in the study, 50.9% (n=666) were female and 49.1% (n=640) were male, and the mean age was 51.1±19.4 years. Of the cases, 5.1% (n=67) were pediatric (0-17 years) and 35.8% (n=468) were in the 18-50 years range. The most common cancer was esophageal cancer (EC) for the overall data (n=284; 21.7%) and in both genders. EC peaked in the fifth decade, and the most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (n=256; 91.1%). Liver cancer was the second most common cancer overall (n=99; 7.6%) and in men (n=67; 10.5%). Cervical cancer was the second most common cancer among women (n=88; 13.3%) and ranked fourth in terms of overall incidence (n=88; 6.7%). Breast cancer was the third most common overall (n=95; 7.3%) and in women (n= 87; 13.1%).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that in Somalia, EC is the most common cancer in both genders. These high rates in Somalia suggest that environmental factors and dietary habits may have an effect. To reduce the incidence of EC and prevent its development, the population of Somalia should be educated and effective planning should be undertaken.

Head and neck injuries after a bomb explosion: Diagnostic findings and treatment approaches

OBJECTIVE

To identify the types and severity of head, face and neck (HFN) injuries, which occurred as a result of a bomb explosion and reached serious life-threatening levels, using radiological imaging methods, and to discuss the options of treatment at the time of presentation.

METHODS

Of the 16 patients brought to the emergency department, 14 with HFN injuries were included in the study. Computed tomography (CT) and radiography scans were performed at the time of presentation in all patients, except for one. The injuries were divided into three groups according to their localization as head, face, and neck.

RESULTS

A subgaleal hematoma was seen in 10 of 11 (78.5%) patients with head injuries. Eight (57.1%) of nine patients with facial injury had fractures and/or ocular injury in the orbital wall, and seven (50%) patients had maxillofacial bone fractures. Among ocular trauma cases, open-globe injuries were detected in three patients (21.4%), closed-globe in two (14.2%), and both types in three (21.4%). Of the five (35.7%) patients with secondary blast injuries in the neck, three (21.4%) had laryngeal trauma (Zone 2) due to shrapnel, localized in the false vocal cord, epiglottis, and thyrohyoid membrane, respectively. Emergency surgery was performed on a patient with a specific laryngeal injury.

CONCLUSION

We consider that in patients presenting to the emergency department with blast HFN injuries, after providing airway patency and hemodynamic stability, CT and CT angiography should be performed because these modalities guide the treatment accurately and promptly.