Topographical Anatomy of the Superficial Temporal Artery

AIM

This study was conducted to describe in detail the gross anatomy of the superficial temporal artery (STA), its course and branches, its relationships with the branches of the facial nerve, and certain anatomical and surgical landmarks to preserve these structures in daily neurosurgical practice and use the STA during revascularization surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cadaveric study was conducted on 16 cadaver heads bilaterally, in which 32 silicon/latex-injected STAs were dissected using a microdissection technique in a neuroanatomy laboratory. The distances between the facial nerve, tragus, STA, superficial temporal vein (STV), and imaginary lines created between important anatomical landmarks were measured. The curvilinear lengths of STA and STV were also measured.

RESULTS

The average distances of the most posteriorly located branch of the facial nerve to the frontal region and the tragus at the midpoint of zygoma in the horizontal plane, at the superior border of the zygoma and at the level of the superior border of the parotid gland, were measured as 25.39, 29.84, and 15.56 mm, respectively. The average distance directly measured between the tragus and STA was 39.29 mm, and that between the tragus and STV was 20.26 mm. The average curvilinear lengths of the frontal and parietal branches of STA were 97.63 and 96.45 mm, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the clinical anatomy of the STA and its branches and its relationships with other structures is of critical importance for a successful and noncomplicated surgery. Our findings will be useful not only for surgical approaches such as pterional craniotomy and orbitozygomatic approaches but also for cerebral revascularization.

Does time elapsed between urine culture and retrograde intrarenal surgery affect the rate of systemic inflammatory response syndrome?

OBJECTIVE

To identify the preoperative and intraoperative factors that might cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) after retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), and to investigate the effect of time elapsed between the date of performing preoperative bladder urine culture (PBUC) and surgery date on postoperative SIRS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred sixty-seven patients who had RIRS between January 2013 and June 2020 constituted the target population of this study. PBUC were obtained from all patients before undergoing surgery. Postoperatively, patients were closely monitored for fever and other signs of SIRS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to reveal the predictive factors for SIRS after RIRS.

RESULTS

The entire study cohort consisted of 467 patients. The rate of SIRS was 5.6%. In univariate analysis, the rate of DM, recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) history, surgical time, and stone burden were significant predictive factors for SIRS. In multivariate analysis, the rate of recurrent UTI history, surgical time and stone burden were observed to be statistically significant predictive factors. Time elapsed between the date of performing PBUC and surgery date was not different between the SIRS group and the normal group.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the time between the date of performing PBUC and surgery date is not an influential factor for SIRS. Clarifying this issue with prospective studies may be useful, as endourologists frequently encounter this situation in daily practice.

A novel model using computed tomography parameters to predict shock wave lithotripsy success in ureteral stones at different locations

OBJECTIVE

To combine non-contrast computerized tomography (NCCT)-based parameters with stone and patient characteristics that are already known to affect shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) success and assess this novel model's effectiveness in predicting SWL success for single ureteral stones in different locations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of patients treated by SWL for a single ureteral stone between January 2017 and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic parameters of patients and stone characteristics were combined with NCCT-based parameters. NCCT-based parameters included the presence or absence of hydronephrosis, perinephric stranding, periureteral edema, diameter of the proximal ureter, ureteral wall thickness (UWT) at ureteral stone site. The logistic regression method was used for the development of a useful predictive model. Subsequently, the receiver operating curve was used to determine cut-off levels, and a scoring system was developed for prediction of SWL success.

RESULTS

Stone-free rate was 77,1% (267/346) in the entire cohort. Univariate analysis revealed that age, stone volume, density, perinephric stranding, diameter of proximal ureter, and UWT, were associated with SWL success. In multivariate analysis, proximal ureteral stone location, stone volume, density, and UWT were independent predictors of SWL success. The formula used during logistic regression analysis was: 1/[1 + exp {-8.856 + 0.008 (stone volume) + 0.002 (stone density) + 0.673 (UWT) + 1026 (proximal ureteral stone)}]. The scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 were associated with 97,8%, 83,4%, 60,8%, 33,2% and 11,1% success rates, respectively, in the prediction model based on these parameters.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that our model can facilitate decision-making for SWL treatment of ureteral stones in different locations.

Salivary β-galactosidase, halitosis parameters in periodontal health and disease, and their changes after periodontal treatment

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the salivary β-galactosidase and Halimeter values (HMV), organoleptic scores (OLS) and Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI) in periodontal health and periodontitis (P), and also their changes after phase I periodontal therapy and tongue cleaning.

METHODS

The participants were separated as follows: 25 P with halitosis (Group 1), 25 P without halitosis (Group 2) and 25 healthy controls (Group 3). Periodontal recordings, HMV, OLS and WTCI scores were recorded, and whole saliva β-galactosidase levels were measured colorimetrically in the samples at baseline and 1 month after the therapy.

RESULTS

The baseline values of HMV, OLS, WTCI and salivary β-galactosidase levels were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant decrease in periodontal recordings, HMV, OLS, WTCI and salivary β-galactosidase levels in all P patients by the therapy (P < 0.05). However, major reductions in halitosis measurements and saliva enzyme levels were observed in Group 1 after the treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that salivary β-galactosidase was associated with halitosis parameters and phase I periodontal therapy played an important role to reduce this enzyme level and halitosis parameters in P.

The role of preoperative albumin to globulin ratio in predicting prognosis in testicular cancer patients

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

In recent years, the incidence of testicular cancer has increased, but mortality rates have decreased thanks to the improvements in treatment. Although primary tumor characteristics and serum tumor markers are associated with metastasis and relapse, their predictive value is not reliable. Therefore, there is a need for new biomarkers that predict prognosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of preoperative albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) in predicting retroperitoneal lymph node (RPLN) involvement, distant metastasis and prognosis in testicular cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all patients that underwent radical inguinal orchiectomy at our hospital between 2007 and 2018. AGR was calculated using the equation: AGR=serum albumin/(serum total protein-serum albumin). The predictive value of AGR for RPLN involvement and distant metastasis was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis and its prognostic value was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 115 patients with a mean age of 33.4±7.7years were included in the study. In multivariate analysis, AGR less than 1.47 and the presence of lymphovascular invasion were detected as the factors predicting RPLN involvement and distant metastasis. The AGR of patients who had died was significantly lower than AGR of those who were alive, 1±0.2 versus 1.6±0.3 (P=.001). In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the mean survival of patients with higher AGR (>1.47) was found longer than patients with lower AGR (<1.47).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative AGR is a biomarker that may be used in predicting RPLN involvement, distant metastasis and prognosis in testicular cancer.

A rare and unexpected clinical progress and location on a primary extradural spinal hydatid cyst in a pediatric patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Involvement of spine in patients with hydatid disease (HD) is less than 1% and primary intra-spinal extradural HD is extremely rare. Although this disease is introduced as benign pathology according to its clinical presentation and biological behavior, intraoperative rupture of the cyst may aggravate the patients' outcome in the long-term especially in pediatric patient population.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a 9-year-old girl who presented a progressive neurological deterioration due to an enlargement of a ventrally located extradural hydatid cyst within the thoracic spinal canal. Total removal of the cyst was achieved by preserving the capsule integrity for preventing potential seeding. Our preoperative initial diagnosis based on the radiological findings was confirmed as cyst hydatid histopathologically.

CONCLUSION

Cyst hydatid should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the presence of homogenous cystic lesions with regular shape inside the spinal canal especially in patients from endemic region. To our knowledge, this pediatric patient is the first case of cyst hydatid located ventral side of the spinal cord extradurally located inside the spinal canal showing no extension.