Prognostic factors for interstitial lung disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis: May methotrexate protect against progression?

Objective: Lung computed tomography (CT) is a valid method for the detection and assessment of the progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The objective of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the characteristics of individuals with RA-ILD, with and without radiographic progression, determined using lung CT scans.

Method: In this retrospective observational study, three radiologists re-evaluated CT scans of RA-ILD patients who had at least one follow-up CT.

Immunoglobulin G4-related thoracic disease: clinical and radiological findings of a Turkish cohort.

Background And Aim: Thoracic involvement of Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is relatively rare and may be disregarded at the time of initial diagnosis due to its asymptomatic nature. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and patterns of thoracic involvement in a retrospective cohort of Turkish patients with IgG4-RD.

Methods: A total of 90 patients (47 males and 43 females, with a mean age of 57.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Background: To explore the frequency and clinical associations of radiologic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images of 105 patients with SSc-ILD were examined for the presence of PPFE. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and pulmonary function test (PFT) data of patients with and without PPFE were compared.

A screening study for COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients during the third wave of the pandemic.

Background: COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has been reported as an important cause of mortality in critically ill patients with an incidence rate ranging from 5% to 35% during the first and second pandemic waves.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors for CAPA by a screening protocol and outcome in the critically ill patients during the third wave of the pandemic.

Patients/methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in two intensive care units (ICU) designated for patients with COVID-19 in a tertiary care university hospital between 18 November 2020 and 24 April 2021.

Predictors of mortality in rheumatoid arthritis-associated lung disease: A retrospective study on ten years.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated lung involvement is a cause of mortality. This study aimed to evaluate mortality rate and mortality-associated factors in RA patients with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)-proven lung involvement.

Methods: Patients followed-up for RA between 2010 and 2018 were evaluated regarding HRCT-proven lung involvement.

Rare presentation of pseudosequestration in childhood: CT and CT angiography findings.

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the lungs with normal bronchial branching and pulmonary arterial supply is an unusual variant of the sequestration spectrum. Pseudosequestration is referred as the combination of systemic arterial supply to lung with normal bronchial connection. Thorax computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography are non-invasive and useful techniques in making the definitive diagnosis.

Splenic anomalies of shape, size, and location: pictorial essay.

Spleen can have a wide range of anomalies including its shape, location, number, and size. Although most of these anomalies are congenital, there are also acquired types. Congenital anomalies affecting the shape of spleen are lobulations, notches, and clefts; the fusion and location anomalies of spleen are accessory spleen, splenopancreatic fusion, and wandering spleen; polysplenia can be associated with a syndrome.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor increases in type 2 diabetes after treatment with metformin.

Objective: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) has anti-angiogenic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to the significant role it plays in reducing diabetic complications, PEDF is now used in the treatment of certain cancers. It possibly plays a role in insulin resistance cases, too.

Long-term results of disodium etidronate treatment in pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease with alveolar microliths mainly composed of calcium phosphate. The gene responsible for the disease is SLC34A2, which encodes a type-IIb sodium phosphate cotransporter, has been described recently. Treatment of this disease is not clearly defined.

Evaluation of pericardial sinuses and recesses with 2-, 4-, 16-, and 64-row multidetector CT.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe visualisation rate and appearance of all pericardial sinuses and recesses and to evaluate whether there is a significant difference between visualisation of these sinuses and recesses on 2-, 4-, 16- and 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analysed 588 MDCT scans of the chest obtained with a protocol for pulmonary embolism.

Results: The visualisation rate of any pericardial recess was 85.

Mesenteric arterial variations detected at MDCT angiography of abdominal aorta.

Objective: The purposes of this essay are to outline MDCT angiographic techniques for the evaluation of the mesenteric arterial vasculature and to review anatomic variants depicted on MDCT angiograms.

Conclusion: MDCT angiography has distinct advantages over conventional angiography in imaging of the mesenteric arterial vasculature.

Non-invasive imaging of aberrant right subclavian artery pathologies and aberrant right vertebral artery.

Here, we review the CT and MR angiography findings of aberrant right subclavian and right vertebral arteries, with emphasis on the differences between these structures. In addition, non-invasive imaging findings of aberrant right subclavian artery pathologies, including arteritis, aneurysm and dissection, are discussed.

CT findings in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infections.

Purpose: To evaluate computed tomography (CT) findings of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies, and to detect the accuracy of first-choice diagnoses.

Materials And Methods: CT chest scans of 57 immunocompromised patients who had pulmonary infections were evaluated retrospectively, and a first and second interpretation of etiology (first- and second-choice diagnosis) was proposed. The etiology of pulmonary infection was verified by microbiological tests such as blood, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures, sputum, and BAL smears, or diagnosed on the basis of response to treatment and clinical follow-up.

Acute dyspnea in an adolescent girl after physical exertion: a case report and review of the literature.

Dyspnea is a common symptom of cardiac and pulmonary diseases. We present a 15-year-old girl with acute dyspnea, chest pain, cough, and difficulty in swallowing whose initial diagnosis was psychogenic dyspnea. The etiology of acute dyspnea is discussed and reported cases are reviewed in this case report.

Forearm bone mineral density measurements in thoracic outlet syndrome.

Denervation of sensory and sympathetic nerve fibers and reduced blood flow result in decreased bone mineral density (BMD). In this study, we aim to detect the effect of compression of brachial plexus and subclavian vessels on the forearm BMD in patients with thoraric outlet syndrome (TOS). Twenty-three patients with TOS (17 females and 6 males) were enrolled in the study.

Retrotracheal aberrant left brachiocephalic vein: CT findings.

We present a child with double aberrant left brachiocephalic vein (ALBCV) that was an incidental finding on CT. The anterior and thin branch was above the aortic arch and behind the truncus brachiocephalicus and drained into the superior vena cava (SVC). The posterior and thick branch of the ALBCV coursed posterior to the trachea and oesophagus and joined with the azygos vein before draining into the SVC.

PVOD suggested by MDCT and clinical findings in a pregnant woman.

Pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary venoocclusive disease (PVOD) is increasingly recognized (Wagenvoort, Chest 69:82-86, [20]; Scully et al., N Engl J Med 308:823-834, [21]). The clinical presentation is usually progressive pulmonary hypertension.

Multidetector CT and MRI findings in periportal space pathologies.

Periportal region is an anatomic space around portal vein comprising hepatic artery, bile duct, nerves, lymphatics and a potential space. Periportal pathologies may involve any of these structures diffusely or focally with characteristic radiologic findings. Radiologic findings can be helpful in differential diagnosis of pathologies of periportal structures including periportal cavernomatous transformation, hepatic artery aneurysm, biliary diseases, neurofibromatosis, lymphoma, langerhans' cell histiocytosis, periportal fatty infiltration and other causes of periportal halo in adult and pediatric patients.

Low dose CT: practices and strategies of radiologists in university hospitals.

Purpose: We surveyed the practices and policies of the radiology departments of academic institutions in Turkey regarding the use of low dose CT in daily practice.

Materials And Methods: Surveys were mailed electronically to radiology departments of 40 university hospitals. Information gathered included modifications of standard protocols for dose reduction according to body parts being examined or depending on specific patient groups such as children, pregnant, or slim patients.

Effects of claritromycin on inflammatory parameters and clinical conditions in children with bronchiectasis.

Background: The effects of the macrolides cannot be ascribed to their antibacterial action alone. Their immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory functions are significant too. They are frequently used in the treatment of diffuse panbronchiolitis and cystic fibrosis (CF).

Incidental localized (solitary) mediastinal malignant mesothelioma.

Primary mediastinal mesotheliomas are rare tumours. The mesothelial lining cells of the the pericardium are suggested as the most probable cells of origin. Most of these tumours appear either as a diffuse or nodular thickening of the pericardium that encase and even invade the heart.

Breast abscess mimicking malignant mass due to retained penrose drain: diagnosis by mammography and MRI.

We report a breast mass associated with a foreign body mimicking malignancy on mammography. Although retained penrose drains have been reported in other parts of the body, our case is the first report of a retained penrose drain in breast diagnosed by mammography. Mammography can be used if there is suspicion of a retained penrose drain during the course of breast abscess treatment.