Publications by authors named "Muniraju Maralakunte"
Background: Frequent chest CTs within a short period during follow-up of long COVID patients may increase the risk of radiation-related health effects in the exposed individuals. We aimed to assess the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT) chest compared to standard-dose CT (SDCT) in detecting lung abnormalities associated with long COVID.
Methods: In this prospective study, 100 long COVID patients with respiratory dysfunction underwent SDCT and ULDCT chest that were compared in terms of objective (signal-to-noise ratio, SNR) and subjective image quality (image graininess, sharpness, artifacts, and diagnostic accuracy along with the European guidelines on image quality criteria for CT chest), detection of imaging patterns of long COVID, CT severity score, and effective radiation dose.
Article Synopsis
- - This study evaluates how well dual-energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography (DECTPA) can diagnose subsegmental pulmonary embolism compared to standard dual-energy pulmonary angiography (SCTPA) in patients suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism (APE).
- - It involved 50 patients who underwent imaging using both techniques, and two radiologists assessed the results to measure accuracy, focusing on sensitivity, specificity, and detection rates of blood clots.
- - The findings revealed that DECTPA was significantly more effective, detecting 99 thrombi in peripheral arteries compared to 72 with SCTPA, resulting in 100% sensitivity and 86% specificity, making it a better option for identifying APE.
Objectives: Prevalence of synovitis, tenosynovitis, erosions, acro-osteolysis and bone marrow edema in systemic sclerosis is not extensively reported. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of changes in individual joints of hands in systemic sclerosis patients.
Method: A cross-sectional analytical study consisting of 34 adults (females, = 32) with systemic sclerosis.
Objective: To compare the acquisition time, diagnostic efficacy, and image quality of the newer compressed SENSE 3D MRCP (CS-3D MRCP) with conventional 3D MRCP (C-3D MRCP) in children with pancreatitis.
Methods: A total of 24 children (2-17 y) diagnosed with pancreatitis were included in this study. The children underwent CS-3D MRCP and C-3D MRCP sequences.
To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) chest as an alternative modality to CT chest for follow-up of patients recovered from severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A total of 25 subjects (16 [64%] men; mean age 54.84 years ± 12.
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- More than half of individuals with bipolar depression (BD) are often misdiagnosed with unipolar depression (UD) due to a lack of clear diagnostic criteria; this study aimed to identify neuroimaging markers to differentiate these two conditions.
- The research involved a total of 62 participants, including those diagnosed with BD, UD, and healthy controls, who underwent advanced brain imaging techniques to measure various diffusion and kurtosis metrics across different brain regions.
- Results indicated specific microstructural changes in the left amygdala and right hemi-cerebellum for BD, while UD showed distinct changes in the right external capsule and right amygdala, highlighting the potential of diffusion kurtosis imaging as a tool for better diagnosing and managing
Objective: Precise evaluation of coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in Kawasaki disease (KD) is essential. The aim of this study is to determine role of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) for detection of CAAs in distal segments of coronary arteries in patients with KD.
Methods: CTCA findings of KD patients with distal coronary artery involvement were compared with those on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) during the period 2013-21.
Ortner's syndrome is hoarseness of the voice caused by enlarged cardiac structures compressing the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (LRLN). The LRLN is vulnerable for impingement by cardiac structures due to its anatomical course. LRLN is longer and it hooks below the arch of the aorta, posterior to the ligamentum arteriosum before ascending toward the tracheo- esophageal groove.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA middle-aged woman with hypertension presented with atypical chest pain of 1 month duration and had a positive exercise stress test. She underwent diagnostic coronary angiography which demonstrated an anomalous branch arising from the proximal part of the left circumflex artery supplying the right lung. She had atherosclerotic plaques in the right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCOVID-19 is an ongoing pandemic with many challenges that are now extending to its intriguing long-term sequel. 'Long-COVID-19' is a term given to the lingering or protracted illness that patients of COVID-19 continue to experience even in their post-recovery phase. It is also being called 'post-acute COVID-19', 'ongoing symptomatic COVID-19', 'chronic COVID-19', 'post COVID-19 syndrome', and 'long-haul COVID-19'.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The data regarding overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) following irreversible electroporation (IRE) is scarce. We performed a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of IRE for liver malignancies.
Methods: Searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases were performed through September 1, 2019.
Objective: To compare overall survival (OS) and local recurrence (LR) following radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), and cryoablation (CA) for very early and early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: This systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of chest CT and X-ray findings in diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia by analyzing data from multiple research articles.
- A total of 56 studies involving 6,007 patients were reviewed, revealing varying prevalence rates of specific imaging findings such as ground glass opacities (GGO) and consolidation.
- Although CT showed the highest diagnostic performance for COVID-19 pneumonia, its moderate sensitivity and specificity indicate that it shouldn't be the primary diagnostic method, with chest X-rays also showing significant abnormalities in patients.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the neurological complications associated with dengue, including conditions like encephalitis and ADEM, by analyzing brain MRI results from dengue-seropositive patients.
- Involving 36 patients with neurological symptoms, the research identifies specific MRI patterns linked to dengue, such as encephalitic and encephalopathic changes, as well as hemorrhagic features.
- The findings emphasize the importance of radiologists recognizing these diverse MRI presentations to facilitate accurate diagnoses while ruling out other potential causes through laboratory testing.
Purpose: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of bedside percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) as a salvage procedure in patients with severe cholangitis in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Methods: This retrospective study evaluated records of consecutive patients with severe cholangitis who were admitted in the ICU. Bedside PTBD was performed using ultrasound guidance.
Article Synopsis
- * Out of 90 PTBDs performed, 63.3% of patients had factors like non-dilated systems and coagulopathy that increased their risk; the procedure achieved a technical success rate of 91.2%.
- * Despite some complications, including biliary peritonitis in a small number of cases, the study concludes that PTBD is both effective and safe for patients considered at higher risk.