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Objective: Pediatric posterior fossa tumors pose diagnostic challenges due to their diverse histopathological features and variable clinical presentations. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) serves as the initial diagnostic tool; however, additional modalities, such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), are essential for refining tumor classification. This retrospective single-center study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) parameters in distinguishing between the most common pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine patients under the age of 18 (27 females and 32 males) with histopathologically diagnosed primary posterior fossa tumors underwent pre-treatment conventional and diffusion MRI. Apparent diffusion coefficient values were measured from solid tumor regions and normal cerebellar parenchyma, with subsequent calculation of tumor/normal cerebellar ADC ratios. Results: The median ADC values for pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) were 1786.2 × 10−6 mm2 /s, ependymomas 1144.9 × 10−6 mm2 /s, and for medulloblastomas 666.1 × 10−6 mm2 /s were significantly different (P < .001 for all three). Similarly, the median ADC ratios demonstrated discriminatory potential, with PAs showing the highest ratio (2.46), followed by ependymomas (1.55) and medulloblastomas (0.89) (P < .001 for all three). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed distinct ADC cutoffs and ratios for differentiating all tumor types from each other. Conclusion: Despite limitations, such as a small cohort size and different MRI protocols, our results show that ADC metrics are especially useful for distinguishing between the most common pediatric posterior fossa tumors. We recommend that future studies integrate advanced imaging techniques and larger cohorts to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Background: We sought to determine whether pretreatment total masseter muscle volume (TMMV) measures can predict radiation-induced trismus (RIT) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of LA-NPC patients who received C-CRT and had pretreatment maximum mouth openings (MMO) greater than 35 mm. MMO of 35 mm or less after C-CRT were considered RIT. We employed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to explore the correlation between pre-treatment TMMV readings and RIT status. Results: Out of the 112 eligible patients, 22.0% of them received a diagnosis of RIT after C-CRT. The optimal TMMV cutoff that was significantly linked to post-C-CRT RIT rates was determined to be 35.0 cc [area under the curve: 79.5%; sensitivity: 75.0%; and specificity: 78.6%; Youden index: 0.536] in the ROC curve analysis. The incidence of RIT was significantly higher in patients with TMMV ≤ 5.0 cc than in those with TMMV > 35.0 cc [51.2% vs. 8.7%; Odds ratio: 6.79; p < 0.001]. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-C-CRT MMO ≤ 41.6 mm (p = 0.001), mean masticatory apparatus dose V56.5 ≥ 34% group (p = 0.002), and TMMV ≤ 35 cc were the independent predictors of significantly elevated rates of RIT. Conclusion: The presence of a smaller pretreatment TMMV is a reliable and independent novel biological marker that can confidently predict higher RIT rates in LA-NPC patients who receive C-CRT.

Purpose: Although the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value from diffusion-weighted imaging can provide insights into various pathological processes, no studies have examined the relationship between the pre-concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) mean ADC (ADCmean) values of the masseter muscles and radiation-induced trismus (RIT) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) patients. Therefore, the current research aimed to investigate the significance of pre-CCRT masseter muscle ADCmean values for predicting the RIT rates in LA-NPC patients treated with definitive CCRT. Materials and Methods: The pre-CCRT ADCmean values of the masseter muscles and the post-CCRT RIT rates were evaluated. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was employed to determine the optimal ADCmean cutoff. The primary objective was to examine the relationship between the pre-CCRT masseter muscle ADCmean values and the post-CCRT RIT rates. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included. The optimal ADCmean cutoff value was 1381.30 × 10−6 mm2/s, which divided the patients into two groups: an ADCmean < 1381.30 × 10−6 mm2/s (n = 49) versus an ADCmean > 1381.30 × 10−6 mm2/s (n = 28). A masseter muscle ADCmean > 1381.30 × 10−6 mm2/s was found to be associated with significantly higher RIT rates than an ADCmean < 1381.30 × 10−6 mm2/s (71.42% vs. 6.12%; p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis results confirmed a pre-CCRT masseter muscle ADCmean > 1381.30 × 10−6 mm2/s as an independent predictor of RIT. Conclusions: Our study presents the first evidence establishing a connection between elevated masseter muscle ADCmean values and higher RIT rates in LA-NPC patients following CCRT. If confirmed with further research, these findings may help to categorize the risk of RIT in these patients.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of lumbar sympathetic block (LSB) on pain scores, Fontaine Classification, and collateral perfusion status in patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), in whom revascularization is impossible. Material and Methods: Medical records of 21 patients with PAD who underwent LSB with a combination of local anesthetics, steroids, and patient follow-up forms containing six-month follow-ups between January 2020 and March 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Pain Detect Questionnaire (PDQ) scores, Fontaine Classification Stages, and collateral perfusion status (collateral diameter and/or development of neovascularization) evaluated by arterial color Doppler Ultrasound (US) from the medical records and follow-up forms of the patients were reviewed. Results: NRS and PDQ scores were significantly lower, and regression of the Fontaine Classification Stages was significantly better after the procedure at the first, third, and sixth month than at the baseline values (p < 0.001). Only four patients (19%) had collaterals before the procedure. An increase in the collateral diameter after LSB was noted in three out of four patients. Before the procedure, 17 patients had no prominent collateral. However, in thirteen of these patients, after LSB, neovascularization was detected during the six-month follow-up period (three patients in the first month, seven patients in the third month, and thirteen patients in the sixth month). The number of patients evolving neovascularization after LSB was found to be statistically significant at the third and sixth months compared to the initial examination (p < 0.001). Conclusions: LSB with the use of local anesthetic and steroids in patients with lower extremity PAD not only led to lower NRS and PDQ scores, but also resulted in regressed Fontaine Classification Stages and better collateral perfusion status.

Objective: To evaluate the radiological features of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in the head and neck region. Methods: In this radiology-based study, radiological features, clinical, laboratory, pathological findings, and prognosis of nine patients with head and neck involvement diagnosed with IgG4-RD were investigated retrospectively. Results: The median age of the patients was 38 years (range: 2.5-79 years), and there were six males and three females. The most common symptoms and clinical findings of the patients were eyelid and lacrimal gland swelling, painless exophthalmos, and ophthalmoplegia. The most common site of involvement on MRI was the orbit. Orbital involvement was followed by branches of the trigeminal nerve, sinonasal cavity, cervical lymph nodes, and dural involvement. The most common and remarkable imaging features were T2 hypointensity and diffuse homogeneous contrast enhancement. Conclusions: Head and neck involvement of the IgG4-RD, has specific imaging features that can help with diagnosis. Thus, early diagnosis and better outcomes can be achieved with increasing awareness of these features of this relatively new pathology.

Amaç: Bu retrospektif gözlemsel çalışmanın amacı, karaciğer dev hemanjiyomlarının tedavisinde uygulanan bleomisin ve lipiodol karışımı ile transarteryal kemoembolizasyon (TAKE) tedavisinin güvenilirliğini ve etkinliğini değerlendirmekti. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmaya Ekim 2014 ile Ocak 2020 tarihleri arasında bleomisin ve lipiodol karışımı ile TAKE uygulanan ve takip edilen 24 dev hemanjiyomu olan ardışık 21 hasta dahil edilmiştir. Tüm hastaların işlem öncesi ve sonrası dev hemanjiyom boyutları, hacimleri, bası bulguları not edilmiştir.. Bulgular: Bu çalışmada tedavi uygulanmış toplam 24 hemanjiyomu olan 21 hasta (14’ü [%66.6] kadın) istatistiksel olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Hastaların medyan yaşı 47’dir (min-max: 35-69 yaş). Hastaların TAKE sonrası medyan takip süresi, 26.2 aydır (min-max: 5.5-48.5 ay). İki hasta dışında tüm hastalara tek seans TAKE uygulandı. Dev hemanjiyomların medyan boyutu, TAKE öncesi 96 mm (min-max: 41-210 mm), TAKE sonrası 61 mm’dir (min-max: 20-120 mm). Dev hemanjiyomların TAKE öncesi medyan hacmi 240.79 ml (min-max: 13.13-2628.62 ml); TAKE sonrası 61 ml’dir (min-max: 3.02-831.16 ml). Hem boyut hem de hacimsel azalma istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulundu. Herhangi bir majör komplikasyon gözlemlenmedi Sonuç: Bleomisin ve lipiodol karışımı ile TAKE düşük komplikasyon oranı nedeniyle güvenilir bir yöntemdir. Dev hemanjiyomlarda anlamlı ölçüde küçülme sağlaması nedeniyle, etkin bir yöntemdir. Cerrahi tedavinin uygun olmadığı dev hemanjiyomlu hastalarda alternatif olabilir.

Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the Echinococcus tapeworm. The disease can often affect organs such as the liver and lungs, muscles, bones, kidneys, brain, and spleen. Spinal cystic echinococcosis has been reported very rarely in the literature. In this report; we present a pediatric case with spinal cystic echinococcosis, who was diagnosed with multiple cystic echinococcosis in the liver and lungs and was admitted with complaints of difficulty in walking and leg pain 1 year after the albendazole treatment, which he had been taking for 3.5 years. If a diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis was made in any organ, recurrences may occur in another organ at some time, even if the treatment is completed.

Uterine leiomyomatosis as a rare cause of tumor thrombus presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding