Transoral penetrating upper cervical injury: a case report

Transoral penetrating foreign body injury of the neck involving the cervical spine is a rare condition. We present an injury caused by transoral penetration of a broken piece of a wooden plank into the neck with injury to the upper cervical spine in a 31-year-old male patient. The foreign body was removed transorally with the patient making a full recovery under close observation and was discharged and followed up with no complications. This paper highlights the types of neck injuries, the key points to be considered in zone III neck injury in light of existing literature and a discussion on the management of these patients.

Oral Lipoma Resembling Popeye's Pipe: A Case Report

Lipomas are benign neoplasms of mesenchymal origin. Although they are frequently seen in other parts of the body, they are rare in the oral cavity. In the oral cavity, they most often develop from buccal mucosa. They tend to grow slowly, so they may remain asymptomatic for a long time and go unnoticed. Lipomas in the oral cavity may cause deterioration in chewing-speaking and esthetic problems over time, depending on the increase in their size. The most reliable imaging method for differential diagnosis is magnetic resonance imaging. Complete excision of the lipoma is essential for treatment. In this study, a case of an unusual oral lipoma, causing nutrition-speaking difficulties in a geriatric male patient is presented.

Effects of ventilation programme and eggshell thickness on hatchability rate and hatching time of broiler eggs

The aim of the research was to determine whether enrichment of the atmosphere in an incubator with carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) and eggshell thickness (EST) affected embryonic death (ED), hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE) and hatching time (HT). A total of 320 Ross 308 eggs were used and the experiment was repeated twice. Eggshell thickness was classified as thin (<31 μm), medium (31 - 32 μm) and thick (>32 μm). The incubators were operated with their internal atmosphere enriched with CO2 (1.57% CO2; 20.23% O2) or O2 (0.50% CO2; 22.44% O2). Embryonic death, HFE and HT data were monitored at three periods, namely early (<486 hours), middle (486 - 492 hours), and late (492 - 510 hours). Early ED, late ED and hatchability of fertile eggs were not affected by EST or by the incubator’s internal atmosphere (P >0.05). Thus, O2 supplementation to the incubator was deemed unnecessary at 822 m altitude. There was a highly significant interaction between EST and HT. Eggs with shells 31 to 32 μm thick hatched at an appreciably greater rate between 486 and 492 hours of incubation (17%) than eggs with thicker (0.6%) or thinner (0.4%) shells in both the CO2 and O2 enriched atmospheres. The hatching rate was significantly higher in the eggs with an intermediate EST than in thick-shelled eggs. A greater proportion of eggs hatched at the late HT as opposed to earlier, regardless of EST.

Alternative hepatic arterial reconstruction technique in a case of total pancreaticoduodenectomy after celiac artery resection in pancreas cancer: Iliac-hepatic bypass

Surgery is the only treatment method in pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, metastatic diseases or invasion of the main vascular structures are observed in a majority of cases at the time of diagnosis; these structures originate from the body, neck, and tail of the pancreas and are considered inoperable. The first celiac artery resection for the treatment of cancer was described by Appleby in 1953. Here, we describe our hepatic artery reconstruction technique in a case with pancreatic body cancer. A 37-year-old male patient was admitted to our emergency department due to syncope. The patient was diagnosed with acute renal failure secondary to fluid loss. Thereafter, his general condition was stable and laboratory results improved. Abdominal computed tomography was performed. Pancreatic cancer originating from the pancreatic body was detected. A pancreatic biopsy was performed and neoadjuvant gemcitabine and paclitaxel chemoradiotherapy were initiated. Surgical treatment was recommended for the identification of regression after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Following intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography, en bloc distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy involving the celiac artery trunk and total gastrectomy were performed. However, surgical margin reliability in frozen section revealed that the tumor was still present. Therefore, the surgical procedure was replaced with total pancreaticoduodenectomy. Hepatic artery reconstruction was performed from the left main iliac artery using a 4-mm ringed GORE-TEX® graft. The iliac-hepatic bypass for hepatic artery reconstruction in pancreatic cancer could be an alternative surgical technique.

Alternative hepatic arterial reconstruction technique in case of total pancreaticoduodenectomy after celiac artery resection in pancreas cancer: Iliac-hepatic bypass

Surgery is the only treatment method in pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, metastatic diseases or invasion of the main vascular structures are observed in a majority of cases at the time of diagnosis; these structures originate from the body, neck, and tail of the pancreas and are considered inoperable. The first celiac artery resection for the treatment of cancer was described by Appleby in 1953. Here, we describe our hepatic artery reconstruction technique in a case with pancreatic body cancer. A 37-year-old male patient was admitted to our emergency department owing to syncope. The patient was diagnosed with acute renal failure secondary to fluid loss. Thereafter, his general condition was stable and laboratory results improved. Abdominal computed tomography was performed. Pancreatic cancer originating from the pancreatic body was detected. A pancreatic biopsy was performed and neoadjuvant gemcitabine and paclitaxel chemoradiotherapy were initiated. Surgical treatment was recommended for the identification of regression after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Following intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography, en bloc distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy involving the celiac artery trunk and total gastrectomy were performed. However, the surgical margin reliability in a frozen section revealed that the tumor was still present. Therefore, the surgical procedure was replaced with total pancreaticoduodenectomy. The hepatic artery reconstruction was performed from the left main iliac artery using a 4-mm ringed GORE-TEX® graft. The iliac-hepatic bypass for hepatic artery reconstruction in pancreatic cancer could be an alternative surgical technique.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for biliary system parasites

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may be useful in the diagnosis and management of biliary system parasites.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Investigators retrospectively evaluated patients with biliary system parasites who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures over an eight-year period. We collected data regarding patient demographics, clinical features, and parasite type. We aimed to determine the utility of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography as a diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in patients with biliary system parasites.

RESULTS

We identified 22 patients with biliary system parasites from a total of 3,450 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures performed during an eight-year period. Parasite types included Echinococcus granulosus (n=19), Fasciola hepatica (n=2), and Ascaris lumbricoides (n=1). Fifteen patients with liver hydatid cysts underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography prior to surgery due to obstructive jaundice. The endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedure enabled definitive treatment without the need for surgery in the remaining two patients. Two patients with fascioliasis underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography due to clinical presentation of cholangitis, cholecystitis, and obstructive jaundice, leading to presumptive diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. However, the final diagnosis was made using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography following inspection of flat, leaf-shaped, motile flukes extracted from the bile duct. In one patient with ascariasis, a longitudinal tubular structure was identified in the bile duct; emergency surgery was required.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of parasitic diseases is clinically challenging, and definitive diagnosis requires endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in some cases. Moreover, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography provides a therapeutic option for ascariasis, fascioliasis, and some forms of hydatidosis. Accordingly, the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may change preoperative management and treatment strategies for biliary system parasite infections.

Volumetric evaluation of temporal bone structures in the cases with bilateral tinnitus: clinical and morphometrical study

BACKGROUND

Tinnitus is the recognition of sound in the absence of any external auditory stimulus to the noise of ringing in the ears. Middle ear aeration carries important role for ossicular coupling and normal hearing. There is restricted morphometric data on the cases with bilateral tinnitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study we evaluated hearing findings of 18 cases with subjective nonpulsatile bilateral tinnitus and also morphometry and volumetry of temporal bone substructures on the computed tomography images using stereological method compared with the gender and age matched 12 healthy subjects. Duration of tinnitus, exposing acoustic trauma or/and high level noise levels, evaluation of middle ear volume, jugular bulb levels, distances between jugular bulb and both oval window and middle ear were evaluated.

RESULTS

Both males and females with tinnitus showed worse hearing thresholds through bone and air conductions than healthy subjects but it was not statistically significant. Pure tone thresholds through bone and air conductions were not statistically different in both sexes with bilateral tinnitus. Right middle ear volume of the cases with bilateral tinnitus was mean 5.57 cm3 for males and 5.64 cm3 for females; and also the left middle ear volume of the cases with bilateral tinnitus was mean 5.87 cm3 for males and 5.65 cm3 for females. There were no significant differences between the cases with bilateral tinnitus and the control subjects according to the side of the body.

CONCLUSIONS

The data on the hearing findings and morphometrical evaluation of the cases with bilateral tinnitus may be important for anatomists and clinicians. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 1: 57-64).

Effects of Parenchymal Thickness and Stone Density Values on Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Outcomes

BACKGROUND It is unclear whether parenchymal thickness (PT), in combination with stone density measured by Hounsfield Units (HU), affects stone-free rates after PCNL. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between PT in combination with stone density values and the outcomes of PCNL. MATERIAL AND METHODS From 2009 to 2014, data from 216 PCNL patients were prospectively analyzed. In total, 120 patients were included in the study. Using NCCT images, stone burden, stone localization, stone density as HU values, PT, and operative-postoperative parameters were recorded. RESULTS Stone localization, stone type, stone burden, and presence of hydronephrosis were statistically significant factors affecting stone-free status (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively). The stone-free rate in patients with thicker renal parenchyma was higher than in patients with lower parenchymal thickness (p<0.01). No correlation was detected between stone density and success rate (p>0.05). Drop in Hb (%) was only correlated with parenchymal thickness (p<0.01). In univariate analyses, factors that affected blood transfusion requirement were PT, BMI, and operative times (p<0.01, p<0.05, and p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Stone location, stone burden, and presence of hydronephrosis detected with NCCT were factors affecting PCNL outcome. Stone density values did not correlate with the rate of bleeding or success of PCNL. PT measured by NCCT may predict bleeding and may guide surgeons in determining preoperative blood requirements. The outcome of PCNL appeared to be better in patients with thicker renal parenchyma and should be taken into consideration in the clinical evaluation of patients undergoing PCNL.

Spontaneous postoperative choledochoduodenal fistula due to bile duct injury following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

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Class E injuries are the most common major bile duct injuries and can cause serious clinical condition including bile leak.

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Iatrogenic operative injuries may be a cause of spontaneous postoperative choledochoduodenal fistula even in transaction type complete injuries.

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Spontaneous closure of a postoperative bile fistula doesn’t guarantee that it is not a transaction type injury.

Introduction

Bile leak after cholecystectomy which is the frequency less than 2% is an important problem for patients. Some bile duct injuries occuring after laparoscopic cholecystectomy are the complex bile duct injuries and can cause bile leak and fistula.

Presentation of case

A 74-year-old woman has high output bile drainage from abdominal drain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy so an ERCP was performed. It was clear that there was a complete transaction of bile ducts, however this finding was inconsistent with the patient’s clinical situation. The bile drainage of the patient was ceased and she was discharged to home without any problem. Four months later the patient was admitted again for recurrent cholangitis episodes. Patient was operated to perform a biliary-enteric diversion for the suspicion of biliary stricture. There was a thin fistula tract over the duodenum that was previously seperated from the proximal choledochus. The distal part of the bile duct was ended blindly. A hepaticojejunostomy anastomosis over a transhepatic stenting was performed.

Discussion

The circumferential injuries are the most common and devastating injuries leading to bile leak, peritonitis and varying degrees of sepsis. The probability of a bile fistula to close spontaneously is almost impossible in cases of iatrogenic circumferential full thickness injuries.

Conclusion

In the present case we have reported a case of Bismuth type 2 (Strasberg type E₂) injury in which the biliary drainage was closed spontaneously with the formation of spontaneous biliary-duodenal fistula. It is an extremely interesting case that has not been reported in the literature previously.

Uncinate Process Variations and Their Relationship with Ostiomeatal Complex: A Pictorial Essay of Multidedector Computed Tomography (MDCT) Findings

The ostiomeatal complex (OMC) is a key area for the drainage and ventilation of the paranasal sinuses. Stenosis created by inflammation and anatomic variations in this region causes an ideal ground for parasanal sinus infections, by preventing the drainage and ventilation of the sinuses. In today’s diagnostics of paranasal sinus infections, the role of evaluation of OMC anatomical variations and soft tissue pathology has increased.. Knowing the anatomical details is important in terms of directing both medical and surgical treatment. The uncinate process (UP) constitutes the most important structure of the ostiomeatal complex, playing a role in mucociliary activity. UP variations can cause mucociliary drainage and ventilation problems, causing complications during surgery. Therefore, knowing and identifying their appearances in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), the most frequently used radiological imaging method for these variations, becomes a very important consideration.

A Fatal Complication: Intestinal Perforation Secondary to Migration of a Biliary Stent

Background

Stent insertion is widely performed to restore biliary drainage in hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic obstructive conditions. Intestinal perforation due to the migration of these stents is an extremely rare late-term complication that is associated with a high rate of mortality. The current report aimed at presenting the radiological findings of a case of extraluminal biliary stent migration into the pelvic region that caused intestinal perforation.

Case Report

We report a case of an 85-year-old male with a history of previous stent insertion who presented with a sudden – onset severe abdominal pain. An abdominal multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed a tubular foreign body density, compatible with intestinal perforation due to migration of the biliary stent.

Conclusions

Biliary stent insertion becomes a more common procedure. This serious complication must always be remembered in patients presenting with abdominal pain after stent insertion.

The Prevalence of Incidentally Detected Idiopathic Misty Mesentery on Multidetector Computed Tomography: Can Obesity Be the Triggering Cause?

PURPOSE

Misty mesentery appearance is commonly reported in daily practice, usually as a secondary finding of various pathological entities, but sometimes it is encountered as an isolated finding that cannot be attributed to any other disease entity. We aimed to assess the prevalence of cases with incidentally detected idiopathic misty mesentery on computed tomography (CT) and to summarize the pathologies leading to this appearance.

METHODS

Medical records and initial and follow-up CT features of patients with misty mesentery appearance between January 2011 and January 2013 were analysed. The study included cases with no known cause of misty mesentery according to associated CT findings, clinical history, or biochemical manifestations, and excluded patients with diseases known to cause misty mesentery, lymph nodes greater than a short-axis diameter of 5 mm, discrete mesenteric masses, or bowel wall thickening.

RESULTS

There were a total of 561 patients in whom misty mesentery appearance was depicted on abdominopelvic CT scans. A total of 80 cases were found to have isolated incidental idiopathic misty mesentery, giving a prevalence of 7%. The common indication for CT examination was abdominal pain. There was a slight female predominance (51.3%). 67.5% of all patients were classified as obese and 17.5% as overweight.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study show that idiopathic incidental misty mesentery appearance has a significant prevalence. Also, the high body mass index of these patients and the growing evidence of obesity-induced inflammatory changes in adipose tissue are suggestive of an association between obesity and misty mesentery appearance on CT.

Investigation of temporal bone asymmetry in cases with unilateral tinnitus: morphometric and multicentric clinical study

The aim of this multicentric study was to compare the anatomical structures of temporal bone in patients with unilateral tinnitus with their healthy ears. We also aimed at evaluating whether age and gender-related asymmetrical changes occur in temporal bones or not. Fifty two ears of 26 patients who had unilateral tinnitus were included into the retrospective study. The patients who had subjective nonpulsatile tinnitus and who previously had temporal computed tomography according to their file records were accepted to study. Temporal CT scans and audiometric results of patients were examined retrospectively. Middle ear volume, diameter of internal acoustic meats and diameter of jugular bulb were evaluated by both anatomist and radiologist, interobserverly. Internal acoustic meats and jugular bulb were found larger in the ears that had tinnitus than healthy ears; however, there was no statistically significance. The stereological morphometrical study of temporal bone asymmetry in humans correlate with sex is of importance for both otolarygologs and anatomists. These results will contribute to data on middle ear volume, internal acustic meats and jugular bulb sizes.

Cystic lymphangiomatosis with severe intra-abdominal bleeding in a newborn: case report

We report the case of a newborn girl with intestinal cystic lymphangiomatosis who presented with abdominal distension and intra-abdominal bleeding following a prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of intestinal anomaly. Postnatal abdominal ultrasound revealed disseminated submucosal and intramural cystic dilatations of various sizes in the bowel and intestinal lymphangiomatosis was diagnosed. The presence of severe bleeding diathesis and widespread disease led to conservative treatment. The patient died on postnatal day 7 and postmortem examination confirmed cystic lymphangiomatosis. Detection of intestinal hyperechogenicity and/or dilatation in prenatal ultrasonography and the persistence of these findings during pregnancy are suggestive for pathologies such as meconium ileus, meconium peritonitis, and intestinal atresia. Although rare, intestinal lymphangiomatosis should be kept in mind in patients whose prenatal sonographic findings persist until birth.

Role of surrogate markers of atherosclerosis in clinical and subclinical thyroidism

Background. Data on the relationship between homocysteine, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, hs-CRP, fibrinogen, and carotid intima media thickness (CA-IMT) is plenty but contradicting and the majority of the studies investigated this issue in only specific thyroidism groups. The aim of this paper was to investigate these relations in patients with subclinical and clinical hypo- and hyperthyroidism. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 16 patients from each thyroidism group and 20 healthy cases were enrolled. Fibrinogen levels and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity were assessed. CA-IMT was determined by gray-scale high-resolution color Doppler ultrasound. Results. Serum homocysteine levels were higher in hypothyroidic patients compared to the control (P = 0.003). Fibrinogen levels were higher in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism compared to other groups (P < 0.05). There was no difference between groups regarding PAI-1. Whereas total cholesterol, homocysteine, and LDL were correlated with CAIMT, hs-CRP, PAI-1, and fibrinogen were not. In the clinical hypothyroidism group, the correlation of homocysteine with CA-IMT was derived from the correlation between CA-IMT and homocysteine. Conclusions. Homocysteine and fibrinogen levels are higher in patients with clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism, respectively. Homocysteine level is associated with CA-IMTonly in patients with clinical hypothyroidism.

Spontaneous splenic rupture with hematoma in a patient with brucellosis

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide with a variable frequency in European countries. Brucellosis is usually transmitted after direct contact with or consumption of dairy products from an infected animal. Initially, our patient, a 65 year-old man, had nonspecific manifestations of fever, malaise, headache, anorexia and arthralgia which are the classic symptoms of this disease. After the diagnosis of brucellosis had been confirmed by blood culture and serology, progressive thrombocytopenia developed in spite of appropriate antibiotic administration. Radiological investigation revealed imaging findings consistent with splenic rupture. The complete recovery was observed after administration of antibiotic therapy and platelet transfusion. Spontaneous rupture of the spleen with subcapsular hematoma is an extremely rare condition in brucellosis. We want to remind clinicians of this rare complication.

Cecal volvulus in situs inversus totalis accompanied with pancreatic malrotation

Situs inversus totalis is a rare anomaly that is characterized by mirror image anatomy of the abdominal and thoracic organs. This anomaly is often discovered incidentally in adults during an emergent surgical procedure or by radiologic investigations performed for other medical reasons. Cecal volvulus is a surgical emergency requiring urgent laparotomy. Coexistence of these two abnormalities poses a challenge in establishing a definitive diagnosis because of the alteration of normal anatomy; this may cause a delay in emergent surgical intervention. We present a case of situs inversus totalis complicated by cecal volvulus. In our case, a different type of pancreatic malrotation, which we called "folded", also accompanied these abnormalities. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature involving situs inversus totalis, cecal volvulus, and a "folded" type of pancreatic malrotation.

Uterus didelphys with an obstructed unilateral vagina by a transverse vaginal septum associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis, duplication of inferior vena cava, high-riding aortic bifurcation, and intestinal malrotation: a case report

OBJECTIVE

To present a case of müllerian defects associated with other anomalies, including ipsilateral renal agenesia, duplication of inferior vena cava, high-riding aortic bifurcation, and intestinal malrotation.

DESIGN

Case study.

SETTING

Academic medical center.

PATIENT(S)

A 16-year-old woman with müllerian defects associated with vascular and intestinal anomalies.

INTERVENTION(S)

Excision of vaginal septum.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Improvement of symptoms caused by obstructed müllerian defect.

RESULT(S)

After an incision on the vaginal septum, a large amount of chocolate-colored fluid was drained, and the dimensions of the right uterus were diminished. Then the vaginal septum was excised completely; we saw a second distinct cervical portion.

CONCLUSION(S)

Uterus didelphys with obstructed hemivagina is almost always associated with renal agenesis ipsilateral to the obstruction. Inferior vena cava duplication associated with müllerian anomalies is an extremely rare condition. In addition, the presented case also had a high-riding aortic bifurcation and intestinal malrotation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case to include all of these anomalies.

[Pilomatrixoma of the head and neck in six cases]

Pilomatrixomas are benign neoplasms of the hair follicle, presenting as a mass in the head and neck region. Those arising from the parotid region may pose a diagnostic challenge. We present six patients (age range 6 to 68 years) with pilomatrixoma in the head and neck region. The lesions were located in the preauricular region in two cases, and in the periorbital region, the forehead, the neck, and in the dorsum of the nose in the other patients, respectively. The main complaint was a hard, slow-growing mass in all the cases. All the patients were treated surgically. Histopathologic diagnosis was pilomatrixoma. No recurrences or surgery-associated complications were observed in the follow-up period.

Bladder pheochromocytoma encountered on sonography

Pheochromocytomas of the bladder are rare neoplasms, constituting < 0.06% of all vesical tumours. Common presenting features of this tumour include episodes of sweating, hypertension, haematuria and postmicturition syncope. We describe a case of bladder pheochromocytoma in a 66-year-old man whose only symptom of macroscopic haematuria was initially assessed with ultrasonography. Clinical presentation highlights the need for a high index of suspicion during sonographic evaluation of bladder neoplasms because such tumours might present without symptoms of adrenergic excess.

The sizes of internal jugular veins in Turkish children aged between 7 and 12 years

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed at searching for internal jugular vein (IJV) diameters in Turkish children in order to learn about anatomic details of IJV diameters and to supplement the diagnostic criteria in vascular pathologies such as phlebectasia.

METHODS

A total of 92 children within the age range of 7-12 years were included in this study. In order to provide a consistent anatomical landmark in all subjects, all of the children were imaged by ultrasonography (USG) at the level of the cricoid cartilage. The measurements consisted the maximal antero-posterior (AP) and transverse (T) cross-sectional internal diameters of the internal jugular veins during both regular breathing and Valsalva maneuver. For the statistical purposes, the following analyses were performed: the relationship between the IJV diameters obtained at rest and those obtained during Valsalva maneuver, with the paired t-test; the relationship between the age groups and the IJV diameters, with the unpaired test. The significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

During regular breathing, the mean transvers diameters of the right and left IJVs were 11.26 and 10.01 mm, respectively, while they were 16.28 and 13.61 mm during straining phase of the Valsalva maneuver. The mean antero-posterior diameters of the right and left IJVs before and during Valsalva maneuver were 7.64 and 6.8 mm versus 11.53 and 9.84 mm. The IJV diameters were larger on the right side than those on the left and also there were significant increases in the diameters by Valsalva maneuver.

CONCLUSION

As a result, in this study performed among Turkish children aged between 7-12 years, it was shown that there was no correlation between the IJV diameters and the age groups (P > 0.05), while there was a significant increase in the IJV diameters on Valsalva maneuver (P < 0.05). We think that the results we obtained in this study may be useful and important for comparison in the patients with phlebectasia and also for the required knowledge of the anatomic details in medical interventions performed through IJV. However, since children aged between 0 and 6 years were not included in this study and the lack of relation found in our study may not be the same among 0-6 years, a further study is needed to show any interrelationship between former age group and size.

Spontaneous rupture and thrombosis of an intrahepatic portal vein aneurysm

Aneurysm of the portal venous system, a localized fusiform or saccular dilatation, is a rare clinical abnormality. Most aneurysms are located in the extrahepatic segment and rarely in intrahepatic branches. Portal vein aneurysms are usually uncomplicated and asymptomatic and detected incidentally during diagnostic work-up. We describe a case of a bleeding intrahepatic portal vein aneurysm studied with ultrasonography, color Doppler, computed tomography, and percutaneous transhepatic portography in a noncirrhotic patient. Although there are 43 published cases of portal vein aneurysm in the English-language literature, neither rupture and spontaneous thrombosis of an intrahepatic portal vein aneurysm nor its nonsurgical conservative treatment has been reported.

[Case report: Mirizzi syndrome in a patient with emphysematous cholecystitis: ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings]

Mirizzi syndrome is a very uncommon cause of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. A stone impacts in the cystic duct or gallbladder neck and causes extrinsic compression and obstruction of the common hepatic duct, aided by a local inflammatory process. Preoperative diagnosis is very important because of the potential risk of bile duct injury during surgery and the local inflammatory process may suggest cholangiocarcinoma. Infection by specific coliform organisms may result in emphysematous cholecystitis in patients with diabetes or those who are immunosuppressed, with mural air being visible. Herein, we report an emphysematous cholecystitis associated with Mirizzi syndrome in a patient with diabetes mellitus.

[Case report: Pedunculated leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava]

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare mesenchymal tumor which originates from the smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall. Its radiographic presentation varies from that of intraluminal lesions resulting in obstruction of the inferior vena cava to those of giant retroperitoneal masses extending to the surrounding perivascular tissues although still with minimal intraluminal protrusion. In this report, we present one such case in which a 31-year-old woman had complaints of severe abdominal pain, abdominal distension and vomiting. Computed tomography demonstrated a giant well-defined right-sided retroperitoneal mass extending from the subhepatic region down to the pelvis. She was operated on and the tumor was discovered to be attached to the wall of the inferior vena cava with a peduncle, a leiomyosarcoma being proven histologically. CT features of this rare tumor are presented in this report.

Percutaneous biliary drainage: an alternative treatment for biliary fascioliasis

Fascioliasis initially involves the liver parenchyma and then the biliary ducts. The disease can mimic most hepatobiliary diseases at different stages of involvement. We report a case in which the final diagnosis was reached by microscopic demonstration of Fasciola hepatica eggs in bile obtained by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Computed tomographic findings that were misinterpreted as metastatic liver disease are presented, and the roles of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and biliary drainage are discussed.

Aplasia of bilateral uncinate processes with a bilateral nasomaxillary cavity

Aplasia or hypoplasia of the uncinate process is associated with maxillary sinus aplasia or hypoplasia. It is of particular clinical importance to recognize the presence of normal or abnormal uncinate processes in patients who will undergo surgical procedures for paranasal sinus diseases. In this report, we present a case of aplasia of bilateral uncinate processes, discuss the variations of uncinate processes, and review related literature.