Background: Chest CT scan and chest x-rays show characteristic radiographic findings in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Chest x-ray can be used in diagnosis and follow up in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The study aims at describing the chest x-ray findings and temporal radiographic changes in COVID-19 patients. Methods: From March 15 to April 20, 2020 patients with positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 were retrospectively studied. Patients’ demographics, clinical characteristics, and chest x-ray findings were reported. Radiographic findings were correlated with the course of the illness and patients’ symptoms. Results: A total of 88 patients (50 (56.8%) females and 38 (43.2%) males) were admitted to the hospital with confirmed COVID-19. Their age ranged from 3 to 80 years (35.2 ± 18.2 years). 48/88 (45%) were symptomatic, only 13/88 (45.5%) showed abnormal chest x-ray findings. A total of 190 chest x-rays were obtained for the 88 patients with a total of 59/190 (31%) abnormal chest x-rays. The most common finding on chest x-rays was peripheral ground glass opacities (GGO) affecting the lower lobes. In the course of illness, the GGO progressed into consolidations peaking around 6–11 days (GGO 70%, consolidations 30%). The consolidations regressed into GGO towards the later phase of the illness at 12–17 days (GGO 80%, consolidations 10%). There was increase in the frequency of normal chest x-rays from 9% at days 6–11 up to 33% after 18 days indicating a healing phase. The majority (12/13, 92.3%) of patients with abnormal chest x-rays were symptomatic (P = 0.005). Conclusion: Almost half of patients with COVID-19 have abnormal chest x-ray findings with peripheral GGO affecting the lower lobes being the most common finding. Chest x-ray can be used in diagnosis and follow up in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Horizontal gaze palsy and progressive scoliosis (HGPPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder due to mutations in ROBO3 gene. Patients have characteristic clinical and imaging findings. We report six patients from two families with this disorder with two novel mutations. Materials and methods: One patient from a non-consanguineous family and five patients from extended consanguineous families were clinically and radiologically examined. Blood samples from the patients and their parents were obtained and all the coding exons and flanking intronic sequences of the ROBO3 gene were amplified and subjected to bidirectional DNA sequencing. Results: All six patients had the characteristic clinical and radiological findings of HGPPS. Genetic testing showed two novel mutations including frame-shift and nonsense. Conclusion: Two novel mutations in the ROBO3 gene were identified in two Jordanian families with six affected individuals. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular study of HGPPS in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The growth of the liver and spleen is a dynamic process in children. and is related to the somatic parameters of the child, and may be affected by many diseases in children. It is of paramount importance to have standard reference values for the size of these organs for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The aim of our study was to provide practical and reliable normal reference values for the size of the liver and spleen in children and to correlate the values with age, height, and weight. METHODS: Three hundred fifteen children (142 boys and 173 girls) were prospectively examined by ultrasound due to problems unrelated to the liver or spleen. All of the subjects had normal sonographic appearance of their organs. The ages of the subjects ranged from newborns to 14 years. The liver and spleen size was correlated with age, height, and weight. The spleen size was compared with previous internationally published data. RESULTS: There was no statistical significant difference in the size of the liver and spleen between boys and girls (P>0.05). There was steady increase in the size of the liver and spleen, with good correlation with age and all the somatic parameters. The spleen size was in close proximity to those previously reported in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Standard spleen and liver size reference values were obtained by ultrasound for Jordanian children and were in concordance with international values.

Study Design: Retrospective study. Objective: To describe the MRI findings of RNRs in patients with low back pain, and observe the imaging findings and the clinical outcome post decompression surgery. Methods: The lumbar spine MRI of 202 patients (122 females) with proven RNRs were retrospectively reviewed. The morphology and the location of the RNRs in relation to the level of stenosis were described. The level(s), grade and cause of lumbar canal stenosis were recorded. The persistence of symptoms and the imaging findings on follow up post decompression surgery were recorded. The imaging findings were correlated among each other and with patients’ demographics. Results: Two distinctive morphological appearance of the RNRs were noted: loop (56.4%), and serpentine-shaped. In the majority of the cases the RNRs were located above the level of stenosis (79.7%). Eighteen patients underwent decompression surgery, only 4 patients remained symptomatic post decompression surgery. The RNRs changed in shape and location after decompression surgery. Age was a strong predictor value in the location of the RNRs. There was no correlation between the shape and location of the RNRs, or with the gender of the patients. Conclusion: RNRs is not an uncommon finding on lumbar spine MRI with lumbar canal stenosis. Its importance remains a controversy. A common language between the radiologists and the clinicians is mandatory to aid in the management planning.

Background: Myxoma is a relatively rare mesenchymal tumor seen mainly in the heart and skin. Renal myxomas in particular are exceptionally rare where only 17 cases were previously reported in the English Language literature. Only 2 of the 17 reported cases were located in the renal sinus/pelvis. Case presentation: This is a case of an 18-year-old male patient who complained of right, colicky flank pain associated with abdominal pain and discomfort. Imaging findings revealed right kidney hydronephrosis with a provisional diagnosis of pelviureteric junction (PUJ) stenosis. On computed tomography, there was a very faint thin walled mass abutting the calyces, camouflaged within the dilated renal pelvis. During surgery, a polypoid mass was found at the pelviureteric junction, causing the obstruction. Histological examination showed a hypocellular, paucivascular myxoid neoplasm, with few spindle cells displaying serpentine nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli. The tumor cells expressed immunoreactivity for vimentin, but not for S100, CD34, actin, or desmin. This will qualify as the third case of renal pelvis myxoma. Conclusion: Myxomas in the renal pelvis/sinus are extremely rare and can present with hydronephrosis and subtle radiological findings mimicking a PUJ stenosis. Being aware of this entity can save the patient unnecessary nephrectomy with possible preservation of the kidney.