The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and the safety of ultrasound (US)-guided vs. blind steroid injections in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This prospective randomized single-blind clinical trial included 46 patients with CTS (46 affected median nerves). The subjects were randomized-to either the US-guided or the blind injection group-before they received 40 mg of methylprednisolone. They were evaluated using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire symptom/function at baseline and at 6 wks and 12 wks after injection, and the side effects were noted. The symptom severity and functional status scores improved significantly in both groups at 6 wks after treatment, and these improvements persisted at 12 wks after treatment (all P < 0.05). The improvement in symptom severity scores in the US-guided group at 12 wks was higher than in the palpation-guided group (P < 0.05). Average time to symptom relief was shorter in the US-guided group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of side effects (P > 0.05). Although both US-guided and blind steroid injections were effective in reducing the symptoms of CTS and improving the function, an earlier onset/better improvement of symptom relief suggests that US-guided steroid injection may be more effective than are blind injections in CTS.

Background: Psoriasis is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is associated with visceral fat accumulation. There is no study on the accumulation of visceral fat in patients with psoriasis. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the visceral fat accumulation in patients with psoriasis and controls. Subjects and Methods: 46 patients with psoriasis and 46 sex- and age-matched control patients were included in this study. The abdominal fat area [visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and total fat area (TFA)] at the level of the umbilicus was evaluated by computed tomography. Results: The mean VFA value and VFA/SFA ratio of the psoriasis patients were significantly higher compared with the control patients (123.4 ± 80.3 vs. 81.2 ± 59.8 cm2 and 0.734 ± 0.593 vs. 0.491 ± 0.336; p = 0.005 and p = 0.017, respectively). Fasting blood sugar levels were also found to be significantly higher in psoriasis patients, compared with the control patients (101.8 ± 43.5 vs. 83.4 ± 9.1 mg/dl; p = 0.005). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that waist-to-hip ratio, age, body weight, the presence of psoriasis and metabolic syndrome were significantly associated with VFA. Conclusion:Psoriasis patients had a higher amount of VFA, compared with the control patients.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of typical and atypical thoracic CT findings in patient groups diagnosed during different periods of the pandemic, examine disease severity using radiological scoring methods, and determine the relationship between atypical CT findings and disease severity. Materials and methods: One hundred fifty-one patients with positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and thoracic CT scan were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as group 1 (March to August 2020) diagnosed in the first six months of the pandemic and group 2 (September 2020 to February 2021) diagnosed in the second six months. CT images of the patients were analyzed for the frequency of typical and atypical findings. Evaluation was made in terms of disease suspicion and severity by scoring methods, and the relationship between atypical findings and disease severity was examined. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the frequency and distribution patterns of typical CT findings observed in both groups. The most common atypical finding in both groups was nodular lesions. Central distribution, one of the atypical findings, was not seen in group 1, whereas it was present in nine patients in group 2 (p=0.001). The mean CT severity score was higher in group 2, and there was a statistically significant difference between the mean CT scores of both groups (p<0.001). In addition, six (7.2%) patients in group 1 and 34 (50%) patients in group 2 had CT scores above the cut-off value (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant relationship between atypical findings and severity score. Conclusion: Other diseases and atypical findings that may accompany COVID-19 pneumonia may increase the rate of misdiagnosis. In the diagnosis of the disease, clinical signs and symptoms and radiological findings should be evaluated together, and it should be kept in mind that lung findings in thorax CT change over time.

Background: To emphasize the importance of CT in the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease by comparing the thoracic CT findings of COVID-19 patients with positive RT-PCR results and patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 but with negative RT-PCR results. Results: In our study, COVID-19 patients with positive RT-PCR results (RT-PCR (+) group) and patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 but negative RT-PCR results (RT-PCR (−) group) were compared in terms of CT findings. In CT images, ground-glass opacity and ground-glass opacity + patchy consolidation were the most common lesion patterns in both groups. No statistically significant differences in the rates and types of lesion patterns were observed between the two groups. In both groups, lesion distributions and distribution patterns were similarly frequent in the bilateral, peripheral, and lower lobe distributions. Among the 39 patients who underwent follow-up CT imaging in the first or second month, a regression in lesion number and density was detected in 18 patients from both groups. Consolidations were completely resorbed in 16 of these patients, and five patients had newly developed fibrotic changes. The follow-up CT examination of 16 patients was normal. Conclusions: Due to the false-negative rate of RT-PCR tests caused by various reasons, clinically suspected COVID-19 patients with a contact history should be examined with CT scans, even if RT-PCR tests are negative. If the CT findings are positive, these patients should not be removed from isolation.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse patients who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body aspiration (FBA) and to evaluate the properties of computed tomography (CT) in preventing unnecessary bronchoscopy, which carries the risk of serious complications. Methods: All patients younger than 18 years of age who were evaluated for FBA at a tertiary children’s hospital between June 2014 and February 2023. Results: A total of 165 children were included in this study. In Group I (only bronchoscopy), the detection rate of FBA was 77.9%, whereas in Group II (CT ± bronchoscopy), the detection rate of FBA was 93%. Additionally, the negative diagnosis rate in Group II (7%) was significantly higher compared to Group I (22.1%). Conclusions: Low-dose chest CT is a highly effective and reliable imaging method for the diagnosis of FBA due to its rapid performance, minimal radiation exposure, and high sensitivity and specificity; therefore, it can prevent unnecessary bronchoscopies in suspicious cases and increase the positive bronchoscopy rate.