Background: According to neuroradiological findings, empty sella seems to be deprived of pituitary tissue in sella turcica. Changing size of the pituitary volume is closely related to the occurrence of primary empty sella. The aim of the study is to determine pituitary dysfunction in patients with partial or total primary empty sella and the significance of pituitary volume measurements in these patients. Methods: This study was designed retrospectively. 67 patients (55 females, 12 males) diagnosed with primary empty sella syndrome between the years of 2015-2019 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: partial (PES) and total (TES) empty sella by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Basal anterior pituitary and its hormones were assessed. We also included 26 healthy control subjects (19 females, 7 males) to compare the differences in pituitary volumes. Volumes were measured by using Osirix Dicom Viewer (Pixmeo SARL, Geneve, Swiss) in 3.0 Tesla scanner MRI. Results: 82.1% (n=55) of all patients were PES and the others were (n=12) TES. Hypopituitarism, known as one or more pituitary hormones deficiency, was found in 12 patients (17.9%). While 9 of them had total PES, the others had partial PES. Secondary adrenal insufficiency and gonadotropin deficiency were more prevalent in patients with TES. Mean volume measurements of patients with TES, PES and healthy subjects were 0.23±0.17, 0.35±0.15, 0.54±0.17 cm3, respectively. Except for IGF1 values (p=0.026), there was not any significant correlation found between the anterior pituitary hormones and volume measurements. Conclusion: Although volume measurement has helped in the diagnosis of pituitary empty sella (partial or total), it does not seem to have any significant correlation with pituitary secretory function.

Background Glutaric aciduria type 1(GA-1) is an inherited cerebral organic aciduria. Untreated patients with GA-1 have a risk of acute encephalopathic crises during the first 6 years of life. In so far as GA-1 desperately does not exist in Turkish newborn screening (NBS) program, most patients in our study were late-diagnosed.Method This study included 41 patients diagnosed with acylcarnitine profile, urinary organic acids, mutation analyses in the symptomatic period. We presented with clinical, neuroradiological, and molecular data of our 41 patients.Results The mean age at diagnosis was 14.8 ± 13.9 (15 days to 72 months) and, high blood glutaconic acid, glutarylcarnitine and urinary glutaric acid (GA) levels in 41 patients were revealed. Seventeen different mutations in the glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase gene were identified, five of which were novel. The patients, most of whom were late-diagnosed, had a poor neurological outcome. Treatment strategies made a little improvement in dystonia and the frequency of encephalopathic attacks.Conclusion All GA-1 patients in our study were severely affected since they were late-diagnosed, while others show that GA-1 is a treatable metabolic disorder if it is diagnosed with NBS. This study provides an essential perspective of the severe impact on GA-1 patients unless it is diagnosed with NBS. We immediately advocate GA-1 to be included in the Turkish NBS.

Flow-diverting stents in the management of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms - Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Purpose: To investigate the influence of sarcopenia on the outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with pelvic venous insufficiency (PVI). Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 female patients who underwent endovascular treatment for PVI between January 2012 and July 2020. The patients were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for chronic pelvic pain, both before treatment and three months post-treatment. A successful treatment outcome was defined as a reduction in pelvic pain by 50% or more. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) of the patients. Results: Sarcopenia was present in 20 (32.3%) patients. There was no significant difference in preprocedural VAS scores between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients (36.2 ± 16.9 vs. 34.9 ± 16.1, p = 0.781). However, non-sarcopenic patients achieved a significantly greater reduction in VAS scores post-treatment (67.6 ± 22.4% vs. 53.1 ± 24.4%, p = 0.025). A moderate negative correlation was observed between sarcopenia and successful treatment outcomes (r = -0.365, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Sarcopenia negatively impacts the effectiveness of endovascular treatment in patients with PVI. Graphical