Objective: The aim of our study is evaluate the association between serum vitB12 levels at time of diagnosis and clinical and laboratory signs in multiple myeloma patients.

Material and Methods: Patients were divided into two groups; those had low and normal levels of vitB12. Groups were analized by using independent simple T, Mann Whitney U and chi-square tests considering by distrubition characteristics of data.

Results: Two hundred-and-twelve patients' records were examined retrospectively. Forty-one (32%) patients had low vitB12 levels. In patients with low vit B12 levels, bone marrow plasma cell ratios were also significantly lower than those found normal vit B12 levels (median %30 vs %50, respectively) (p: 0,024). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, lytic bone lesion numbers, and serum levels of total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ß2-microglobulin, calcium, creatinin, albumin. However, 11 patients (%26,8) in low vitB12 group had anemia, while 44 (%50,5) patients in normal vitB12 group had. So, anemia was more often in vitamin B12 normal group patients (p: 0,019). No difference was found in terms of myeloma ISS and R-ISS stages in two patient groups.

Conclusions: Bone marrow median plasma cell ratio was also low in the group with low vit B12 levels. Our data could not show its clinical reflection. Further studies with larger groups are required to evaluate the response to treatment, survival and recurrence rate.

Background: We aimed to investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and school success of 11- to 12-year-old children born as moderate/late preterm infants and identify risk factors affecting prognosis.

Methods: Moderate/late preterm infants followed in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2004 and December 2004 were included, and the children were examined again in our pediatrics outpatient clinic in 2016. Perinatal and neonatal histories were obtained from the hospital database. Physical growth characteristics were interpreted. Neurodevelopment was evaluated using the revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R). The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) was also applied. The effect of socioeconomic level on neurodevelopmental outcome was examined. School performance was evaluated using report card grades.

Results: Forty-one children with a mean age of 11.6 years were evaluated. Risk factors associated with physical growth outcomes were maternal age of >35 years, fetal distress, and patent ductus arteriosus. Sepsis was associated with a decrease in verbal intelligence while periventricular leukomalacia had negative effects on both verbal and performance intelligence. Socioeconomic level showed a medium correlation with performance and full-scale intelligence. The intelligence quotients of the children with positive PSC scores were significantly lower.

Conclusions: Moderate/late preterm infants lag both neurologically and developmentally due to incomplete maturation of the brain and natal problems. Similarly, to early preterm infants, these children should be monitored for extended periods, and family support, rehabilitation, and special education needs should be met.

  Brusellosis is a zoonotic disease which is transmitted with nonpasteurized milk and milk products. Mostly effects the gastrointestinal system and less the genitourinary system. Most common genitourinary complication of brucellosis is epididymo-orchitis.

 Here we present a case which presented with right lower quadrant pain in which physical examination lead us to the preliminary diagnosis of appendicitis after laboratuary results, cilinical findings and deepining the history the patient was diagnosed with unilateral epididimoorchit and here presented with clinical laboratuary findings. Brusellosis which is endemic in our country, should be kept in mind especially when accompanied with acute abdomen eventhoug imaging prosedures do not confirm the diagnosis. 

Abstract

Objective

There is still no consensus on nonoperative management (NOM) for the treatment of patients with liver injury due to multiple trauma. In this study, we aimed to present our experience in patients who underwent NOM in our hospital due to liver injury resulting from blunt trauma.

Material & Methods

In this study, a total of 104 patients who presented to our hospital with liver injury due to multiple trauma were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with successful NOM and those who underwent laparotomy due to failure of NOM were grouped.

Results

All of the 104 patients had solid organ injury due to blunt abdominal trauma, and 58 of these had thorax trauma. NOM was successfully performed in 94 patients with liver injury due to blunt abdominal trauma. The treatment was converted to surgery in 10 patients during conservative follow-up. According to injury grades; 35 patients were graded as Grade 1, 23 patients as Grade 2, 24 patients as Grade 3, and 12 patients as Grade 4. Data of 10 patients with liver trauma and NOM failed were compared with those of the NOM group.

Conclusion

The development of complications increases in patients with high-grade injury or those accompanied by thorax trauma. The rate of complications is high in patients who receive NOM in Grade 4 injury.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between magnetic resonance (MR) enterography and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients during active inflammation and remission phases. 

Patients and Methods: We included patients diagnosed with IBD between 01.12.2015-31.08.2016 at our hospital. 47 patients were included; 30 were male (63.8%) and 17 were female (36.2%). Thirty two (68.1%) of them had ulcerative colitis and 15 (31.9%) had Crohn’s disease. Standard institutional sequences for upper and lower abdomen scan included: sagittal and axial T2 TRUFI, axial and coronal fat suppressed T2 TRUFI and coronal and axial T1 VIBE following intravenous (at 60 seconds) contrast medium administration. First group of patients (n=10) had MRI investigations both at active and remission phases, whereas in the second group of patients (n=37) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, bowel wall thickness and contrast enhancement grades were compared between actively inflamed and non-inflamed bowel segments.

Results: A statistically significant difference was found regarding ADC values and bowel wall thickness measurements in the first group of patients when compared between active and remission phase MRI investigations (p=0.005). Bowel wall contrast enhancement degree did not differ between active and remission phases in the first group (p=0.059). In the second group, there was a statistically significant difference between active and normal bowel segments regarding ADC values, bowel wall thickness and contrast enhancement (p<0.001).

Conclusion: MR enterography and diffusion MRI may be beneficial to determine the degree of inflammation and response to treatment in IBD patients.

Aim: In this study, it was aimed whether biochemical parameters, vital signs and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
(NLR) values could be used in determining the indication for intensive care hospitalization in COVID-19
patients.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the emergency department
of a university hospital. Patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test who applied to our hospital on 1-31 July
2020 were included in the study. Laboratory results, demographic findings and clinical results of the patients
were collected electronically. The patients were divided into 3 groups as discharged, admitted to the service
or intensive care unit. The incidence and severity of symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory values, and NLR
values were compared between the groups.
Results: A total of 489 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the included patients was 48.69
+ 17.25 years, of which 260 (53.16%) were female. While 248 (50.9%) of these patients were discharged,
207 (42.3%) were taken to the service and 33 (6.7%) to the intensive care units. Age, heart rate, urea,
creatinine, CRP, D-dimer and NLR values of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit were higher
than the other groups, while oxygen saturation was statistically significantly lower in this group. Concomitant
systemic diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, Essential Hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease were more common in those hospitalized in the intensive care unit. In multivariable analysis, oxygen
saturation (OR:0.803) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (OR:1.09) were found to be independent predictors of
the indication for hospitalization in the intensive care unit.
Conclusion: As a result of our study, we think that especially low oxygen saturation and high neutrophillymphocyte
ratio can be used in determining the indication for intensive care hospitalization in patients who
apply to the emergency department due to COVID-19.

\r\n Purpose: Mesh erosions that necessitates excision can develop in Trans Obturator Tape (TOT) surgeries which are widely used in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

\r\n

\r\n In our study, we described a method of vaginal flap placed under suburethral sling to prevent urethral mesh erosion related with TOT surgery and evaluated the patients for postoperative complications.

\r\n

\r\n Materials and methods: In our study, 22 patients who had TOT and cystocele operations simultaneously and to whom flaps composed of vaginal tissue were placed in front of the urethra under the mesh between December 2014 and May 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were evaluated for urethral mesh erosion, vaginal mesh erosion, complaints of urgency and dyspareunia, urinary retention, and need for secondary surgery.

\r\n

\r\n Results: The mean postoperative follow-up of the patients were 8,95±8,45 months. 20 patients had simultaneous TOT and cystocele operations (%90,9), 2 patient had vaginal hysterectomy, TOT and cystocele operations simultaneously (%9,1). Urethral mesh erosion developed in none of the patients during the follow-up period. Vaginal mesh erosion and dyspareunia was observed in only one menopausal patient. Urinary retention and overflow incontinence developed in another patient. Vaginal hysterectomy, TOT and cystocele operations were made simultaneously in this patient. Mesh of this patient was cut later on.

\r\n

\r\n Coclusion: The surgical technique we used in our cases kept urgency and vaginal mesh erosion in a minimal level besides totally preventing urethral mesh erosion in a mean short-term follow-up period of 9 months.

\r\n

Objective: Most of the renal neoplasms are the epithelial and malign ones. The renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is the most frequently seen malign renal tumor, consists of 2-4% of all the malign tumors seen among adult individuals and 80-90% of all the malign renal tumors. RCCs peak at sixties and seventies and its prevalence among males is two folds of its prevalence among females. RCCs have bad prognosis. The recurrence is seen in 40% of the cases, and the metastasis despite the early diagnosis was detected in 50% of cases. In present study, it was aimed to distribution of renal tumors in our hospital, discuss the prognostic factors such as the, pathological stage, nuclear grade and tumor diameter accompanied by literature information.

Patients and Method: By retrospectively scanning the records of Pathology Department of Medical Faculty, Fırat University, for the period between 1988 and 2009, 140 renal tumor cases were determined and the previous diagnoses, histological degrees, pathological stages of these cases were evaluated and the final diagnoses were taken as base in the present study. In pathologically staging (pT) of RCCs, TNM classification was used, whereas Fuhrman nuclear grading (FNG) was used in nuclear grading procedure. The patients were divided into different groups based on their genders and ages. The statistical analyses were performed in SPSS-12.0 software by using Chi-Square and Correlation tests.

Results: When compared to the literature in terms of the mean age, the present study involves relatively young population (mean age 57), and the majority was male (male/ female:1.1). The distributions of renal tumours, malign and benign subtypes, and RCC subtypes show similarities with the general literature. When examining the RCCs statistically, no significant relationship was found between diagnosis and age, and between nuclear grade and tumor diameter (p>0.05). In the present study, the RCCs with largest diameter were papillary type (9,78cm) ones, whereas the RCCs with lowest diameter values were classic type. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the benign, borderline and malign tumor diagnoses and diameters (p= 0.023). It was determined that approximately one-four of RCC cases were in highly pathological stage (21,6%, pT3a-3b). A direct proportional and statistically significant relationship was found between nuclear grade and diameter (p=0,002).

Conclusion: RCCs have poor prognosis and their frequency is increasing. Pathological stage, nuclear grade and diameter are the leading factors affecting the prognosis. As in our study, in retrospective studies involving old ages and not enough sampling, tumor diameter may be used as an alternative prognostic factor for pathological staging in tumors with a stage above pT2.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features and consultation process of the patients who
were consulted from the pediatric emergency department to the surgical departments during the pandemic
period, and to compare the findings with the data before the pa ndemic.
Patients and Methods: The research was conducted between 11.03.2020-11.03.2021 in the pediatric
emergency department of our hospital. The enrolled patients at 0-18 years of age were retrospectively
evaluated in terms of gender, age, diagnosis, consultation result, consultation response time. Our study was
compared with the prepandemic data between 01.01.2019 and 31.12 .2019.
Results: Of the patients; 42,4% were female and 57,6% were male. The mean age was 6,9±4,9 years. It
was determined that 27,3% of our patients were consulted to one of the surgical clinics with the diagnosis of
foreign body, 22,2% acute abdomen, 10.6% foreign body aspiration. It was found that 38,5% of the patients
were consulted to the pediatric surgery department, 33,9% to the otolaryngology department and 11,4% to the
thoracic surgery department. The mean consultation response time was 72,2±48,8 minutes. The distribution
of diagnoses, consultation response time, consulted surgical departments, consultation results by age groups,
and distribution of the consultation response times by surgical departments during the pandemic were found
to be statistically significant compared to the pre-pandemic pe riod (p<0,05).
Conclusion: In our study, it was found that the number of patients admitted to the pediatric emergency
department decreased during the pandemic period, the number of hospitalizations increased, the diagnoses
associated with trauma and close physical contact decreased, and the diagnosis of epididymorchitis increased.
In addition consultation response times were observed to be con siderably longer.

Abstract

Aim: Since clinical and prognostic heterogeneity is observed in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (‎DLBCL) patients, it is vital to determine its prognostic and predictive factors. The frequency of these factors varies geographically and ethnically. We aimed to reevaluate and discuss the prognostic and predictive ‎factors of DLBCL patients who have been treated with R-CHOP in our ‎center based on the WHO 2017 revised 4^th edition.‎ We also investigated the incidence of EBV in DLBCL-NOS.

Patients and Methods: Patients with DLBCL-NOS diagnosed previously in our hospital between 2007-2017 and treated with ‎R-CHOP were included in the study. We evaluated the expressions of CD10, CD5, CD30, BCL-2, BCL-6, MUM-1, MYC, LMP-1, EBNA-2, Ki-67, and p53, by immunohistochemistry, and EBV encoded RNA by in situ hybridization in 104 cases of DLBCL-NOS. The Revised International Prognostic Index (R-IPI) score and the overall survival time ‎was ‎calculated.

Results: The study included 56 men (53.8%) and 48 women (46.2%). The median age was 64.5 years. In 59.6% of the patients, the disease had a nodal beginning, whereas in 40.4% of the patients it had an ‎extranodal presentation. High ‎stage (III-IV) was present in 26.5% of the GCB subtype and 43.6% of non-GCB subtype (p=0.049). A high ‎R-IPI score was observed in 40% of GCB subtype and 54.5% of non-GCB subtype (p=0.028). Survival was significantly lower in the non-GCB subtype (log-rank test p=0.003).‎ The EBV frequency was about 3% as it is reported in Western populations. The frequency of DEL status was 8.7%, indicating that it was associated with inferior survival (p=0.045). De novo CD5⁺ DLBCL ratio as 13% and it was also associated with inferior survival (p=0.013).  We also found CD30⁺ DLBCL ratio as 11.5%, but we could not establish a significant relationship with prognosis.

Conclusion: DLBCL-NOS requires detailed subtyping and elaboration of prognostic factors. ‎The frequency of DEL status and De novo CD5⁺ DLBCL indicated that it was associated with inferior survival. However, we could not establish ‎a meaningful relationship of CD30⁺ DLBCL with prognosis.‎ Three EBV positive cases were identified and two of them were classified as ‘EBV positive large B cell lymphoma’ according to the WHO 2017 revised 4^th edition.

Keywords: Diffuse Large-Cell Lymphoma; Prognostic Factors; Survival

Introduction and Objective

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection seen as an endemic in Turkey and is a public health problem at the same time. The objective of this study was to evaluate demographic/epidemiologic, clinic, laboratory features, complications and treatments in brucellosis patients followed-up in our clinic.

Material & Methods

In this study, features of patients followed-up between 01/01/2010 and 31/12/2018 in our clinic were retrospectively evaluated. Descriptive data were expressed as number and percentage. Categorical variables were analyzed with Chi-square test and numerical variables with Student’s t test.

Results

Of the total of 365 brucellosis patients, 159 (43.56%) were female and 206 (56.44%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 45.9±14.51 (18-82) years. The most common time of presentation was summer season with 137 (37.5%) patients. The most common transmission route of the disease was a history of animal husbandry with 252 (69%) patients. Of all cases 168 (46%) were acute, 96 (26.3%) were subacute, and 101 (27.7%) were chronic brucellosis. The most common complaint of the patients was fatigue in 302 (82.7%) patients with being higher in acute brucellosis (p=0.0015). Anemia was found in 53 (33.3%) male and 114 (55.3%) female patients with being significantly higher in female patients (p=0.0283). Leukopenia was found in 7.9%, leukocytosis in 16.2%, thrombocytopenia in 9.6%, neutropenia in 4.1%, neutrophilia in 9% and lymphomonocytosis in 12% of the patients. Wright agglutination test was performed in 26 (7.1%) and brucella immunocapture agglutination test in 361 (98.9%) patients and all results were positive. Of all patients, 172 (47.1%) developed complications with spondylodiscitis being the most commonly found in 58 (15.9%) patients. Sixty-one (31.8%) of patients developed relapse.

Conclusion: Since brucellosis is endemic in our country, it should be considered in presumed diagnosis of patients presenting with complaints such as fatigue, articular pain and fever.

Iron is a medication that is used more in iron deficiency anemia. The use of iron in high doses can cause a multisystemic effect. The toxicity of iron depends upon the amount of elemental iron ingested. The minimum toxic dose and the lethal doses of iron are not firmly established. However, side effects that may be life-threatening are seen on the heart and liver. This paper presents a 16-year-old patient who used 720 mg; 12mg / kg / dose preparation of iron for suicide purposes. The control blood tests performed while planning the discharge of the patient, who had no complaints but were followed up clinically, continued to be followed up because of the increase in the value of troponin. The patient who has no record of physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography (ECO) and indication for iron chelation and in whose troponin level a decrease was diagnosed in the monitoring was discharged with recommendations. Due to the rare occurrence of cardiac involvement and being the first case reported in our country, the effects of the drug on toxicity were discussed in the light of the literature.

Aim: Chest radiography and thoracic computed tomography (CT) play an important role in the diagnosis and
prognosis of sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas.
Pulmonary hypertension, a rare complication of the disease, can be seen in all stages. There is a strong
correlation between pulmonary hypertension (PH) and an increase in the diameter of the main pulmonary
artery (MPAD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate MPAD with multislice computed tomography (CT)
examination for the early diagnosis of PH in patients with stag e II sarcoidosis.
Patients and Methods: We measured the diameter of the main pulmonary artery on thorax CT in patients
with stage II sarcoidosis, who were followed up in our hospital with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis between
January-2018 and December-2021, with hilar lymphadenopathy and parenchymal changes in their imaging,
and compared them with the control group, whose chest X-ray was normal and thorax CT scan was performed
with nonspecific symptoms. We evaluated the relationship between the pulmonary artery pressures obtained
by echocardiography and the diameter of the main pulmonary arte ry in patients with stage II sarcoidosis
Results: We found a significant correlation between the increase in MPAD and pulmonary artery pressure
measured by ECHO in patients with sarcoidosis compared to the control group, and the pulmonary artery
diameter measured by CT in this patient group.
Conclusion: We think that CT evaluation of pulmonary artery diameter in patients with sarcoidosis can guide
the development of PH and therefore of fer an opportunity for early intervention.

Aim: It was aimed to compare with healthy volunteers the changes in heat shock protein (HSP) 90 alpha and vitamin levels during exacerbation and remission periods in our patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), to research whether these molecules will benefit in control of FMF exacerbation and prevention of amyloid accumulation, and also to investigate the relationship of these molecules with FMF gene mutations.

Patients and Methods: HSP 90 alpha, vitamin A, vitamin B 12, vitamin D, vitamin E and folic acid levels were studied in 30 patients with AAA diagnosed in our hospital's pediatric nephrology department during the exacerbation and remission periods and 30 healthy volunteers. The results were compared statistically.

Results: In our series, 19 (63.3%) of the patients were male, 11 (36.7%) were female, with a mean age of 11 years. The most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain (n=19; 63.3%) after fever and only high fever was found to be present in five (16.7%) patients. The most common genetic mutation was M694V (n=14; 46.7%), whereas no mutation was detected in five (16.7%) patients. Although HSP 90 alpha was the highest in the exacerbation group and the lowest in the remission group, there was no significant difference between the groups. Vitamin B12 was significantly different between the groups and the highest value was in the control group. Vitamin D was significantly different between the exacerbation and the remission groups and the highest value was in the exacerbation group. In addition, vitamin D levels were significantly higher in boys. There was no significant difference between vitamin A, vitamin E and folic acid levels. FMF gene mutations did not affect HSP 90 alpha and vitamin levels.

Conclusion: Our findings showed that serum HSP 90 alpha, vitamin D, vitamin E and folic acid levels were normal in AAA, but vitamin B12 and vitamin A levels were low during exacerbation and remission. However, we think that prospective studies including larger series should be performed about the subject.

Metastasis of lobular breast cancer to the reproductive organs is an extremely rare condition. The followup of internal genital metastases for patients who received tamoxifen and chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery has important clinical significance. Here, we introduce such a patient who applied to our hospital and received treatment.

\r\n PURPOSE
\r\n             The aim of this study is to analyze if there were any factors that would indicate the diagnosis of dilating vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) (≥ grade 3) in the second voiding cystourethrogam (VCUG) of children with a normal first VCUG.

\r\n MATERIAL AND METHODS
\r\n             Patients who underwent VCUG between 2012 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Within the cohort, patients who required more than one VCUG were abstracted and those with an abnormal first VCUG (VUR, posterior urethral valve, etc.) were excluded. Factors such as; age, gender, lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD), renal scarring, recurrent urinary tract infection, abnormal ultrasonography findings (bladder abnormalities/variable degrees of hydronephrosis), and technical problems (absence of voiding phase) were noted. Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables whereas Chi Square test was used for categorical values.

\r\n RESULTS
\r\n             A total of 25 patients were found to have undergone more than 1 VCUG (19 girls, 6 boys; mean age 6 ± 3 years). Median time period between the two VCUGs were 12 months (range 1 – 72 months). VUR was detected in 11 patients, while dilating VUR was discovered in 7 patients. Among those, 6 patients were diagnosed with bilateral VUR. Recurrent UTI was found to be the only factor that would indicate dilating VUR in the second VCUG (p=0,049). Interestingly, no VUR was detected in cases that were performed after a first VCUG with inadequate technique. 

\r\n
\r\n CONCLUSION

\r\n             Recurrent UTI was shown to be the sole factor that would indicate the diagnosis of dilating VUR in the second VCUG. In our study, 28% patients with a normal first VCUG were shown to have dilating VUR in the second study. Therefore, in recurrent febrile UTI, second VCUG should be considered in patients with a normal previous imaging.
\r\n  

Aim: In childhood, infectious mononucleosis cases caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are seen with high frequency. The signs and symptoms of acute EBV infection can manifest with different clinical pictures. Care should be taken in differential diagnosis for correct treatment. In our study, it was aimed to examine the clinical presentation of acute EBV infections by age and high-risk age groups among children.

Patients and Methods: A total of 337 pediatric patients with infectious mononucleosis who applied to our tertiary hospital in 2013-2020 were included in the study. EBV VCA IgM and IgG antibodies were studied by ELISA method (quantitative microplate ELISA, Euroimmun®, Germany) in accordance with company recommendations. Patient information and results were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 5.1 ± 3.4 years. 22.8% of the patients were in the group of 0-2, 43.0% of them were 3-5, 29.7% of them were 6-12, and 4.5% of them were 12 years old and above. The most common signs or symptoms in children diagnosed with acute EBV infection were lymphadenopathy (59.6%), lymphocytosis (45.1%), fever (40.9%), swelling in the throat (39.2%) and pharyngitis (30.0%). Fever complaints were significantly higher between the ages of 3-5 compared to other age groups. The seasonal distribution of the cases was similar. It was determined that the cases increased over the years and the most cases were seen in 2019 (23.4%). It was observed that the time between the start of complaints and the application to the hospital increased directly proportional to age groups.

Conclusion: In our study, it was concluded that there was no difference in acute EBV infection in childhood age groups in terms of signs and symptoms, and the number of cases increased slightly over the years, especially in children with lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly.

Objective: Brain death is defined as the complete and irreversible loss of all brain functions including the brain stem. Three major findings used for the diagnosis of brain death are coma, absence of the brain stem reflexes and apnea. The diagnosis of brain death has become more important with the increasing number of patients waiting for transplantation. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of computed tomography angiography in confirming brain death.

Material & Methods: Clinical brain death was reported in total 21 patients hospitalized in critical care unit of our hospital between October 2015 and June 2018. One of these patients was excluded since he underwent magnetic resonance angiography. CTA findings of the remaining patients were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were aged between 25 and 75 years with a mean age of 45 ± 1 years. CTA evaluations were performed using a 64 detector device. 100 mL contrast agent was delivered with a double head automated pump at a rate of 3.5 – 4 cc/sec as 350-375 mg/mL. When the region of interest reached to 90-100 HU cut off value, the images were acquired at 15-20 sec intervals on the axial plan. CTA findings were interpreted using 10- point scale.

Results: Causes of death were reported as intracranial hemorrhage in eight patients, ischemic cerebrovascular events in four patients, hemorrhage after craniotomy in three patients, cardiac arrest in two patients, post-traumatic contusio cerebri in one patient, and metabolic reasons in two patients.

Contrast filling was “0” in the ACA, PCA, MCA distal, and ICA supraclinoid branches of all 20 patients. Suspected contrast filling was found in MCA proximal in eight patients and unilateral ACA proximal in two patients. Each loss of opacification in the intracranial brancges was scored as 1 point. Accordingly, all patients were scored as 10 points.

Conclusion: According to our results, CTA is an effective and sensitive method for the diagnosis of brain death which is obligated by regulations.

Aim: We aimed to retrospectively analyze and present the findings of patients diagnosed with esophageal
cancer and staged using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) Positron Emission Tomography/Computed
Tomography (PET/CT) imaging.
Patients and Methods: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with esophagus who were staged with 18F-FDG
PET/CT in our hospital between February 2015 and February 2020 were included in this study. Patients'
age, gender, localization of the primary tumor and 18F-FDG PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value
(SUVmax), findings of metastases to mediastinal, abdominal and cervical lymph nodes, lung, liver, bone and
other areas were retrospectively evaluated as.
Results: The meanage of the patients was 66,97 ± 14,54 years. 20 patients (54%) were male, 17 patients
(46%) were female. 10 patients (27%) had upper esophagus tumors, 23 patients (62%) had lower esophagus
tumors, 4 patients had middle esophageal tumors (11%). The pathological diagnosis of 23 patients was
squamous cell ca, 14 patients were adeno ca. The mean of primary tumor SUV max was measured as 14,09
± 6,36 in all patients. The mean primary tumor SUVmax of the patients diagnosed with squamous ca was
14,51 ± 6,63, and the mean of primary tumor SUV max of the patients diagnosed with adeno ca was found to
be 13,40 ± 6,03. Progression was observed in 7 of 9 patients whose treatment and follow-ups were continued
in our hospital, and regression was observed in 2 of them.
Conclusion: In the initial staging of patients diagnosed with esophageal ca, 18F-FDG PET/CT is an
increasingly useful imaging method. Our study supports this.

Objectives:  In this study, the results of hearing screening tests were compared to explore the effects of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) on hearing in newborns whose mothers have IDA and who do not have any known risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study. The study included 6578 healthy neonates born to mothers who were beyond their gestational week 37, and who themselves or their family did not have hearing loss or any comorbid disease other than iron deficiency anemia.  The participating neonates’ birth characteristics and the maternal demographic characteristics, auditory brainstem response (ABR) results were obtained from the hospital database.

Results: A positive result was obtained from the second level hearing test in 174 newborns. An idiopathic hearing loss was detected in 25 (0.38%) newborns during their third line of hearing assessment. While anemia was present in the mothers of 17 (0.25%) newborns, no anemia was found in the mothers of 8 (0.12%) newborns (p:0,001).

Conclusions:  Knowing the impact of iron on myelination, and therefore, on hearing function is important to prevent any academic and behavioral problems that can be faced by these newborns in their future lives.