Murat Ucar

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the etiology in patients with Horner syndrome (HS) using neuroimaging studies based on demographic and clinical characteristics and to contribute to clinical practice by developing a practical algorithm based on our findings and integrating current neuroimaging techniques. Patients and methods: This retrospective, two-center study evaluated 54 patients (28 males, 26 females; mean age: 49.3 ± 14.1 years; range, 21 to 76 years) with HS between January 2013 and February 2022. Demographic and clinical features of the patients, the response to apraclonidine, and neuroimaging study findings were evaluated. Results: Of the cases included in the study, 18 (33.3%) were idiopathic, three (5.5%) were congenital, 13 (24.1%) were central (first-order neuron), 11 (20.4%) were preganglionic (second-order neuron), and nine (16.7%) were postganglionic (third-order neuron). Localized etiology was affirmed in 33 (61.8%) of 54 patients. Conclusion: This study showed that neuroimaging methods easily identified etiology in patients with additional neurological findings in HS. The underlying causes could not be defined in a significant part of patients with isolated HS. However, it is essential to carry out detailed neuroimaging studies according to clinical findings to exclude life-threatening causes in patients with HS.

Background This study aims to evaluate the relationship between volumetric measurements of residual tumor via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathologic complete response (pCR) in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Methods Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who had pelvic MRI for clinical staging and completed nCRT followed by radical resection were included. Two experienced radiologists measured tumor volume on MRI obtained before and after nCRT. We compared the pre- and post-CRT tumor volume and measured tumor volume reduction rates. Results The median value of tumor volume reduction rate in all patients was 64.7% (min–max − 81.1–98.1%). When the relationship between tumor volume and tumor regression grade (TRG) after nCRT was assessed, it was found that 18 of 21 (86%) patients with a good response (TRG 1) had a post-CRT tumor volume of ≤ 8 cm3 (p = 0.001). While 9 of 10 patients with pCR after nCRT had a tumor volume of ≤ 8 cm3, one patient had pCR despite having a tumor volume greater than 8 cm3 (p = 0.015). Conclusion The correlation between post-nCRT residual tumor volume and pCR underscores the potential of volumetric MRI as a predictive tool in tailoring rectal cancer treatment. For patients with residual tumor volumes greater than 8 cm³, extending neoadjuvant chemotherapy as part of TNT may enhance the likelihood of achieving pCR. This approach advocates for a more personalized treatment strategy, potentially optimizing outcomes for rectal cancer patients.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (Io MRI) on overall and progression-free survival (OS and PFS), on the extent of resection (EOR) in patients with glioma, and impact of the radiological diagnosis on the decision to continue the surgery when a residual mass was detected on Io MRI. Methods: The study comprised 153 glioma patients who received surgical treatment between 2013 and 2023. One-hundred twenty-five of them had Io MRI guidance during surgery. The remainder 28 patients constituted the control group who did not undergo Io MRI. All patients' age at surgery, gender, initial radiological diagnosis, primary tumor localization, EOR, last histopathological diagnosis, and the follow-up periods were recorded. Results: The rate of tumor recurrence in Io MRI cases was significantly lower compared to the cases in the control group (p < .0001). It was decided to continue the operation in 45 Io MRI applied cases. This raised the gross total resection (GTR) rate from 33.6% to 49.6% in the Io MRI group. The frequency of GTR was significantly higher in patients with an initial radiological diagnosis of low grade glioma than those with high grade glioma. The shortest OS was seen in occipital gliomas. Conclusion: In this study, the convenience provided by the high-field MRI device was explored and proven both in reducing the tumor burden, increasing the PFS, and providing the surgeon with a maximal resection in the first operation.

Background:: Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma is a multiloculated cystic mass which originates from the peritoneum. This rare tumor is usually seen in women of childbearing age and has a high recurrence rate after surgery. Case Presentation:: We present two benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma cases with different imaging modalities, which were also pathologically proven. Conclusion:: The imaging features which may be diagnostic should be well known as there are very few reports regarding this entity

Background and aim: The optimal sarcopenia measurement method in patients with a diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is unknown. It has been found that temporal muscle thickness (TMT) may reflect sarcopenia and be associated with survival, but the relationship between temporal muscle area (TMA) and GBM prognosis has never been evaluated before. The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the relationship between TMA/TMT and overall survival (OS) time in newly diagnosed GBM patients. Materials and methods: The data of patients who presented at the university hospital between January 2009 and January 2019 with a confirmed diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme at the time of diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively. Temporal muscle thickness and TMA were measured retrospectively from preoperative MRIs of patients diagnosed with GBM. Due to the small number of patients and the failure to determine a cut-off value with acceptable sensitivity and specificity using ROC analysis, the median values were chosen as the cut-off value. The patients were basically divided into two according to their median TMT (6.6 mm) or TMA (452 mm2 ) values, and survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: The median TMT value was 6.6 mm, and the median TMA value was 452 mm2 . The median overall survival (OS) was calculated as 25.8 months in patients with TMT < 6.6 mm, and 15.8 months in patients with 6.6 mm (p = 0.29). The median overall survival (OS) of patients with TMA < 452mm2 was 26.3 months, and the group with TMA ≥ 452mm2 was 14.6 months (p = 0.06). The median disease-free survival was 18.3 months (%95 CI: 13.2-23.4) in patients with TMT < 6.6mm, while mDFS was 10.9 (%95 CI: 8.0-13.8) months in patients with TMT ≥ 6.6mm (p = 0.21). The median disease-free survival was found to be 21.0 months (%95 CI: 15.8-26.1) in patients with TMA < 452 mm2 and 10.5 months (%95 CI: 7.8-13.2) in patients with TMA ≥ 452 mm2 (p = 0.018). Conclusion: No association could be demonstrated between TMT or TMA and OS of GBM patients. In addition, the median DFS was found to be longer in patients with low TMA. There is an unmet need to determine the optimal method of sarcopenia in GBM patients.