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Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Hypertension is an important risk factor for carotid atherosclerotic disease. Ultrasonography with Doppler provides non-invasive assessment of carotid arterial wall changes, plaque characteristics and blood-flow parameters. This study evaluated carotid artery changes in hypertensive patients using ultrasonography and Doppler. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 104 hypertensive patients. Bilateral carotid arteries were examined using grayscale, colour and spectral Doppler ultrasonography. Common carotid artery intima–media thickness (CCA-IMT), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), plaque presence and morphology, and degree of stenosis were assessed. Associations with demographic and clinical characteristics were analysed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic performance of Doppler parameters. Results: The mean age was 52.66 ± 15.05 years, and 56.7% were females. Carotid plaques were detected in 49 patients (47.1%). Plaque presence was significantly associated with age (p=0.048), but not with gender, hypertension stage or duration. Hyperechoic and hypoechoic plaques were the commonest patterns (32.7% each). Plaque morphology was significantly associated with age (p=0.017), gender (p=0.034) and hypertension stage (p=0.003). Mild stenosis was observed in 73.5% and moderate stenosis in 26.5% of plaque-positive patients; no severe stenosis or occlusion was identified. CCA-IMT, CCA EDV and ICA PSV differed significantly across plaque morphologies. CCA PSV had the highest area under the curve (AUC) for plaque detection (0.632). For moderate stenosis, CCA PSV and ICA PSV showed AUCs of 0.736 and 0.714, respectively. Conclusion: Carotid ultrasonography and Doppler demonstrated a considerable prevalence of carotid plaques in hypertensive patients. Combined assessment of arterial wall thickness, plaque morphology and Doppler velocities may help characteri
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Thyroid nodules are common clinical findings, and differentiating benign from malignant lesions is essential for appropriate management. Conventional ultrasonography (USG) is widely used, while strain elastography provides additional information regarding tissue stiffness. Aim: To compare the diagnostic performance of conventional USG, strain elastography, and their combined approach in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included 66 patients with thyroid nodules evaluated at a tertiary care hospital. Conventional USG assessed nodule morphology, echogenicity, margins, shape, echogenic foci, and vascularity, with classification according to ACR TI-RADS. Strain elastography was performed using Rago elasticity scores and strain-ratio measurements. Fine-needle aspiration cytology, supplemented by histopathology where available, served as the reference standard. Diagnostic performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, accuracy, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: Of the 66 patients, 54 (81.8%) had benign nodules and 12 (18.2%) had malignant nodules. Suspicious sonographic features and higher ACR TI-RADS categories were significantly associated with malignancy (p < 0.001). The mean strain ratio was significantly higher in malignant than benign nodules (4.92 ± 1.05 versus 1.82 ± 0.87; p < 0.001). The strain-ratio cut-off of 2.80 yielded an area under the curve of 0.982, with 100% sensitivity and 88.89% specificity. Diagnostic accuracy was 80.30% for USG, 89.39% for elastography, and 92.42% for the combined approach. Conclusion: Strain elastography improved diagnostic performance compared with conventional USG alone. Their combined assessment demonstrated the highest observed accuracy and specificity, suggesting complementary value in thyroid nodule characterization. Larger prospective studies are required to validate these findi
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) may cause persistent middle-ear disease, ossicular damage and complications involving the temporal bone. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) provides detailed anatomical assessment and helps define disease extent before surgery. This study evaluated HRCT findings in patients with CSOM and compared imaging features between atticoantral and tubotympanic disease. Methods: This descriptive observational cross-sectional study included 70 patients with clinical features suggestive of CSOM. Participants underwent clinical and audiological assessment, including pure-tone audiometry, followed by HRCT of the temporal bone. Imaging findings related to middle-ear and mastoid opacification, ossicular involvement and bony changes were recorded. Associations between clinical type, HRCT findings and hearing loss were analysed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: In this cohort, mean age was 24.5 ± 9.4 years, and 60.0% of participants were male. Ear discharge (94.3%) and hearing loss (90.0%) were the commonest symptoms. HRCT showed soft-tissue opacification in 88.6% of patients, most frequently involving the mesotympanum (67.1%) and epitympanum (57.1%). Ossicular erosion was present in 47.1%, with the incus most commonly affected (44.3%). Scutum erosion was the most frequent bony abnormality (45.7%). Atticoantral disease showed significantly higher frequencies of soft-tissue opacification, epitympanic, antral and aditus involvement, ossicular erosion and scutum erosion than tubotympanic disease. The number of eroded ossicles was significantly associated with the degree of hearing loss (p<0.001). Conclusion: HRCT demonstrated the anatomical extent of CSOM and identified ossicular and adjacent bony abnormalities. Destructive imaging findings were more frequent in atticoantral disease, and greater ossicular involvement was associated with more severe hearing loss. HRCT is a useful adjunct for preoperative assessment an
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders are associated with significant maternal morbidity, making antenatal diagnosis essential for appropriate obstetric planning. Ultrasonography, including grayscale and colour Doppler assessment, is the primary imaging modality for evaluating pregnancies at risk. Aim: To evaluate the role of ultrasonography in detecting PAS disorders and assess the diagnostic performance of individual ultrasound markers and the Placenta Accreta Index (PAI). Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis over 18 months and included 40 pregnant women suspected of having PAS. Transabdominal and, where required, transvaginal grayscale and colour Doppler ultrasonography were performed. Ultrasound findings and PAI were recorded. Intraoperative findings and/or histopathology served as the reference standard. Diagnostic performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, accuracy and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: PAS was confirmed in 34 (85.0%) participants and was not confirmed in six (15.0%). Among grayscale markers, myometrial thinning (82.4%), loss of the retroplacental clear zone (76.5%) and placental lacunae (67.6%) were frequent findings in confirmed PAS. Among Doppler markers, subplacental hypervascularity (67.6%), turbulent lacunar flow (64.7%) and bridging vessels (61.8%) were commonly observed. Overall ultrasonography demonstrated 94.12% sensitivity, 83.33% specificity, 96.97% positive predictive value, 71.43% negative predictive value and 92.50% accuracy. Mean PAI was significantly higher in confirmed PAS than in non-confirmed cases (4.43 ± 2.47 versus 1.50 ± 1.60; p=0.007). PAI also differed significantly across FIGO grades (p=0.002). For predicting PAS, PAI showed an area under the curve of 0.848. Conclusion: Grayscale and colour Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for PAS. PAI was associ
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Cranial fractures are frequently accompanied by intracranial injuries, which require prompt identification for appropriate management. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) provides rapid assessment of both fracture patterns and associated haemorrhage. Aim: To determine the occurrence and CT characteristics of intracranial haemorrhage in patients with cranial fractures and assess their association with fracture patterns and clinical outcomes. Methods: This hospital-based prospective observational study included 100 patients with CT-confirmed cranial fractures. Demographic and clinical details, including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), were recorded. NCCT images were evaluated for fracture type and location, haemorrhage type, anatomical distribution, volume and midline shift. Surgical intervention and in-hospital mortality were documented. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate tests, with p less than 0.05 considered significant. Results: The mean age was 32.74 ± 14.12 years, and 81% were male. Road traffic accidents accounted for 59% of injuries. Intracranial haemorrhage was detected in 62% of patients. Epidural haematoma was the most common type (53.2%), followed by subdural haematoma (41.9%), cerebral contusion (32.3%), subarachnoid haemorrhage (25.8%) and intraventricular haemorrhage (8.1%). Multiple haemorrhage types coexisted in 50% of affected patients. Haemorrhage volume differed significantly across types (H = 51.55, p less than 0.001). Intracranial haemorrhage was significantly associated with fracture type (p = 0.026). Depressed fractures were associated with cerebral contusions (p = 0.001), while basilar fractures were associated with intraventricular haemorrhage (p = 0.01). Surgical intervention was more frequent in patients with haemorrhage (45.2%; p less than 0.001). Mortality was higher in patients with haemorrhage than without (19.4% vs 2.6%; p = 0.016) and was associated with severe GCS (p less than 0.001). Conclusion: Intracra
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Intestinal obstruction is a common abdominal emergency in which timely identification of the site, cause and complications is essential for appropriate management. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) provides detailed evaluation of bowel loops, transition points and associated complications. Aim: To evaluate the role of computed tomography in the assessment of intestinal obstruction in a tertiary care centre. Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional observational study included 70 consecutive patients aged 18 years or older with clinical suspicion of intestinal obstruction. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced 128-slice multidetector CT of the abdomen and pelvis. CT findings were assessed for the type, anatomical site, cause, grade and complications of obstruction. Imaging findings were compared with plain radiography and ultrasonography, and operative correlation was performed in surgically managed patients. Results: The mean age was 49.6 ± 13.8 years, and 61.4% were male. Small bowel obstruction was the predominant type (70.0%), with the distal ileum being the commonest site (31.4%). Adhesions were the leading cause (25.7%). Dilated bowel loops were identified in 98.6% of patients, while a transition point was identified in 84.3%. CT demonstrated sensitivity of 95.2%, specificity of 87.5%, positive predictive value of 98.3%, negative predictive value of 70.0% and overall diagnostic accuracy of 94.3%. CT altered the initial clinical diagnosis in 34.3% and identified unsuspected complications in 14.3%. Among 50 operated patients, CT findings showed 88.0% overall concordance with intraoperative findings. Surgical and conservative management were undertaken in 71.4% and 28.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced multidetector CT demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and provided valuable information regarding the site, cause and complications of intestinal obstruction. Its findings supported clinical decision-making and preoperati
Original Research Article
ABSTRACT
Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and contributes to impaired wound healing and diabetic foot complications. Colour Doppler ultrasonography provides anatomical and haemodynamic information about lower-limb arteries, while the ankle–brachial index (ABI) is a commonly used screening tool. Aim: To evaluate Colour Doppler findings in patients presenting with diabetic foot, assess the distribution and severity of lower-limb arterial disease, examine its association with Wagner grade, and compare Doppler findings with ABI. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional observational study included 150 patients with diabetic foot attending the Department of Radiodiagnosis at a tertiary-care hospital. Bilateral lower-limb arterial assessment was performed using B-mode, colour-flow and spectral Doppler ultrasonography. Arterial stenosis, waveform patterns and haemodynamic parameters were evaluated. ABI findings were compared with Colour Doppler findings, and associations with clinical variables were analysed. Results: The mean age was 57.3 ± 10.4 years, and 64% of participants were male. Colour Doppler identified PAD in 84 patients (56%). Distal arteries, particularly the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries, demonstrated substantial stenotic involvement. Dorsalis pedis artery stenosis increased significantly with Wagner grade. Conclusion: Colour Doppler ultrasonography identified PAD in 56% of patients with diabetic foot, with substantial distal arterial involvement. It demonstrated significant associations between arterial stenosis and Wagner grade and may complement ABI in evaluating lower-limb arterial disease.