[en] Objective: To compare the efficacy of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and spin-echo T1-weighted with and without fat-saturated MR imaging in the detection and staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods and material: Spin-echo T1-weighted, fat-saturated T1-weighted and dynamic breath-hold 2D-FLASH MR imaging were performed in 25 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. MR images were analysed by calculating the CNR between tumor and normal portion of the pancreas. The CNRs calculated at each sequences were compared. A total of 16 out of 25 patients underwent surgery. Preoperative staging according to TNM classification was also done in patients undergoing surgery. Results: The CNR was significantly different (P<0.05) in the arterial phase of dynamic MR images. The accuracy of 'T' staging was 75% for SE T1-W, fat-saturated T1-W and arterial phase of dynamic MR images. Conclusion: The CNRs between pancreatic carcinoma and normal pancreas is significantly higher in dynamic MR sequences than the SE T1-W, fat-saturated T1-W sequences. However, the accuracy of tumor staging according to TNM is equivocal to SE T1-W and fat-saturated T1-W images

[en] Objective: To evaluate the usefulness and reliability of helical computed tomography (CT) for patients with small bowel obstruction. Methods and material: Helical CT findings of 41 patients were evaluated prospectively on the basis of the presence and the cause of obstruction, and the presence of strangulation. Results: In the determination of the cause of the obstruction sensitivity and specificity of CT were 84 and 90%, respectively. Of the 19 patients undergoing surgery, 6 had strangulation and were correctly identified by CT. Conclusion: Helical CT is an accurate method in the detection of small bowel obstruction, especially for evaluating the cause and vascular complications of obstruction

[en] The purpose of our study was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of TGF-β1 and p27 in pancreatic adenocarcinomas and to compare the findings with the clinicopathological features and survival. We also aimed to evaluate the expression of TGF-β1 and p27 in the context of other cell cycle and proliferation markers such as cyclin D1 and Ki-67. We examined TGF-β1 and p27 expression immunohistochemically in 63 cases of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Standard streptavidin-biotin immunperoxidase method was used for immunostaining and the stained slides were examined microscopically using semiquantitative criteria. TGF-β1 stained the cytoplasms of the tumor cells in 43 cases [68.3%]. There was a statistically significant difference among TGF-β1 staining scores in terms of clinicopathologic factors such as blood vessel invasion, stage and distant metastasis [p < 0.05]. Of the 63 tumors evaluated 23 [36.5%] were positive for p27 within the nucleus. An inverse correlation was found between p27 immunoreactivity and grade [p < 0.05]. But no significant correlation was found between p27 and other parameters. Among the patients with survival data 27 patients had RO resections and these cases were considered in survival analysis. In the univariate analysis, neither TGF-β1 nor p27 expression was related with patient survival. Our findings suggest that in pancreatic carcinoma, TGF-β1 expression is related to tumor growth and metastasis. But it is not associated with cell cycle proteins. p27 expression is reduced in pancreatic adenocarcinomas and decreased protein levels of p27 may play a role in the differentiation of pancreatic cancer