In this study, the coronal and sagittal heights of the pituitary glands were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in 201 individuals. There was no sellar or parasellar region pathology in the study group. The data were evaluated according to age and sex groups. In all cases the coronal and sagittal heights of the pituitary glands were equal. The mean values of the coronal and sagittal heights in females (6.1 +/- 0.1 mm, 6.1 +/- 0.1 mm respectively) were higher than in males (5.7 +/- 0.2 mm, 5.6 +/- 0.2 mm respectively). The highest values for the coronal and sagittal heights were in the 11-20 years age group in both sexes. A gradual increase in the coronal and sagittal heights of the pituitary glands in the 0-10, 11-20 age groups was present in both sexes. Decrease in the heights of the pituitary glands was noted after 20 years of age onwards. Nevertheless there was a conspicuous increase in the mean value of the pituitary glands' heights in the 51-60 years age group in males. In females, a minimal increase in the mean value of the pituitary glands' heights was observed in the 61 years and over age group.

The distal attachments of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendons in 47 amputated legs and in eight cadavers were examined. The EHL had two tendons in 34 of the amputated legs and bilaterally in five cadavers. The lateral tendon was inserted to the middle of the dorsal aspect of the base of the distal phalanx of the hallux and the medial tendon to the medial side of the insertion of the lateral tendon. The length and thickness of these two tendons were measured and compared in order to obtain data for using these tendons in tendon repair and hallux varus corrections by autogenous tendon transfer surgery. Additionally, on the right foot of one of the cadavers, it was observed that the extensor hallucis brevis tendon united with the lateral tendon of the EHL. We recommend that foot-ankle surgeons be aware of the various accessory EHL tendons and their potential use in problematic cases.

Radiofrequency reduction has become one of the most popular methods in the treatment of inferior nasal concha hypertrophy. During surgical treatment of inferior nasal concha hypertrophy, it is important to cause minimal injury to the overlying ciliated epithelium, since if the ciliated structure of this epithelium is permanently disrupted, it is hard to carry out one of the important functions of lining of the nasal cavity, mucociliary clearance. In this study, the ultrastructure of inferior nasal concha epithelium was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy in 40 patients with inferior nasal concha hypertrophy. The biopsy specimens were taken before the radiofrequency treatment and 8 weeks after the radiofrequency treatment. Then, the effects of radiofrequency treatment on concha epithelium and morphology of ciliae were examined ultrastructurally. In the scanning and transmission electron microscopic examination of the tissue samples taken before radiofrequency treatment, no ultrastructural pathology was observed in the number and morphology of the ciliae and the inferior nasal concha epithelium. The biopsy specimens obtained 8 weeks after radiofrequency treatment also did not show any ultrastructural pathology in these parameters. However, in the transmission electron microscopic examination of the subepithelial tissue, fibrosis was observed in local areas in the biopsy specimens obtained 8 weeks after radiofrequency treatment. In conclusion, the results obtained from this study suggest that ciliated epithelium of the inferior nasal concha is not destroyed by radiofrequency reduction.

An unusual variation of the iliac veins was detected by computed tomography (CT) angiography in a 35-year-old man. In coronal CT reconstructions, it was shown that the right internal iliac vein of this patient crossed to the left side and drained to the left common iliac vein. This variation is important in retroperitoneal, laparoscopic and orthopedic surgery. We present the CT findings and discuss the embryological origin of this unusual congenital anomaly.

AIm: Piriformis syndrome is a rare neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the piriformis muscle compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve. The treatment of piriformis syndrome includes injections into the piriformis muscle around the sciatic nerve. These invasive approaches have been used with various techniques to increase the safety of the procedure. Computed tomography (CT)-guided injection of the piriformis muscle and the clinical outcome of the patients are discussed. mAterIAl and methOds: The authors presented 10 consecutive patients that underwent CT-guided piriformis injection between March and December 2007. Three patients had a history of a severe fall on the buttocks, one had gluteal abscess formation following deep intramuscular injection, and another one had a habit of prolonged sitting on the carpet. Etiology was not identified in the other patients. Main complaints of the patients were pain and numbness in the legs. Hypesthesia was the major neurological finding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electromyography (EMG) were performed in all patients. results: Nine patients had full and sustained recovery of their symptoms after piriformis injection. Only the patient who had gluteal abscess formation following deep intramuscular injection showed moderate improvement. Another patient was operated on in the 6th month after piriformis injection due to an extruded disc herniation.COnClusIOn: CT-guided piriformis injection is a safe and effective method in the treatment of piriformis syndrome. KeywOrds:Computed tomography, Piriformis syndrome, Sciatica, Treatment ÖZ AmAÇ: Piriformis sendromu, piriformis kasının siyatik sinire bası ya da irritasyonu sonucu, kalçada ve siyatik sinir trasesi boyunca yayılan ağrıya neden olan nadir bir nöromusküler sendromdur. Tedavisinde piriformis kasına ve siyatik sinir çevresine enjeksiyonlar yapılmaktadır. Bu invazif girişimler çoğunlukla işlemin güvenliğini arttıracak farklı teknikler kullanılarak yapılmaktadır. Bu makalede, bilgisayarlı tomografi (BT) eşliğinde piriformis enjeksiyonu yapılan hastalar ve prognozları tartışılmıştır. yÖntem ve GereÇler: Yazarlar Mart-Kasım 2007 tarihleri arasında BT eşliğinde piriformis enjeksiyonu yapılmış on hastayı sunmaktadır. Üç hastada yüksekten kalça üzerine düşme, bir hastada intramüsküler enjeksiyonu takiben abse gelişimi, bir hastada da sert yerde uzun sureli oturma alışkanlığı öyküleri mevcuttur. Diğer hastalarda etiyoloji belirlenememiştir. Başlıca yakınma bacaklarda ağrı ve uyuşmadır. Hipoestezi ana nörolojik bulgudur, Tüm hastalara lomber manyetik rezonans (MR) ve elektromyonörografi (EMG) yapılmıştır.BulGulAr: Dokuz hastada piriformis enjeksiyonu sonrası uzun süreli belirgin iyileşme görülmüştür. İntramüsküler enjeksiyonu takiben abse gelişimi öyküsü olan hasta orta derecede fayda görmüştür. Bir başka hasta da piriformis enjeksiyonundan 6 ay sonra lomber disk hernisi nedeniyle opere edilmiştir.sOnuÇ: BT-eşliğinde piriformis enjeksiyonu bu sendromun tedavisinde etkili ve güvenilir bir yöntemdir.