Pulmonary involvement is one of the most common extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this prospective study was to assess pulmonary involvement with high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) in lifelong non-smoking patients with RA. Twenty-six female and eight male patients with a mean age of 45.26 +/- 11.6 years and without any evidence or symptoms of a respiratory disease were included in the study. Data were obtained regarding duration of disease, clinical symptoms and disease activity parameters. Standard chest roentgenographs, pulmonary function tests (PFT) and HRCT were performed. PFT was abnormal in eight (23.5%) and HRCT was abnormal in 23 patients (68%). The most frequent abnormalities obtained on HRCT were interstitial involvement including septal and peribronchial thickening and fibronodular infiltration, which were found in 23 patients, and bronchiectasis was found in nine patients. Using a highly sensitive technique such as HRCT the incidence of pulmonary abnormalities in asymptomatic rheumatoid patients may be much higher than previously reported.

Hydatid disease has a high incidence in the countries of the temperate zones such as Turkey. Only few cases in the head and neck region have been reported in the literature. Our case, an unusual localization of hydatidosis, i.e. hydatid disease of the infratemporal fossa of a 9-year-old male patient suffering from a swelling of the left maxillary region which was diagnosed by CT, is presented. The lesion visualized on CT images was compressing the neighbouring structures. The possible diagnosis was made based on the images obtained from CT examination.

A 54-year-old man with a unilocular hydatid cyst within t h e infero-posterior angle of t h e orbit and a 6-year-old male child with a unilocular hydatid cyst within t h e supero-medial angle of t h e orbit are presented. The retrobulbar cysts were diagnosed with computed tomography and ultrasonography and were treated after serologic confirmation.

Hydatid disease has a high incidence in Turkey and causes significant complications. A case is reported here of unusual localization of hydatidosis, with involvement of hydatid cysts of the seminal vesicle, kidney and gluteus muscle. A review of the literature is also included.

A 54-year-old man with a unilocular hydatid cyst within t h e infero-posterior angle of t h e orbit and a 6-year-old male child with a unilocular hydatid cyst within t h e supero-medial angle of t h e orbit are presented. The retrobulbar cysts were diagnosed with computed tomography and ultrasonography and were treated after serologic confirmation.