Objective:To assess the validity of ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: This case series study included 750 patients. From January 2003 to March 2007, patients with suspected acute appendicitis were sent to the radiological section in the AL-Jamhory teaching hospital and my private clinic for sonography. A distended appendix with a lumen more than 6mm, aperistaltic appendix with appendicolith in its lumen are all signs and criteria for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Result: Of the 750 patients suspected to have acute appendicitis who were examined by sonography, 527 were males and 223 females. 468 patients had true acute appendicitis, and 220 patients were negative for this disease. Thirty patients showed false positive diagnosis, while 32 patients proved to have false negative results. The overall sensitivity of ultrasound examination to diagnose acute appendicitis was 94%, specificity 88%, accuracy 92%, positive predictive value 93% and negative predictive value was 88%. Conclusion: sonography must be used as first modality to assess suspected acute appendicitis. It is easy, non invasive, simple and rapid.

Objective: To check the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of undisplaced partial forearm fractures in children. Methods: A case series study was conducted in AL-Khansa'a and Al-Zahrawy teaching hospitals in Mosul over a period between November 2005 to October 2006. One hundred patients (54 male and 46 female) between the age of 2-15 years suffering from high clinical suspicion of non displaced forearm fractures were first examined by ultrasound (Sonoline SL 100, Siemens Nurnberg Germany) with 7.5MHZ linear array transducer by a radiologist who gave an immediate report. Standard two views radiography of the forearm then obtained. The radiographs were reported by another senior radiologist. Ultrasonographic and radiographic reports were then compared. Results: One hundred patients were examined, 54 male and 46 female with male/female ratio 1:1.7. The type of fractures found were 46 torus type, 48 greenstick and 6 were plastic deformity. Subperiosteal haematoma was encountered in 100% of the fractures, bending sign was 100% and finally reverberation echoes was shown in all the fracture types too. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful method in the diagnosis of undisplaced forearm fractures in children. It is an easy, safe , fast and inexpensive procedure. More studies are indicated to confirm its reliability in different pediatric fractures.

Objective:To assess the role of ultrasound in guiding fine needle aspiration lung biopsy in peripheral lung lesions. Methods: Using real-time ultrasonography, Seimense Sonoline equipment with 3.5 and 5.0 MHz transducer, the patients were examined to localize the lesions and prepare for performing biopsy. Main result: One hundred fifty patients having peripheral lung lesions, 119 (79.3%) males and 31 (20.7%) females with mean age of (56) years were exposed to lung biopsy. One hundred forty (140) patients showed malignant lesions. Six patients had tuberculosis, two patients had interstitial pneumonitis and other two were normal. Conclusion: Ultrasound guided transthoracic biopsy appears very safe and effective method for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions when bronchoscopy failed to reach the lesion, and to avoid the need of thoracotomy to achieve that.

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the daily oral administration of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation on bone healing in bisphosphonate treated experimental animals (rabbits). Material and methods: Eight young male rabbits divided into two groups after induction of open ulnar osteotomy, both groups received weekly 1 mg/ kg BW of alendronic acid (alendron) orally starting 6 days before osteotomy for five weeks, the experimental group received daily dose of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation from the second post operative day for four weeks. The control group received ordinary diet. At the end of the fifth week the animals' sacrificed and the specimens taken for radiological and computerized tomography (CT) scan densimetry and histomorphometric evaluation carried out for the callus at site of osteotomy. Results: All ulnar bone osteotomies in both groups united at the end of the fifth week macroscopically and radiologically. The callus density was measured in site of osteotomy by CT scan densimetry, its mean in the experimental group was 681 ± 219 and in the control group was 492 ± 233. The difference between the experimental and control group was significant, (P value<0.05). The histological examination of the bone at site of osteotomy showed healing with woven bone predominantly and some lamellar bone and cartilage. The mean of histomorphometric evaluation of healing in site of osteotomy were 9.07 ± 0.80 in experimental group, while in control group were 8.70 ± 0.80. The difference between two means was not significant Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that a daily oral administration of vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and vitamin C as dietary supplementation in bisphosphonate treated rabbits enhance bone healing by increase callus density.