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T he interatrial septum consists of a fusion of the two separate leaves of a flap valve system, which provides continued fetal circulation in utero. In approximately 70% of the population, the septum primum and secundum in the interatrial septum fuse shortly after birth and form an intact barrier (1). A failure in the fusion of this flap valve system after birth may lead to a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The connection between the right and left atrium (RA and LA, respectively) forms an anatomical tract for cryptogenic stroke caused by paradoxical emboli (2).Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a semi-invasive imaging modality that is typically preferred for PFO diagnosis. In particular, contrast-enhanced TEE is a reliable method for the identification of PFO patients with right to left shunts. Although contrast-enhanced TEE is utilized in PFO diagnosis as the reference standard, some studies claim that transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), which is a noninvasive procedure, has comparable sensitivity (3-6).Although coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is primarily utilized to image coronary arteries, this technique can also be used to visualize other cardiac structures, at a very high resolution, in a routine coronary artery scan (2). As computed tomography (CT) technology has advanced, clinicians have discovered that PFO is a frequent finding in routine coronary CTA, and interest in this issue has arisen. The high spatial and temporal resolution provided by advancements in CT technology has enabled easy evaluation of the interatrial septum as well (7-9).Atrial septal aneurysms (ASA) represent another pathologic anatomical condition, with reported incidences of 1% and 4.6%-10% in autopsy studies patients undergoing TEE, re- PURPOSEWe aimed to examine the incidence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysms (ASA) in the Turkish population using coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA); assess the feasibility of coronary CTA for PFO diagnosis by conducting a comparison with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); and determine the diagnostic role and characteristics of the interatrial tunnel, free flap valve (FFV), and shunts. METHODSThe present study was conducted retrospectively and included a sample of 782 patients. Coronary CTA results for all patients were evaluated for the following parameters: the presence of PFO, the degree of contrast jet (if present due to PFO), ASA existence, free flap valve (FFV) length, and PFO tunnel diameters (1 and 2). Coronary CTA and TTE results for PFO detection were also compared for 19 patients who underwent both procedures. RESULTS PFO was present in 118 patients (15%). In 19 patients who underwent both CTA and TTE, the shunt was present in 15 patients on TTE compared with nine patients on CTA. The sensitivity and specificity of CTA for shunt existence were 53% (8/15) and 75% (3/4), respectively. FFV was observed on CTA in 118 patients (15%). No significant relationship was observed between shunt existence and FFV length (P = 0.148), or betwe...

This is a case of a 17-year-old boy who was admitted to the clinic suffering from right hip-inguinal region pain which began after a soccer match. He had an avulsion fracture in the anterior inferior iliac spine and CT/MR images showed similarities to a bone tumor. These fractures are especially seen in the apophyses which are within the ossification process. The radiological appearance of these fractures during the healing period may be involved with bone tumors. In the control MRI of the patient after one year, the fracture was almost healed completely. Treatment is generally conservative. Good results have been reported with rest, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Familiarity with radiological findings of these avulsion fractures in this region not only protects the patient from invasive procedures but also avoids the involvement of the practitioner in legal consequences resulting from a misdiagnosis of sarcoma.