Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of Color Doppler flowmetry in the prediction of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in high-risk pregnancies.Materials and method: A total of 62 high-risk pregnant women underwent Color Doppler flowmetric umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI) and systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio, middle cerebral artery PI, RI and S/D ratio, Ductus venosus S-wave/isovolumetric A-wave index (SIA) and vertebral artery RI at 23-27 weeks, 28-32 weeks and 32-36 weeks of their pregnancy. Cerebral-umbilical C/U PI, RI and S/D were evaluated at the third visit. All the pregnancies were followed up till delivery. Ponderal index <10 was considered to be indicative of IUGR. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0.Results: Thirty-nine (62.9%) deliveries were IUGR. On all the three visits, umbilical artery, mean PI, RI and SD values were significantly higher while MCA PI, RI and SD values were significantly lower in IUGR as compared to non-IUGR cases. Third visit C/U PI, RI and SD ratio values were also significantly lower in IUGR as compared to non-IUGR cases. Ductus venosus SIA values did not show a significant difference between IUGR and non-IUGR groups. The vertebral artery resistive index was significantly higher in non-IUGR as compared to IUGR on all the visits. Umbilical artery PI was the most sensitive and specific for the prediction of IUGR at all the three visits, with the maximum sensitivity and specificity at the third visit (82.1% and 87%). Third visit C/U PI was most sensitive (82.1%) and specific (96.7%) for the prediction of IUGR.Conclusion: This showed that Doppler flowmetry is a useful method for the prediction of IUGR in high-risk pregnancies.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy and a color Doppler test in the detection of prostate cancer in patients with increased serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and/or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE).MethodA total of 40 cases, ranging in age from 50 to 80 years and showing increased serum PSA levels (4-10 ng/ml) and/or abnormal DRE, were enrolled and underwent TRUS evaluation followed by color Doppler flowmetric studies. A TRUS-guided biopsy was performed in all the cases. The findings were confirmed histopathologically. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test.ResultsHistopathologically, a total of 13 cases (32.5%) were malignant. On TRUS, irregular shape, heterogeneous echotexture loss of differentiation between the peripheral and internal zones, less mean weight of the prostate, and capsular invasion were significantly associated with malignancy. On flowmetry, moderate vascularity and focal asymmetry were significantly associated with malignancy. The combined use of TRUS and color Doppler flowmetry was found to be 100% sensitive and 92.6% specific and had a positive predictive value (PPV) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 86.7% and 100%, respectively.ConclusionTRUS with color Doppler flowmetry was highly sensitive and specific in the detection of prostate malignancy.

Introduction and aimMucormycosis is a rare but serious angio-invasive infection caused by a group of fungi called mucormycetes and it mainly affects people who are immunocompromised, or patients already infected with other diseases. The dreaded mucormycosis infection has recently gained gross ill-repute for having claimed many lives in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and/or post-COVID-19 patients. Hence a need was felt to study the development of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients to better prevent and treat this fungal infection in anticipated future waves of the pandemic. This study also aims to establish an association between COVID-19 positivity, systemic comorbidities, and treatment modalities with the possibility of occurrence of vision and life-threatening mucor infection of the nose, paranasal sinuses, orbit, and brain. MethodsThis is a hospital-based, retrospective, case-control study. The study reviewed case files of all patients diagnosed with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) from April 1, 2021, to May 31, 2021. A set of age-matched COVID-19-positive patients hospitalized during the study period with moderate to severe disease were recruited as controls. We addressed factors that could be associated with the development of fungal infection and studied the period between COVID-19 positivity and the onset of ROCM. ResultsThe age of patients in both groups ranged from 40-60 years with 13 females and 17 males. A statistically significant correlation (p-value = 0.032) was found between positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) history and use of intravenous (IV) corticosteroids (11 [73.3%] cases and all controls). The mean duration from COVID-19 positivity to the presentation of mucormycosis was 12.10±7.27 days. Uncontrolled blood sugar was found to be the most significant correlation (p-value = 0.003). Mucormycosis is 13.678 times more likely in people with abnormal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Co-morbidities like anemia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and leukemia were found in controls, but none of these conditions were seen in patients who developed mucormycosis. ConclusionJudicious use of steroids and strict control of blood sugar levels should be emphasized in the management of COVID-19 patients.

ObjectiveTo suggest a low-cost, easily-operable, non-invasive imaging modality for cancer detection in rural settings.MethodA total of 212 cases with palpable breast masses aged 18 - 65 years were enrolled and underwent thorough clinical, mammographic, and ultrasonographic (USG) evaluation. Imaging findings were reported using the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®) criteria. The findings were confirmed histopathologically. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test.ResultsThe malignancy rate was 35.8% (n = 76). On mammography, lesions size, margins, shape, calcification, and distorted arch/skin thickening were significantly associated with malignancy. On USG, the number of nodules, shape, margins, echotexture, posterior wall echo, through transmission changes, distorted arch/skin thickening, microlobulation, duct extension, and height/width ratio were significantly associated with malignancy. Independently, mammography and USG had a sensitivity of 78.1% and 80.3%, respectively, and a specificity of 83.3% and 89.0%, respectively. Using a positive result of either study as the criteria, the sensitivity was 97.4% and the specificity was 80.1%.ConclusionThe combined use of mammography and USG provides high sensitivity and specificity, thus showing that a combination of two can be used as a screening tool for use in low resource rural settings.

Purpose: The present study was done with an aim to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography (USG) in early diagnosis of gall-bladder carcinoma for low-resource settings. Materials and Methods: A total of 264 clinically suspicious cases were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent USG followed by computed tomography (CT). Histopathological specimens were obtained from 208 cases. Final diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically/CT. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of USG were calculated. Results: A total of 29 cases were confirmed as gall-bladder carcinoma, 58.6% were diagnosed at advanced stage (Stage III/IV). USG diagnosed 42 cases as neoplastic, however, 24 were true positive and 18 were false positive. USG was 82.8% sensitive and 92.5% specific. The positive and negative predictive values were 57.1% and 97.8%, respectively, diagnostic efficacy was 91.5%. 94.1% advanced stage gall bladder cancers were diagnosed correctly by USG. Sensitivity for early stages was promising (61.9%), however false positive was higher. Cost of USG was nearly five times lesser as compared to that of CT. Conclusion: USG was a useful economical imaging modality for the screening of gall bladder cancer in low-resource settings, especially for advanced stages. However, for early stages too, it seemed useful. We recommend to encourage the use of USG in early detection of gall-bladder carcinoma in socially and economically disadvantaged settings.