VITT following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination presenting without radiographically demonstrable thrombosis

We report a case of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) in a young man diagnosed 13 days after Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) vaccination. He presented to us with five days of progressive left leg pain, thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, and markedly elevated D-dimers, but without radiographically-demonstrable thrombosis. Despite negative imaging, we initiated treatment for presumptive VITT given the striking clinical picture that included the timing of his recent adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine, leg symptoms, marked thrombocytopenia, and consumptive coagulopathy. He received intravenous immune globulin (IVIG), prednisone, and argatroban and was discharged seven days later much improved. His positive Platelet Factor 4 (PF4) ELISA antibody test returned after treatment was initiated. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of VITT following Ad26.COV2.S vaccination presenting without radiographically-demonstrable thrombosis. Our patient highlights the importance of knowing vaccine status and initiating treatment as soon as possible in the right clinical setting, even in the absence of radiographic evidence of thrombus. Early VITT recognition and treatment provides an opportunity to prevent serious thrombotic complications.

The Relationship between CRP at Admission and Thorax CT Findings in Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19

Introduction: The current study aims to evaluate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, thorax CT findings and CT-SS in patients presenting to the emergency department with COVID-19. Methods: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal rt-PCR (+) in the emergency department were included in the study. In addition to the CRP, ferritin and D-dimer examinations of patients at admission, thorax CT involvement findings and CT-SS results were recorded. The relationship of CRP value with CT-SS and clinical outcome was evaluated. Results: A total of 974 COVID-19 patients, 572 males (58.7%) and 402 females (41.3%), with a mean age of 59.64±17.34 years, were included in the study. The CRP values of the patients who needed intensive care and needed respiratory support were also significantly higher at admission (95.1 mg/dL vs. 31.05 mg/dL) (p<0.001). The CRP values of the patients who developed any complications during the treatment of COVID-19 were higher (79.9 mg/dL vs. 41.85 mg/dL) (p<0.001). In the case of CRP >124.5, a thorax CT density score 7.35 times higher was determined to be severe. In addition, it was determined that there was a 9.09-fold increase in the incidence of negative imaging findings in terms of COVID-19 in cases where the CRP value was <12.5 mg/dL. Conclusion: The CRP levels of COVID-19 patients measured upon admission to the emergency room are correlated with the severity of lung involvement and are an important predictor of clinical outcomes.

Imaging Appropriateness in Pediatric Radiology during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Comparison with No COVID-19 Period

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of accesses to the Pediatric Emergency Department (pED) in Italy sharply decreased by 30%. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how this novel setting impacted on management of children with trauma, and the use and appropriateness of imaging studies in such patients at the pED. All imaging studies performed in patients with trauma at the pED of a tertiary children’s Hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (between March and May 2020) were reviewed, in comparison with a control time interval (March to May 2019). In the pre-COVID control era, 669 imaging studies documented bone fractures in 145/568 children (25.5%). In the COVID-era, 79/177 (44.6%) pediatric patients showed bone fractures on 193 imaging studies. Comparative analysis shows a 71% decrease in imaging studies, and the proportion of negative imaging studies (with no evidence of bone fractures) dropped in 2020 by 19% compared to the 2019 control era (p < 0.001). The sharp decrease of negative studies suggests that the rate of appropriateness was higher during COVID-era, suggesting some attitude toward defensive medicine in the previous control year, as a result of some degree of imaging inappropriateness. The impact of a pandemic on emergency medicine may offer a unique opportunity to revisit diagnostic and therapeutic protocols in pediatrics.

Detection of Bone Marrow Edema in Patients with Osteoid Osteoma Using Three-Material Decomposition with Dual-Layer Spectral CT

The aim of this study is to assess whether perifocal bone marrow edema (BME) in patients with osteoid osteoma (OO) can be accurately detected on dual-layer spectral CT (DLCT) with three-material decomposition. To that end, 18 patients with OO (25.33 ± 12.44 years; 7 females) were pairwise-matched with 18 patients (26.72 ± 9.65 years; 9 females) admitted for suspected pathologies other than OO in the same anatomic location but negative imaging findings. All patients were examined with DLCT and MRI. DLCT data was decomposed into hydroxyapatite and water- and fat-equivalent volume fraction maps. Two radiologists assessed DLCT-based volume fraction maps for the presence of perifocal BME, using a Likert scale (1 = no edema; 2 = likely no edema; 3 = likely edema; 4 = edema). Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the detection of BME on DLCT were analyzed using MR findings as standard of reference. For the detection of BME in patients with OO, DLCT showed a sensitivity of 0.92, a specificity of 0.94, and an accuracy of 0.92 for both radiologists. Interreader agreement for the assessment of BME with DLCT was substantial (weighted κ = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.59, 0.94). DLCT with material-specific volume fraction maps allowed accurate detection of BME in patients with OO. This may spare patients additional examinations and facilitate the diagnosis of OO.

Fungus ball of the maxillary sinus: clinical and diagnostic characteristics

Fungus ball of the maxillary sinus (FBMS) is the most common form of chronic fungal rhinosinusitis in adults. It is a condition of old age, usually with unilateral involvement, and with female preponderance. It is especially described in immunocompetent individuals and is characterized by a slow and benign evolution. Although the etiology, pathogenesis and natural history of fungal rhino-sinusitis have been studied extensively, they are far from being fully understood. The clinical presentation and endoscopic findings in patients with fungus ball of the maxillary sinus are nonspecific, often identical to those of chronic bacterial rhinosinusitis and the cultures are often negative. Imaging evaluation by CT scan suggests, by characteristic signs, a correct diagnosis, which is then correlated with the histological identification of fungal hyphae. Microbiological, histopathological and mycological examinations of nasal secretion established with certainty a variety of bacteria (70%) and fungi (61.7%) in a group of 60 patients with FBMS included in a three-year study. The most commonly detected bacterial floras were Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter Koseri, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella catarrhalis and Klebsiella oxytoca. On culture media, the most common fungal agents were Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus.