abstract:Objectives: This study aimed to examine the correlation between carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and luminal diameter (LD) with body mass index (BMI) and other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study took place between June 2013 and March 2014 in the Radiology Department of Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Iraq. Non-randomly selected subjects ≥20 years old (n = 140) were divided into BMI groups and evaluated for the following cardiovascular risk factors: gender, age, hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels. IMT and LD of the extracranial carotid arteries were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Results: The mean IMT was 0.8 ± 0.3 mm, ranging from a total mean of 0.7 mm in the normal BMI group to 1.0 mm in the extremely obese group. A significant correlation was found between IMT and BMI (P = 0.04), but not between BMI and LD (P = 0.3). No significant difference in mean IMT or LD was seen between genders. Significant correlations were found between IMT and age, HTN, DM, high serum cholesterol and TG levels (P <0.001). An increase of one BMI unit caused a 0.009 mm increase in IMT and an increase of one year in age caused a 0.011 mm increase in IMT. Conclusion: Age, obesity, HTN, DM, high serum cholesterol and TG levels were found to have an impact on carotid IMT, which is a strong marker for the early development of atherosclerosis.

Background: The notch of Harty is a normal variant radiologically and incidentally diagnosed finding but can be mistaken as pathology. Objective: To identify the incidence and characteristic findings of the notch of Harty.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 121 patients referred to the Radiology department, MRI unit, to undergo ankle MRI through a one-year period (January to December 2020). Cases with significant ankle lesions were excluded. All MRI studies were performed on 1.5 T MR scanners (Aera, Siemens, Arlington).Results: The notch of Harty was present in 35.5% patients; their age ranged from 5-83 years with a mean age of 38.20 years. The average width of the notch was 5.65mm while the mean depth was 1.04 mm. There was no significant correlation between the presence of the notch of Harty and findings such as rheumatic arthritis, minor trauma, chondral thinning. However, there was significant correlation between the presence of the notch of Harty and subjacent subchondral sclerosis. Conclusion: The notch of Harty was present among a considerable number of cases with no sex predominance. The notch might be misinterpreted by radiologists as true osteochondral lesions, thus, familiarity with location and appearance of these pseudodefects will avoid their misinterpretation. Keywords: The notch of Harty, pseudodefects, MRI, tibial plafond, osteochondral lesions

Background and objective: Urolithiasis is prevalent in both developed and developing countries, which is attributed to changes in lifestyles. Management of ureteric stones is highly dependent on their characteristics such as volume, size, and density which can be determined based on the images obtained from CT scan. The present study was carried out to examine the association between the final outcomes of the stones and different stone parameters specified by CT scan. Methods: The present prospective cross-sectional study consisted of 100 patients who had been referred to the Radiology Department of Rizgary and Erbil Teaching Hospitals in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, over six months in 2019 to undergo abdominal CT scan with clinical suspicion of ureteric stones. All patients underwent non-contrast MDCT scan, and the CT images were evaluated for the presence of ureteric stone, site of the stone, side, diameter in three planes, volume, and density. The outcome of the stone was correlated with each above variables. Results: Ureteric stones were more prevalent among the young and middle age group (25-64 years) with an approximate male-to-female ratio of 3.34:1. There were significant associations between stone outcomes (i.e. spontaneous passage or need for intervention) and the stone characteristics including volume (P <0.001), density (P <0.001)site (upper, mid and lower ureter) (P = 0.02), anteroposterior diameter (P <0.001), transverse diameter (P = 0.006), and superior inferior diameter (P <0.001). Conclusion: Upon the significant correlation between the spontaneous passage of ureteric stones and their characteristics (i.e., volume, density, site, anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, and superior inferior diameter), it is highly recommended that all patients with urolithiasis undergo CT scan examination in order to make the proper decision regarding stone management. Keywords: Ureteric stones; CT scan; Stone characteristics; Spontaneous passage.

Background and objective: The gallbladder size, volume, and wall thickness can be affected by many disease processes. Therefore, there is a need to establish a baseline sonographic normogram of gallbladder dimensions and volume for early detection and follow-up of a diseased gallbladder. This study aimed to establish a baseline sonographic normogram for gallbladder volume and wall thickness in normal adults and its relationship with age, gender, and body mass index. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 normal adult subjects aged 18-73 years at the Radiology Department of Rizgary Teaching Hospital and Private Clinic in Erbil city, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Gallbladder dimensions, including height, length, width, volume, and wall thickness, were measured by sonographic scanning of the subjects' gallbladder after an overnight fasting. Results: Out of 400 subjects, 248 (62%) were male, and 152 (38%) were female. There was a slight difference between male and female gallbladder volume (29.87 ml for males and 26.5 ml for females) and wall thickness (2.53 mm for males and 2.46 mm for females), with the measurements slightly higher in males. A statistically significant variation was found between gender and age of participants with gallbladder height (ranging 2.4-3.06 cm), width (ranging 2.41-3.38 cm), volume (ranging 21.03-38.39 ml), and wall thickness (ranging 2.16-2.96 mm). A non significant correlation was found between the age and gender of participants with the length of the gallbladder (ranging 6.33-6.61 cm). A moderately significant correlation was found between gallbladder volume with height and weight of participants. A weak significant statistical relation was found between gallbladder volume and the body mass index of participants. Conclusion: Normal gallbladder sonographic dimensions have been established in our locality to be used as a reference value for evaluating the healthy and diseased gallbladder. The mean volume for males was 29.87cm3, and for females was 26.57cm3. The mean wall thickness for males was 2.53mm and 2.46 mm for females. The mean height was 2.92cm for males and 2.76cm for females. The mean width was 2.93 cm for males and 2.78cm for females. The mean length was 6.54 cm for males and 6.46 cm for females.

BACKGROUND Incidental findings could be observed in organs close to the spine while reporting lumbosacral spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to report the prevalence and clinical potential of extraspinal incidental findings in lumbosacral MRI of patients with suspected disc diseases. METHODS This single-centered cross-sectional study was carried out on 420 consecutive adult patients who underwent lumbar spine MRI for suspected disc disease from January to July 2019. The MRI was checked for the presence of extraspinal incidental findings, and each finding was categorized according to the body organ and its clinical significance. Each MRI plane that best displayed the findings was recorded, and the association between the findings and patient's age and sex was determined. RESULTS Of 420 samples, 135 cases showed extraspinal findings (32.1%), and 7.6% of the patients displayed suspicious lesions. The urinary tract was the most common system (18.6%) to display both clinically significant (5.0%) and benign findings (13.6%), and the axial MRI section was the plane which showed most of the incidental findings. Incidental findings in any body system were rarely found in the younger patients. Females had significantly higher benign findings than males (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of extraspinal findings in lumbosacral spine MRI is high, and some are significant. Most findings are related to the urinary tract and best displayed in the axial plane.