Background and Purpose: To detect sensitivity and specificity of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) as a non-invasive technique in the detection of de-novo cases of cancer larynx
Patients and methods: Patients included in this research were patients suspected of de-novo cancer larynx; This study is a prospective randomized comparative clinical trial.
Results: The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of laryngeal lesions (0.73± SD 0.23 x10-.3 mm2) was lower (p < 0.001) than the mean of the normal part of the larynx in the same patients (1.09± SD 0.099 x 10-.3 mm2), The cut-off value of the ADC using receiver operating characteristics was Conclusion: DWI is an easily reproducible and non-invasive technique that can accurately explore the larynx and became a very important diagnostic tool of laryngeal diseases. This study demonstrated the cut-off point of ADC value for discrimination of malignant lesion is <0.87x 10-.3 mm2/s with restricted diffusion in DWI images.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD varies greatly among studies, and accounts for increased morbidity and mortality among patients with COPD. This study aims to evaluate prevalence of pulmonary hypertension, possible predictors and effect on exercise capacity.

Methods: 73 COPD patients were grouped into 2 groups according to presence of pulmonary hypertension. Assessment included full clinical history, mMRC dyspnea scale and COPD assessment test. Transthoracic echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using incremental treadmill exercises protocol.

Results: 43 COPD patients (58.9%) suffered from pulmonary hypertension, 58.1% of them were males. COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension had significantly lower parameters of pulmonary function tests either pre or post-bronchodilator; significantly lower pH, PO2 and SO2 either before or after CPET. Mean pulmonary artery pressure had significant negative correlations with FEV1 (r= -0.27, p= 0.02), pre-test PaO2 (r= -0.38, p< 0.001), post-test PaO2 (r= -0.28, p= 0.01), predicted VO2 (r= -0.62, p< 0.001), predicted BR (r= -0.42, p< 0.001) and oxygen pulse (r= -0.48, p< 0.001). Predictors of pulmonary hypertension among COPD patients were oxygen saturation before the test (OR= 0.59, 95%CI= 0.39-0.90) and oxygen pulse (OR= 0.55, 95%CI= 0.35-0.87).

Conclusion: pulmonary hypertension is negatively correlated with exercise capacity, specifically peak VO2 percent predicted. Predictors of pulmonary hypertension among COPD patients were oxygen saturation before the test and oxygen pulse.