European journal of nuclear medicine
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Multicenter Study
A multicentre observational study of radionuclide therapy in patients with painful bone metastases of prostate cancer.
A multicentre observational study was conducted by the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine between 1996 and 1998. Twenty-nine Nuclear Medicine Departments participated. The aims of the study were to systematically evaluate the efficacy, toxicity and repeatability of radionuclide therapy of painful bone metastases (RTBM) in a large number of patients and to assess its incidence in patients with prostate cancer. ⋯ Haematological toxicity (mild to moderate in most cases) mainly affected platelets, and was observed in 25.5% of cases overall and in 38.9% of retreatments. RTBM did not seem to prolong life, though in some cases scintigraphic regression of bone metastases was observed. The two radiopharmaceuticals did not show any statistically significant differences in palliative efficacy and toxicity, either in first RTBM or in retreatments.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET in the diagnosis and staging of primary and recurrent malignant head and neck tumours in comparison with conventional imaging methods [including ultrasonography, radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)], physical examination, panendoscopy and biopsies in clinical routine. A total of 54 patients (13 female, 41 male, age 61.3±12 years) were investigated retrospectively. Three groups were formed. ⋯ One false negative (6.6%) and three false positive findings (20%) on (18)F-FDG PET were due to inflamed tissue. The conventional imaging methods were false positive in three (20%) and false negative in three cases (20%). It is concluded that in comparison to conventional diagnostic methods, (18)F-FDG PET provides additional and clinically relevant information in the detection of primary and metastatic carcinomas as well as in the early detection of recurrent or persistent head and neck cancer after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. (18)F-FDG PET should therefore be performed early in clinical routine, usually before CT or MRI.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Quantitative evaluation of skeletal tumours with dynamic FDG PET: SUV in comparison to Patlak analysis.
This study was carried out to evaluate bone lesions using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) and to explore whether dynamic and quantitative PET data may help to differentiate benign lesions from malignant masses. Forty patients with primary bone lesions were studied. The final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. ⋯ The static FDG uptake indices alone may not enable adequate differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Quantitative dynamic imaging may provide more helpful information, but will not permit a definite diagnosis. The use of uptake indices may represent an alternative and interesting approach to the evaluation of bone lesions.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Assessment of leg oedema by dynamic lymphoscintigraphy with intradermal injection of technetium-99m human serum albumin and load produced by standing.
This study was a preliminary evaluation of the utility of dynamic lymphoscintigraphy with technetium-99m human serum albumin (HSA) and a load produced by standing in the assessment of lymphatic dysfunction in patients with leg oedema. The 71 subjects investigated included 53 patients with lymphoedema, six with venous occlusion alone and five with lymphovenous occlusion, as well as seven normal subjects. After intradermal injection of 99mTc-HSA into an interdigital space in each foot, dynamic scintigrams were recorded with the patient supine for 15 min. ⋯ Lymphatic dysfunction was accentuated more by this test than by the conventional test, and repeated tests showed consistent results in the same individuals. It is concluded that under a standardized load, this quick test seems of value in providing a sensitive and objective assessment of lymphatic dysfunction in the lower limbs, and is also advantageous for image interpretation since accelerated tracer transport clearly visualizes compromised lymphatics. This test may also be helpful in distinguishing purely venous oedema from mixed lymphovenous disease.
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[123I]FP-CIT (N-omega-fluoropropyl-2 beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane) has been developed successfully as a radioligand for single-photon emission tomography (SPET) imaging of dopamine transporters, which are situated in the membrane of dopaminergic neurons. Imaging of these transporters has shown promise as a clinical tool to detect degeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. Several "presynaptic parkinsonian" syndromes, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy, are characterised by degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway. [123I]FP-CIT SPET imaging studies have shown the ability to detect loss of striatal dopamine transporters in such syndromes. ⋯ Forms of parkinsonism other than the presynaptic were confirmed at follow-up in 19 cases, and in three cases no conclusive diagnosis was established, but presynaptic parkinsonism was excluded clinically. A clinical diagnosis of presynaptic parkinsonism was established in two cases: one case of multiple system atrophy (in this patient loss of dopamine D2 receptors was found with [123I]iodobenzamide SPET performed 2 weeks after [123I]FP-CIT imaging) and one case of Parkinson's disease. Our data suggest that the positive predictive value of [123I]FP-CIT imaging is very high, and although the negative predictive value is lower, dopamine transporter imaging offers the prospect of a quick, objective method to confirm or exclude presynaptic parkinsonism in inconclusive cases.