Lutetium [177Lu]-DOTA-TATE in gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumours: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the Italian prospective observational (REAL-LU) study.

PURPOSE: Gastroenteropancreatic -neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) are commonly treated with surgical resection or long-term therapies for tumour growth control. Lutetium [177Lu]-DOTA-TATE was approved for the treatment of GEP-NETs after the phase III NETTER 1trial demonstrated improved progression free survival, objective response rates and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to high-dose somatostatin analogues. No real-world data exist on prescribing habits and clinically significant endpoints for [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE treatment in Italy. REAL-LU is a multicentre, long-term observational study in patients with unresectable/metastatic GEP-NETs progressing on standard therapies in Italian clinical practice. A pre-specified interim analysis was performed at the end of the enrolment period, data from which are described herein. METHODS: Overall duration of REAL-LU will be approximately 48 months, with 12- and 36-month recruitment and follow-up periods, respectively. The primary objective is to evaluate [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE effectiveness in terms of progression-free survival. Secondary objectives include safety, impact on HRQoL, and identification of prognostic factors. This pre-specified interim analysis describes patient profiles, at the end of enrollment, of those prescribed [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE for GEP-NETs in Italy. RESULTS: Among 161 evaluable patients, mean age was 64.7 ± 10.3 years at study entry, 83.8% presented with no clinical signs of disease at physical examination, and most had minor disease symptoms. All patients had metastatic disease, most commonly in the liver (83.9%) with a median of two metastatic sites. In 90.7% of patients, the disease was stage IV, and 68.3% had ≥ 1 target lesion. [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE was prescribed mainly as second-line therapy (61.6%) and following surgery (58.4%). HRQoL assessments revealed high levels of functioning and low levels of symptoms at baseline; 50.0% of patients were symptom-free at study entry. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of patients who received [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in Italy are similar to those of the GEP-NET population of NETTER 1 with trial but with a higher proportion of patients with a grade 2 (71%). With regard to the tumor grade profile, our study cohort appears to be closer to that of NETTER-2 study population which included patients with G2 or G3 advanced GEP-NETs (i.e. Ki-67 ≥ 10% and ≤ 55%). Further analysis of effectiveness and safety can be anticipated as REAL-LU data mature. STUDY REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04727723; Study Registration Date: 25 January, 2021; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04727723?cond=NCT04727723&rank=1.

Can Baseline [18F]FDG PET/CT Predict Response to Immunotherapy After 6 Months and Overall Survival in Patients with Lung Cancer or Malignant Melanoma? A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Aim: To assess the role of baseline 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in predicting response to immunotherapy after 6 months and overall survival (OS) in patients with lung cancer (LC) or malignant melanoma (MM). Materials and Methods: Data from a multicenter, retrospective study conducted between March and November 2021 were analyzed. Patients >18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of LC or MM, who underwent a baseline [18F]FDG-PET/CT within 1-2 months before starting immunotherapy and had a follow-up of at least 12 months were included. PET scans were examined visually and semiquantitatively by physicians at peripheral centers. The metabolic tumor burden (number of lesions with [18F]FDG-uptake) and other parameters were recorded. Clinical response was assessed at 3 and 6 months after starting immunotherapy, and OS was calculated as the time elapsing between the PET scan and death or latest follow-up. Results: The study concerned 177 patients with LC and 101 with MM. Baseline PET/CT was positive in primary or local recurrent lesions in 78.5% and 9.9% of cases, in local/distant lymph nodes in 71.8% and 36.6%, in distant metastases in 58.8% and 84%, respectively, in LC and in MM patients. Among patients with LC, [18F]FDG-uptake in primary/recurrent lung lesions was more often associated with no clinical response to immunotherapy after 6 months than in cases without any tracer uptake. After a mean 21 months, 46.5% of patients with LC and 37.1% with MM had died. A significant correlation emerged between the site/number of [18F]FDG foci and death among patients with LC, but not among those with MM. Conclusions: In patients with LC who are candidates for immunotherapy, baseline [18F]FDG-PET/CT can help to predict response to this therapy after 6 months, and to identify those with a poor prognosis based on their metabolic parameters. For patients with MM, there was only a weak correlation between baseline PET/CT parameters, response to therapy, and survival.

ITA-IMMUNO-PET: The Role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for Assessing Response to Immunotherapy in Patients with Some Solid Tumors.

AIM: To examine the role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for assessing response to immunotherapy in patients with some solid tumors. METHODS: Data recorded in a multicenter (n = 17), retrospective database between March and November 2021 were analyzed. The sample included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor who underwent serial [18F]FDG PET/CT (before and after one or more cycles of immunotherapy), who were >18 years of age, and had a follow-up of at least 12 months after their first PET/CT scan. Patients enrolled in clinical trials or without a confirmed diagnosis of cancer were excluded. The authors classified cases as having a complete or partial metabolic response to immunotherapy, or stable or progressive metabolic disease, based on a visual and semiquantitative analysis according to the EORTC criteria. Clinical response to immunotherapy was assessed at much the same time points as the serial PET scans, and both the obtained responses were compared. RESULTS: The study concerned 311 patients (median age: 67; range: 31-89 years) in all. The most common neoplasm was lung cancer (56.9%), followed by malignant melanoma (32.5%). Nivolumab was administered in 46.3%, and pembrolizumab in 40.5% of patients. Baseline PET and a first PET scan performed at a median 3 months after starting immunotherapy were available for all 311 patients, while subsequent PET scans were obtained after a median 6, 12, 16, and 21 months for 199 (64%), 102 (33%), 46 (15%), and 23 (7%) patients, respectively. Clinical response to therapy was recorded at around the same time points after starting immunotherapy for 252 (81%), 173 (56%), 85 (27%), 40 (13%), and 22 (7%) patients, respectively. After a median 18 (1-137) months, 113 (36.3%) patients had died. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, metabolic responders on the first two serial PET scans showed a better prognosis than non-responders, while clinical response became prognostically informative from the second assessment after starting immunotherapy onwards. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]FDG PET/CT could have a role in the assessment of response to immunotherapy in patients with some solid tumors. It can provide prognostic information and thus contribute to a patient's appropriate treatment. Prospective randomized controlled trials are mandatory.

Bone metastases from neuroendocrine tumors: clinical and biological considerations.

We considered 351 patients affected by neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), followed at the University Hospital of Padua and at the Veneto Oncological Institute. Of these, 72 (20.5%) suffered from bone metastases. The sample was divided according to the timing of presentation of bone metastases into synchronous (within 6 months of diagnosis of primary tumor) and metachronous (after 6 months). We collected data on the type and grading of the primary tumor and on the features of bone metastases. Our analysis shows that the group of synchronous metastases generally presents primary tumors with a higher degree of malignancy rather than the ones of the metachronous group. This is supported by the finding of a Ki-67 level in GEP-NETs, at the diagnosis of bone metastases, significantly higher in the synchronous group. Moreover, in low-grade NETs, chromogranin A values are higher in the patients with synchronous metastases, indicating a more burden of disease. The parameters of phospho-calcium metabolism are within the normal range, and we do not find significant differences between the groups. Serious bone complications are not frequent and are not correlated with the site of origin of the primary tumor. From the analysis of the survival curves of the total sample, a cumulative survival rate of 33% at 10 years emerges. The average survival is 80 months, higher than what is reported in the literature, while the median is 84 months. In our observation period, synchronous patients tend to have a worse prognosis than metachronous ones with 52-months survival rates of 58 and 86%.

Prevalence of interstitial pneumonia suggestive of COVID-19 at 18F-FDG PET/CT in oncological asymptomatic patients in a high prevalence country during pandemic period: a national multi-centric retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To assess the presence and pattern of incidental interstitial lung alterations suspicious of COVID-19 on fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) ([18F]FDG PET/CT) in asymptomatic oncological patients during the period of active COVID-19 in a country with high prevalence of the virus. METHODS: This is a multi-center retrospective observational study involving 59 Italian centers. We retrospectively reviewed the prevalence of interstitial pneumonia detected during the COVID period (between March 16 and 27, 2020) and compared to a pre-COVID period (January-February 2020) and a control time (in 2019). The diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia was done considering lung alterations of CT of PET. RESULTS: Overall, [18F]FDG PET/CT was performed on 4008 patients in the COVID period, 19,267 in the pre-COVID period, and 5513 in the control period. The rate of interstitial pneumonia suspicious for COVID-19 was significantly higher during the COVID period (7.1%) compared with that found in the pre-COVID (5.35%) and control periods (5.15%) (p < 0.001). Instead, no significant difference among pre-COVID and control periods was present. The prevalence of interstitial pneumonia detected at PET/CT was directly associated with geographic virus diffusion, with the higher rate in Northern Italy. Among 284 interstitial pneumonia detected during COVID period, 169 (59%) were FDG-avid (average SUVmax of 4.1). CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase of interstitial pneumonia incidentally detected with [18F]FDG PET/CT has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of interstitial pneumonia were FDG-avid. Our results underlined the importance of paying attention to incidental CT findings of pneumonia detected at PET/CT, and these reports might help to recognize early COVID-19 cases guiding the subsequent management.

18F-Choline PET/CT in Leptomeningeal Breast Cancer Metastases.

We describe a case of 47-year-old woman affected by human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive breast cancer with a diffuse leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. An intense uptake of F-choline was reported at fused PET/MRI images in the brain, compatible with a diffuse leptomeningeal disease. This case highlights that F-choline PET would be used for the identification of leptomeningeal involvement in patients affected by breast cancer, as a support of MRI images.

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced CT combined with 18-FDG PET in patients selected for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

PURPOSE: Aim of the study is to assess the reliability and correlation with surgical peritoneal cancer index (PCI) of combined PET/CT and ceCT scans (PET/ceCT) performed in a session in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis candidates for cytoreductive surgery (CS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data collected from 27 patients with different types of peritoneal carcinomatosis candidates to CS + HIPEC who underwent FDG PET/ceCT in a single session. Two nuclear medicine physicians and two radiologists independently and blindly evaluated PET/CT and ceCT imaging, respectively. In the case of discordance, the consensus was reached by a discussion between the specialists. Moreover, the combined images were evaluated by all the specialists in consensus. The PCIs obtained from surgical look, PET/CT, ceCT, and PET/ceCT were compared with each other. The coefficients of correlation (r) were calculated. The study was conducted after approval of local ethics committee. RESULTS: Surgical PCI was available in 21 patients. The coefficient of correlation between PCI of PET/CT and surgery was 0.528, while it resulted higher between PET/ceCT and surgery (r = 0.878), very similar to ceCT and surgery (r = 0.876). The r coefficient between surgical PCI and PET/CT was higher in patients with a non-mucinous cancer (n = 12) than the counterpart (0.601 vs. 0.303) and the addition of ceCT significantly increases the correlation (r = 0.863), which is anyway similar to ceCT alone (r = 0.856). CONCLUSIONS: PET/ceCT as single examination is more accurate than PET/CT but not than ceCT alone for the definition of PCI in a selected group of patients candidates to CS + HIPEC.

Could semiquantitative FDG analysis add information to the prognosis in patients with stage II/III breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant treatment?

PURPOSE: We investigated whether maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and whole-body (WB) SUVmax, WB MTV and WB TLG measured by (18)F-FDG PET/CT could improve prognostic stratification in patients with stage II/III breast cancer (BC). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 99 consecutive women (median age 50 years, range 27 - 77 years) with pathologically proven stage II/III BC who underwent pretreatment FDG PET/CT. WB SUVmax, WB MTV and WB TLG were measured in all malignant lesions. Survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to test for relationships among WB SUVmax, WB MTV, WB TLG, and overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), after adjustment for age, and histopathological and immunohistochemical features (oestrogen/progesterone and HER2 expression, proliferation index and grade). RESULTS: The median values of WB SUVmax, WB MTV and WB TLG were 16.2 (range 1.5 - 33.1), 14 cm(3) (range 0.03 - 708.6 cm(3)) and 62.5 (0.06 - 3869.4), respectively. All WB semiquantitative values were higher in patients with higher TNM stage, although not significantly (all p > 0.05). The median follow-up for surviving patients was 30 months, with a range of 13 - 45 months. Both PFS and OS of patients with low WB SUVmax, WB MTV and WB TLG were longer than that of patients with high WB values for progression, although not statistically significant. However, stratifying the patients in accordance with the stage of disease, both PFS and OS were significantly lower in patients with high WB TLG and stage III than in patients with stage II (p < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, WB MTV and WB TLG were independent prognostic factors for PFS (hazard ratio 1.004, 95% confidence interval 1.002 - 1.006, p < 0.001, and hazard ratio 1.001, 95% confidence interval 1.000 - 1.001, p = 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION: The addition of WB TLG to clinical data may provide a more detailed prediction of outcome in patients with stage III BC. Moreover, WB MTV and WB TLG are independent factors predicting recurrence of BC. On the contrary, WB SUVmax has poor prognostic significance in this cohort of patients.

Gleason score at diagnosis predicts the rate of detection of 18F-choline PET/CT performed when biochemical evidence indicates recurrence of prostate cancer: experience with 1,000 patients.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to explore the ability of the initial Gleason score (GS) to predict the rate of detection of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) with (18)F-choline PET/CT in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: Data from 1,000 patients who had undergone (18)F-choline PET/CT because of biochemical evidence of relapse of PCa between 2004 and 2013 were retrieved from databases at 4 centers. Continuous data were compared by the Student t test or ANOVA, and categoric variables were compared by the χ(2) test. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed by logistic regression. RESULTS: The GS at diagnosis was less than or equal to 6 in 257 patients, 7 in 347 patients, and greater than 7 in 396 patients. The results of 645 PET/CT scans were positive for PCa recurrence. Eighty-one percent of the positive PET/CT results were found in patients with a PSA level of greater than or equal to 2 ng/mL, 43% were found in patients with a PSA level of 1-2 ng/mL, and 31% were found in patients with a PSA level of less than or equal to 1 ng/mL; 78.8% of patients with positive PET/CT results had a GS of greater than 7. The results of (18)F-choline PET/CT scans were negative in 300 patients; 44% had a GS of less than or equal to 6, 35% had a GS of 7, and 17% had a GS of greater than 7. PET/CT results were rated as doubtful in only 5.5% of patients (median PSA, 1.8 ng/mL). When the GS was greater than 7, the rates of detection of (18)F-choline PET/CT were 51%, 65%, and 91% for a PSA level of less than 1 ng/mL, 1-2 ng/mL, and greater than 2 ng/mL, respectively. In univariable and multivariable analyses, both a GS of 7 and a GS of greater than 7 were independent predictors for positive (18)F-choline PET/CT results (odds ratios, 0.226 and 0.330, respectively; P values for both, <0.001). CONCLUSION: A high GS at diagnosis is a strong predictive factor for positive (18)F-choline PET/CT scan results for recurrent PCa, even when the PSA level is low (i.e., ≤1 ng/mL).

¹8F-fluoromethylcholine or ¹8F-fluoroethylcholine pet for prostate cancer imaging: which is better? A literature revision.

INTRODUCTION: The present review was conceived for describing the differences in biodistribution and diagnostic performance of two types of (18)F-radiolabeled choline for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in prostate cancer (PCa), such as fluoromethylcholine (FCH) and fluoroethylcholine (FEC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A collection of published data about two radiopharmaceutical agents was made by using PubMed, Web of Knowledge databases and Trip Database, and then a critical revision was discussed. RESULTS: FCH was injected in 338 and 1164 patients, while FEC was injected in 20 and 139 patients, respectively for basal staging and re-staging. The diagnostic performances of FCH and FEC for the detection of lymph node metastasis before the surgical approach are typically around 50% or less and between 0% and 39%, respectively. Conversely, both the tracers appear useful for the detection of recurrent PCa in case of increase in absolute PSA value or in case of high levels of PSA velocity and PSA doubling time (sensitivity ranged between 42.9% and 96% for FCH and between 62% and 85.7% for FEC). CONCLUSIONS: In according with the available information, FCH appears to be a more appropriate radiocompound as compared to FEC, although more comparative data are mandatory. A well designed and prospective trial for the evaluation of biokinetic data and diagnostic performance of both radiopharmaceutical agents seems essential. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLICATION FOR PATIENT CARE: FCH seems to be an appropriate radiopharmaceutical agent as compared to FEC. Anyway both the radiocompounds are useful in the evaluation of recurrent disease in case of a serial increase in PSA value and their performance improves when a correct preparation and acquisition protocol is employed.

Use of a portable gamma camera for guiding surgical treatment in locally advanced breast cancer in a post-neoadjuvant therapy setting.

The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of a portable gamma camera (PGC) for guiding surgical treatment in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) after neoadjuvant therapy (NT). Since January 2012, a PGC (Sentinella 102, ONCOVISION) has been available in our center. We planned to perform a feasibility monocentric prospective study involving 15-20 patients with LABC for assessing the diagnostic performance of this PGC after NT (Breast Cancer Surgery-S102). Before the surgical treatment and at the end of NT an injection of 99mTc-Sestamibi (100-150 MBq) was made. Conventional scintimmamography (SMM) and Sentinella 102 images were obtained from 18 patients. 10 (55.5 %) patients showed a focal uptake of tracer in the breast or lymph nodes before or after the surgical excision (on histological specimen), while 8 did not. The histological specimen concluded for a complete response to NT in 4 (22.2 %) patients and for a partial or no response to treatment in the remnant 14 subjects. The specificity and false-negative rate of the Sentinella 102 compared to SMM were 100 % for both and 38 % vs. 60 %, respectively. The global diagnostic accuracy of Sentinella 102 was: 66.7 % (95 % confidence interval: 44.88-88.44 %). The present feasibility study shows how a new nuclear imaging device can be useful in the operating theatre for guiding a radical surgery approach in patients with LABC after NT.

Nuclear imaging and early breast cancer detection.

The present report discusses about the most important roles of nuclear medicine related to the early detection of breast cancer. We summarily describe the established and emerging diagnostic techniques, their indications and clinical impact for planar and tomographic breast scintigraphy, positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and positron emission mammography (PEM).

Correlation between cancer antigen 15.3 value and qualitative and semiquantitative parameters of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The association of PET/CT and tumor markers can be considered complementary, since any significant increases of tumor markers can indicate the presence of disease while PET/CT is able to detect and describe the tumor sites. In this retrospective, single-institution study, we determine the correlation between cancer antigen (CA) 15.3 value and qualitative and semi-quantitative PET/CT data in breast cancer (BC) patients. METHODS: 193 BC patients (median age 61 yrs) already treated with primary treatment (surgery and others) were identified through institutional databases. All patients underwent PET/CT for increase in tumor markers, post-therapy evaluation, restaging and doubtful conventional imaging for disease relapse. The CA15.3 values before PET/CT scan were collected for all patients. Clinical outcome was defined as presence or absence of disease recurrence based on follow-up data (histological or imaging findings). CA15.3 quartile values and qualitative and semi-quantitative (maximum Standardized Uptake Value - SUVmax) PET/CT findings were compared with chi-square test and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean value of CA15.3 was significantly higher in patients with positive than negative PET/CT (67.51±120.92 vs. 25.54±17.54, p<0.005). PET/CT was positive in 107 (55%) and negative in 86 (45%) patients; CA15.3 value was considered abnormal (≥ 31 UI/mL) in 85 (44%) patients; 57 of them showed positive PET/CT while 28 a negative scan (67 vs. 33%, p<0.05). In all 193 patients, the disease recurrence was found in 71 (37%), whereas 122 (63%) were disease-free. The diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT in all 193 patients was 74%. Among patients with normal CA15.3 value (n=108), 50 showed positive PET/CT; 24 out of these latter 50 patients (48%) had recurrence of disease. The combination of the highest quartile of CA15.3 (value>45 UI/ml) and FDG PET/CT determined high sensitivity and accuracy (92% and 82%, respectively) but a low specificity (50%) for restaging BC patients. The highest specificity (~ 70%) was found when PET/CT and 2nd quartile of CA15.3 (value: 12.95-25) were associated. No correlation between CA15.3 values and SUVmax was found (p=0.489); whereas a trend in increase of the CA15.3 value and SUVmax in the presence of visceral and no-visceral site of disease (22.4±16.2, 64.9±108 and 6.4±4.2, 8.2±5.1, respectively) was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The value of CA15.3 and PET/CT findings are consistently complementary. About 25% of BC patients with a negative CA15.3 value had a positive PET/CT and disease relapse. SUVmax and CA15.3 values are not correlated.

Comparison between anatomical cross-sectional imaging and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the staging, restaging, treatment response, and long-term surveillance of squamous cell head and neck cancer: a systematic literature overview.

The outcome of head and neck squamous cell cancer depends primarily on its prompt diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, in many cases ominous prognostic factors such as lymph node metastases or osteomandibular extension are present at the time of diagnosis. We review the relative efficacy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (ceCT), MRI, and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) in the early detection of head and neck squamous cell cancer, as well as its impact on treatment management and outcomes. Medline and Web of Knowledge databases, from 2000 to January 2013, were evaluated. Ninety-seven reports were selected, but only 11 studies comparing PET or PET/CT with CT and 11 comparing PET or PET/CT with MRI were found appropriate for analysis. ceCT and MRI continue to be the reference imaging modalities for the study of primary tumors, especially in the evaluation of the extension of disease and its relationship with nearby anatomical structures. There is increasing evidence that F-FDG PET/ceCT can provide accurate anatomical details similar to ceCT alone, as well as accurate information on osteomandibular tumor invasion similar to MRI. The major advantage of PET/CT over other imaging methods is its ability to detect relatively small lymph node metastases located in difficult-to-interpret positions. PET/CT is also highly sensitive for the detection of distant metastases and in assessing the response to chemotherapy or chemoradiation treatment and in predicting outcome. ceCT and MRI are the gold standards for evaluating primary and osteomandibular tumoral infiltration. F-FDG PET/CT plays a major role in the detection of lymph node and distant metastases, in assessing the response to neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy, and in predicting outcome.

Therapeutic impact of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has proved effective in detecting recurrent or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in the follow-up of operated DTC patients with high thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and negative findings on radioiodine whole-body scan. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of PET/CT on the planning of appropriate treatment for known recurrent disease in operated DTC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study concerned 44 consecutive DTC patients (36 papillary, 8 follicular), who underwent total thyroidectomy and thyroid remnant ablation with (131)I and PET/CT. All patients had proven or strongly suspected recurrent disease judging from neck ultrasound (US) and fine-needle aspiration cytology, and detectable basal Tg levels. RESULTS: PET/CT findings were positive in 25/44 patients (56.81 %) and negative in 19. A positive PET/CT result predicted resectable tumour recurrences in 19/25 patients, but also detected additional tumour sites that prompted changes to the treatment plan in 6/25 patients (24 %). A negative PET/CT result led to clinical monitoring for 11/19 patients (57.89 %). CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT can help select patients, who might benefit from a tailored therapy by improving the detection of local recurrences not apparent on neck US or metastases.

Molecular pathways and molecular imaging in breast cancer: an update.

Breast cancer is a heterogenic cancer being characterized by a variability of somatic mutations and in particular by different receptor expressions, such as estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal receptor. These phenotype characteristics play a crucial role in determining tumour response to various chemotherapies and other treatments and in the development of resistance to therapies. Positron emission tomography (PET) as a nuclear medicine technique, has recently demonstrated the advantages in determining the severity of disease and in evaluating the efficacy of treatments in a variety of neoplasm, including breast cancer. Because this procedure is able to pinpoint molecular activity within the body, it offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages as well as a patient's immediate response to therapeutic interventions in a non-invasive way. In this paper we performed an extended view about the correlation between molecular factors of breast cancer and PET tracers; in particular, we focalized our attention on their possible advantages in terms of 1) early detection of primary or recurrent cancer; 2) as a guide for target therapies and 3) for the evaluation of response to specific and now-available molecular treatments.

Indeterminate pulmonary nodules on CT images in breast cancer patient: the additional value of 18F-FDG PET/CT.

AIM: To assess the potential role of 18F-Fluorodeoxiglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) in characterizing indeterminate lung nodules detected at CT scan in patients previously treated for a breast cancer (BC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutive BC patients (28 females, mean age 65 ± 12 years) with evidence of indeterminate lung nodules at contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scan (lesions with axial diameter ≥8 mm) were retrospectively analysed: all patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT within a mean 2 ± 1 months from CECT imaging. PET/CT was considered positive in the presence of abnormal FDG uptake in the pulmonary nodules and/or in other organs. The nature of lung nodules was defined at histopathology and/or imaging follow-up. RESULTS: Fourteen (48%) patients showed negative and 15 (52%) positive PET/CT scan in the lungs: of these 15 patients, 7 (47%) had pathologic FDG-uptake in lungs only, whereas 8 (53%) showed abnormal FDG-uptake also in sites different from lungs. At histology and/or imaging follow-up, five (17%) patients were considered positive for BC lung metastases while in seven (24%) a second cancer was diagnosed. In this subset of patients, the sensitivity and specificity for FDG PET/CT in revealing lung lesions were 17% and 100%, respectively, for nodules <8 mm in diameter, and 77% and 85%, respectively, for nodules with diameter ≥8 mm. The therapeutic planning was changed to surgery in seven patients, chemotherapy in one patient and continued hormonal therapy in five. The inclusion of PET/CT in the diagnostic algorithm of the evaluated patients helped avoid unnecessary over-treatment in 12 of 29 patients. CONCLUSION: FDG PET/CT appears useful in characterizing indeterminate lung nodules found at CECT scan in BC patients, with a sensitivity that is proportional to nodule size. In addition, PET/CT helped in avoiding over-treatment in a significant proportion of patients.

Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in elderly patients with hypertension: a 10-year follow-up analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the role of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) in the prediction of future cardiac events in elderly hypertensive patients and to investigate if its prognostic value is maintained during a 10-year follow-up period. METHODS: A total of 229 consecutive patients ≥ 65 years old (range 65-88 years) with arterial hypertension, who were referred to our institution for stress/rest (99m)Tc-sestamibi MPS between January 2000 and November 2001, were followed up for 10-12 years. Cardiac death, myocardial infarction and a coronary revascularization procedure were considered as events. Survival curves were computed by the Kaplan-Meier method. A stepwise Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify predictors of events. RESULTS: Follow-up was completed in 221 (96.5 %) patients; 26 patients experienced cardiac death, 29 myocardial infarction and 51 coronary revascularization. Annual event rates for cardiac death, cardiac death/myocardial infarction and cardiac death/myocardial infarction/coronary revascularization were, respectively, 0, 0.2 and 0.4 % for patients with a normal scan and 1.5, 3.0 and 5.3 % after an abnormal MPS. Event-free survival was significantly different according to extent and severity of perfusion defects (all p < 0.01). An increase in global chi-square in predicting cardiac events occurred when MPS data were added to pre-scan information (from 47.28 to 88.87; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MPS provides incremental prognostic information for the prediction of cardiac events in elderly patients with hypertension. Subjects with a normal scan have an excellent 10-year outcome, and the risk of experiencing a cardiac event increases with extension and severity of stress perfusion defect.

Tumor marker-guided PET in breast cancer patients-a recipe for a perfect wedding: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Early detection of breast cancer (BC) recurrence is a fundamental issue during follow-up. Although the utilization of new therapeutic protocols aimed at reducing the recurrence risk is defined, the diagnostic approach for early detection remains to be clarified. We aim to provide a critical overview of recently published reports and perform a meta-analysis on the use of tumor markers in BC patients as a guide for fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. METHODS: Medline and Google Scholar were used for searching English and non-English articles that evaluate the role of PET in BC recurrence when an increase in tumor markers is found. All complete studies were reviewed; thus, quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. RESULTS: From 2001 to May 2011, we found 19 complete articles that critically evaluated the role of PET in BC recurrence detection in the presence of elevated tumor markers. The meta-analysis of the 13 studies provided the following results: pooled sensitivity 0.878 (95% CI: 0.838-0.909), pooled specificity 0.693 (95% CI: 0.553-0.805), and pooled accuracy 0.828 (95% CI: 0.762-0.878). CONCLUSIONS: The current experience confirms the potential of fluorodeoxyglucose PET, and in particular of PET/CT, in detecting occult soft tissue and bone metastases in the presence of a progressive increase of serum tumor markers in BC patients, but this should be better defined in the current practical recommendations.