Endoscopic failure for foreign body ingestion and food bolus impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract: an updated analysis in a European tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Harmfulness of foreign body ingestion and food bolus impaction (FBIs) varies according to geographical area, population, habits, and diet. Therefore, studies may not draw generalizable conclusions. Furthermore, data regarding FBIs management in Europe are limited and outdated. This study aimed to analyze the endoscopic management and outcomes of FBIs in an Italian tertiary care hospital to identify risk factors for endoscopic failure. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for FBIs between 2007 and 2017. Baseline, clinical, FBIs, and endoscopic characteristics and outcomes were collected and reported using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 381 endoscopies for FBIs, 288 (75.5%) were emergent endoscopy and 135 (35,4%) included underlying upper gastrointestinal conditions. The study population included 44 pediatric patients (11.5%), 54 prisoners (15.8%), and 283 adults (74.2%). The most common type and location of FBIs were food boluses (52.9%) and upper esophagus (36.5%), respectively. While eight patients (2.1%) developed major adverse events requiring hospital admission, the remainder (97.9%) were discharged after observation. No mortality occurred. Endoscopic success was achieved in 263 of 286 (91.9%) verified FBIs endoscopies. Endoscopic failure (8.04%) was associated with age, bone, disk battery, intentional ingestion, razor blade, prisoners, and stomach in the univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that intentional ingestion was associated with endoscopic failure (odds ratio: 7.31; 95% confidence interval = 2.06-25.99; P  = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Endoscopy for FBIs is safe and successful, with low hospital admission rate in children, prisoners, and adults. Intentional ingestion is a risk factor of endoscopic failure.

18F-FDG PET-Derived Volume-Based Parameters to Predict Disease-Free Survival in Patients with Grade III Breast Cancer of Different Molecular Subtypes Candidates to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

We investigated whether baseline [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-derived semiquantitative parameters could predict disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with grade III breast cancer (BC) of different molecular subtypes candidate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). For each 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan, the following parameters were calculated in the primary tumor (SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV, TLG) and whole-body (WB_SUVmax, WB_MTV, and WB_TLG). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the capability to predict DFS and find the optimal threshold for each parameter. Ninety-five grade III breast cancer patients with different molecular types were retrieved from the databases of the University Hospital of Padua and the University Hospital of Ferrara (luminal A: 5; luminal B: 34; luminal B-HER2: 22; HER2-enriched: 7; triple-negative: 27). In luminal B patients, WB_MTV (AUC: 0.75; best cut-off: WB_MTV > 195.33; SS: 55.56%, SP: 100%; p = 0.002) and WB_TLG (AUC: 0.73; best cut-off: WB_TLG > 1066.21; SS: 55.56%, SP: 100%; p = 0.05) were the best predictors of DFS. In luminal B-HER2 patients, WB_SUVmax was the only predictor of DFS (AUC: 0.857; best cut-off: WB_SUVmax > 13.12; SS: 100%; SP: 71.43%; p < 0.001). No parameter significantly affected the prediction of DFS in patients with grade III triple-negative BC. Volume-based parameters, extracted from baseline 18F-FDG PET, seem promising in predicting recurrence in patients with grade III luminal B and luminal B- HER2 breast cancer undergoing NAC.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in evaluating lymph node status in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The presence of cervical lymph node metastases (CLNM) at diagnosis is one of the most relevant negative prognostic factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to analyse 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) PET/CT findings for the identification of primary tumours and CLNM in a sample of patients affected by HNSCC. Moreover, a maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) threshold for the detection of CLNM was estimated. Clinical variables (i.e. smoking and alcohol habits), and tumour features (i.e. EBV and HPV positivity) were also evaluated in relation to FDG PET/CT findings. Methods: We retrospectively analysed patients who underwent FDG PET/CT for HNSCC staging between 2015-2020 at the University Hospital of Ferrara. All patients had cytological or histological confirmation of suspected cervical lymph nodes. Results: In total, 65 patients were enrolled (53 males, 12 females, median age 65.7 years). CLNM of patients with smoking habit had significantly higher SUVmax values than those of patients with previous smoking habit and non-smokers (p = 0.04). p16 positive HNSCC demonstrated a trend for higher SUVmax values on CLNM, in comparison to p16 negative tumours (p = 0.089). ROC curve analysis identified 5.8 as the best cut-off value of SUVmax for the detection of CLNM (AUC = 0.62, sensitivity 71.4% and specificity 72.7%). Conclusions: FDG PET/CT is a useful tool to evaluate CLNM in patients with HNSCC, particularly in those with smoking habit and p16 positive disease. A SUVmax cut-off of 5.8, combined with the use of conventional radiological investigations, may represent a useful tool in the identification of CLNM.

PET Criteria by Cancer Type from Imaging Interpretation to Treatment Response Assessment: Beyond FDG PET Score.

BACKGROUND: in recent years, the role of positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) has emerged as a reliable diagnostic tool in a wide variety of pathological conditions. This review aims to collect and review PET criteria developed for interpretation and treatment response assessment in cases of non-[18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) imaging in oncology. METHODS: A wide literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was made to find relevant published articles about non-[18F]FDG PET response criteria. RESULTS: The comprehensive computer literature search revealed 183 articles. On reviewing the titles and abstracts, 149 articles were excluded because the reported data were not within the field of interest. Finally, 34 articles were selected and retrieved in full-text versions. CONCLUSIONS: available criteria are a promising tool for the interpretation of non-FDG PET scans, but also to assess the response to therapy and therefore to predict the prognosis. However, oriented clinical trials are needed to clearly evaluate their impact on patient management.

Relevance of Volumetric Parameters Applied to [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in NET Patients Treated with PRRT.

BACKGROUND: this study aims to explore the prognostic and predictive role of volumetric parameters on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in neuroendocrine tumors (NET) patients treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 39 NET patients (21 male, 18 female; mean age 60.7 y) within the FENET-2016 trial (CTiD:NCT04790708). PRRT was proposed with [177Lu]Lu-DOTATOC alone or combined with [90Y]Y-DOTATOC. [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT was performed at baseline and 3 months after PRRT. For each PET/CT, we calculated SUVmax, SUVmean, somatostatin receptor expressing tumor volume (SRETV), and total lesion somatostatin receptor expression (TLSRE), as well as their percentage of changes (Δ), both for liver (_L) and for total tumor burden (_WB). Early clinical response (3 months after PRRT) and PFS were evaluated according to RECIST 1.1 and institutional NET board. RESULTS: Early clinical response identified 9 partial response (PR), 25 stable disease (SD), and 5 progressive disease (PD). Post-SRETV_WB and ΔSRETV_WB were progressively increased among response groups (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). Likewise, median post-SRETV_L was significantly higher in PD patients (p = 0.03). SUVmax and TLSRE did not correlate with early clinical response. Median PFS was 31 months. Patients with ΔSRETV_WB lower than -4.17% as well as those with post-SRETV_WB lower than 34.8 cm3 showed a longer PFS (p = 0.006 and p = 0.06, respectively). Finally, multivariate analysis identified ΔSRETV_WB as an independent predictor for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: our results could strengthen the importance of evaluating the burden of disease on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in NET patients treated with PRRT.

The Value of Semiquantitative Parameters Derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT for Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in a Cohort of Patients with Different Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer.

Pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a strong prognostic factor in breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to investigate whether semiquantitative parameters derived from baseline [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) could predict pCR after NAC and survival outcomes in patients affected by different molecular subtypes of BC. We retrospectively retrieved patients from the databases of two Italian hospitals (Centre A: University Hospital of Ferrara; Centre B: University of Padua) meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) diagnosis of BC; (2) history of NAC; (3) baseline [18F]FDG PET/CT performed before the first cycle of NAC; (4) available follow-up data (response after NAC and survival information). For each [18F]FDG PET/CT scan, semiquantitative parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, MTV and TLG) related to the primary tumor (B), to the reference lesion for both axillary (N) and distant lymph node (DN), and to the whole-body burden of disease (WB) were evaluated. Patients enrolled were 133: 34 from centre A and 99 from centre B. Patients' molecular subtypes were: 9 luminal A, 49 luminal B, 33 luminal B + HER-2, 10 HER-2 enriched, and 32 triple negative (TNBC). Luminal A and HER-2 enriched BC patients were excluded from the analysis due to the small sample size. pCR after NAC was achieved in 47 patients (41.2%). [18F]FDG PET/CT detected the primary tumor in 98.3% of patients and lymph node metastases were more frequently detected in Luminal B subgroup. Among Luminal B patients, median SUVmean_B values were significantly higher (p = 0.027) in responders (7.06 ± 5.9) vs. non-responders (4.4 ± 2.1) to NAC. Luminal B + HER-2 non-responders showed a statistically significantly higher median MTV_B (7.3 ± 4.2 cm3 vs. 3.5 ± 2.5 cm3; p = 0.003) and TLG_B (36.5 ± 24.9 vs. 18.9 ± 17.7; p = 0.025) than responders at baseline [18F]FDG PET/CT. None of the semiquantitative parameters predicted pCR after NAC in TNBC patients. However, among TNBC patients who achieved pCR after NAC, 4 volumetric parameters (MTV_B, TLG_B, MTV_WB and TLG_WB) were significantly higher in patients dead at follow-up. If confirmed in further studies, these results could open up a widespread use of [18F]FDG PET/CT as a baseline predictor of response to NAC in luminal B and luminal B + HER-2 patients and as a prognostic tool in TNBC.

The Role of [68Ga]PSMA PET/CT for Clinical Suspicion of Prostate Cancer in Patients with or without Previous Negative Biopsy: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of the study is to systematically evaluate the evidence regarding the role of [68Ga]PSMA PET/CT for clinical suspicions of prostate cancer in patients with or without previous negative biopsy. We performed a critical review of PubMed and Web of Science according to the PRISMA statement. Eighteen publications were selected for inclusion in this analysis. QUADAS-2 evaluation was adopted for quality analyses. [68Ga]PSMA-11 was the radiotracer of choice in 15 studies, while [68Ga]PSMA-617 was used in another 3. In 8 articles, there was a direct comparison with mpMRI. The total number of patients included was 1379, ranging from 15 to 291, with a median age of 64 years (range: 42-90). The median baseline PSA value was 12.9 ng/mL, ranging from 0.85 to 4156 ng/mL. Some studies evaluated the PSMA uptake comparing the SUVmax of suspicious lesions with the SUVmax of the normal biodistribution to find out optimal cut-off points. In addition, some studies suggested a significant association between PSA levels, PSA density, and [68Ga]PSMA PET/CT finding. [68Ga]PSMA PET/CT seems to be more accurate in identifying primary prostate cancer with PSA values between 4 and 20 ng/mL than mpMRI. Moreover, in some trials, the combination of PSMA PET/CT and MRI improved the NPV in the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) than MRI alone. Our findings are limited by the small numbers of studies and patient heterogeneity. [68Ga]PSMA PET/CT is a promising technique in patients with clinical suspicion of PCa and precedent negative biopsy or contraindications to MRI. Furthermore, its use combined with MRI improves sensitivity for csPCa detection and can avoid unnecessary biopsies.

18F-Choline PET/CT or PET/MR and the evaluation of response to systemic therapy in prostate cancer: are we ready?

Purpose: During the last decade, [18F]F-choline positron emission tomography (PET) had a rising role in prostate cancer (PCa) imaging. However, despite auspicious premises, [18F]F-choline PET is not currently recommended for the evaluation of response to therapy assessment in PCa, mainly due to the lack of large-scale prospective trials. Methods: We report the cases of seven patients affected by PCa, in which [18F]F-choline PET (either with computed tomography-CT or magnetic resonance imaging-MR) contributed significantly in the systemic therapy response evaluation. Results and conclusion: [18F]F-choline PET/CT or PET/MR demonstrated to be a useful imaging modality in the assessment of response to systemic therapy in metastatic PCa patients, irrespective of the stage of disease (either in hormone sensitive and in castrate resistant condition) and the kind of systemic treatment. In most cases, PSA serum values and [18F]F-choline PET showed a synchronous disease evolution after systemic therapy. ADT can alter [18F]F-choline uptake, therefore the time of scan should be correctly planned. Finally, PET/CT with [18F]F-choline is a useful tool for reinforcing the identification of metastatic disease in case of a switch from metastatic castration sensitive to castration resistant PCa.

Incidental Findings of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Sjögren's Syndrome Detected by Nuclear Medicine Techniques.

A 46-year-old female with Sjögren's syndrome previously treated with corticosteroids was referred to our department for suspicious humeral head osteonecrosis. Dual-phase bone scan showed an increased radiotracer distribution in the head of the left humerus. Nevertheless, whole-body scan revealed multiple sites of heterogeneous skeletal uptake. As lymphoproliferative disorder was hypothesized, also based on laboratory examination, F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography was performed and showed increased uptake in several osseous structures and in the subcutaneous nodules. Finally, bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia as well as skin nodule biopsy revealed infiltration by malignant cells.

Uncommon solitary nasal extramedullary plasmacytoma detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is an uncommon neoplastic proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells. Despite having a better prognosis and lower conversion rate to multiple myeloma in comparison to solitary bone plasmacytoma, EMP diagnosis can be challenging. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) certainly has an established role in EMP diagnostic workup. Herein, we describe a rare case of nasal cavity EMP, highlighting 18F-FDG PET/CT potential in the detection of EMP occurring in atypical sites and providing a useful comparison in the differential diagnosis with other 18F-FDG avid nasal pathologies.