[Assesment of lower extremities ischemic disease by thallium 201 perfusion scintigraphy in patients with diabetic angiopathy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tibial perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy is considered to be a diagnostic problem. A special place in quantifying muscle microcirculatory perfusion belongs to thallium 201 muscle perfusion scintigraphy (201T1 PS). Thallium, showing the characteristics of potassium (K+), enters a cell by means of active cell transportation and follows erythrocyte up to the tissue. The aim of this study was to determine if T1 PS of lower extremities (LE) is a good method for estimating muscle microcirculatory perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy. METHODS: The study included 32 patients of an average age 66.1 +/- 14.9 years with signs of LE ischemia befalling into III and IV stage of ischemic disease according to the Lariche-Fontain classification. Out of that number there were 27 of the patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), while 5 of the patients were with Burger's disease and Raynand's disorder. Lower extremities PS was performed after 3 min of tibial loading by the use of dorsoplantar foot flexion and intravenous 74 MBq 201T1 as a 10-minute dynamic study. A 10 minute static scintigraphy was carried out of the gluteal region, femurs, tibias and feet per a position and repeated after 3 h at rest in the same projections. The results were interpreted visually and by the semiquantitive method using a program for calculating the number of pulses per pixel in the corresponding region over 1-, 2- and 10-minute dynamic study, thus obtaining numerical data for estimating perfusion. Binding ratio in both legs was estimated visually as low (1), medium (2) and significant (3) difference in both legs. The results were compared with doppler hemodynamic indices (PI and RI). RESULTS: Regardless the group, 201T1 binding intensity rising was significantly 2 min after application, as compared to 1 min, and the obtained level of binding was maintained even after 10 min. In the group Fontain III the majority of the patients showed a medium difference in binding 201T1 (2) in regard to the group Fontain IV with the patients having a low difference (1) between both legs and a significant difference between both legs (3). A statistically significant positive corellation was obtained between the values of RI index regarding distal region of a. tibialis posterior (p < 0.05, r = 0.43), as well as a. tibialis anterior (p = 0.05, r = 0.38). There was no corellation for the PI index. Low collateral net development based on the values for the indices PI and RI showed a less muscle perfusion on 201T1 in regard to medium and well developed collateral net with identical perfusion. CONCLUSION: The results of lower extremities perfusion scintigraphy are reliable indice of muscle microcilculatory perfusion. There is a statistically significant correlation between the doppler hemodynamic indices and 201TI perfusion scintigraphy.

[Hyperbaric oxygenation effects determination in the therapy of chronic occlusive lower extremities arteries disease by the use of perfusion scintigraphy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) is a medical treatment of a patient with 100% oxygen inspiration under the pressure higher than atmospheric in a special unit designed to let the whole patient's body rest in a chamber. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the application of HBO treatment on the patient's lower extremities with chonic inoperabile occlusive disease by measning the parameters of perfusion scintigraphy (perfusion reserve, relative perfusion). METHODS: This investigation included 22 patients (19 males and 3 famales). Following clinical assessment of lower extremities condition according to the skin appearance and its adnexa, claudication distance was performed. Clinical condition was graded by the use of 5-point nominal scale. In all of the patients 99mTc-tetraphosmine lower extremities scintigraphy was done ten days prior to the treatment start and ten days after the treatment with HBO. Lower legs were imaged from the posterior view. Prior to imaging the patients were obligatory lying approximately half an hour. RESULTS: In 18 (86%) of the patients there was an improvement manifested as better subjective condition and better skin and its adnexa appearance. Following HBO treatment there was a statistically significant change in collecting the radiopharmac at rest. This finding indicates an increased viability of muscles as well as an increased perfusion reserve. Perfusion reserve mean values increased from 39.99 to 50.86%, and from 38.46 to 49.33% for the right and the left lower leg, respectively. This parameter clearly indicates favorable effects of HBO treatment pertaining neoangiogenesis and, consequently, increased viability of the lower leg muscles. It was also obvious in visual analysis of the obtained images. CONCLUSION: The obtained results confirm that muscle perfusion measured by the parameters of perfusion scintigraphy using 9mTc-tetrophosmine (perfusion reserve, relative perfusion) in patients with inoperabile occlusive disease of the lower leg arteries significantly increases after the application of HBO treatment.

[Comparative analysis of lower extremities tissue perfusion by the use of perfusion scintigraphy method after hyperbaric oxygenation and lumbar sympathectomy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Lumbar sympathectomy (LS) increases pheripheral blood flow primarily by the arteriolar vasodilatation within the skin vascular net. Increase in tissue nutrition takes place only in the distal blood vessels of the skin. Nevertheless, in some patients sympathectomy brings about improvement in ischemic ulcerations healing. Hyperbaric oxigenation (HBO) is a medical treatment in which a patient breathes 100% oxygen under pressure higher than atmospheric implemented in special units allowing the whole body be in a chamber. The aim of the study was to determine efficacy of the applied therapies for the treatment of inoperable occlussive lower extremities (LE) arteries diseases according to the obtained results. METHODS: The study included 30 patients divided into two grups (15 patients each) in which stenosis level of the lower extremities arteries had been determined using aortography due to further treatment with HBO and LS. All the patients were clinically examined, their objective condition evaluation based on claudication distance, pain in rest, skin and skin adnexa atrophy, and temperature and LE functionality, as well as exposed to perfusion scintigraphy prior to the treatment and within 30 days after the treatment finishing. RESULTS: Analysing patients' status prior to and after the treatments applied the number of patients with obvious improvement was higher in those treated by HBO than those treated by LS. Measuring claudication distance revealed significantly greater changes in patients treated by HBO (from 178.57 m to 754.76 m) than in those treated by LS (from 229 m to 253 m). Other clinical symptoms, such as parasthesia, status of the skin adnexes (hair, nails), skin colour and temperature were also improved after the treatment by HBO. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study confirm the advantages of HBO over LS in therapy of inoperable occlussive LE disease, so LS could be definitely abandoned as a choice for treating such disease.

[Coexistence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary thyroidal carcinoma with papillary carcinoma of thyreoglossal duct].

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary thyroidal carcinoma in thyroidal gland with papillary carcinoma association in thyroglossal duct is quite rare. The questions like where the original site of primary process, is where metastasis is, what the cause of coexisting of these diseasesis present a diagnostic dilemma. CASE REPORT: We presented a case of a 53-year old female patient, with the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and symptoms of subclinical hypothyreosis and nodal changes in the right lobe of thyroidal gland, according to clinical investigation. Morphological examination of thyroidal gland, ultrasound examination and scintigraphy with technetium (Tc) confirmed the existence of nonhomogenic tissue with parenchyma nodular changes in the right lobe of thyroidal gland that weakly bonded Tc. Fine needle biopsy in nodal changes, with cytological analyses showed no evidence of atypical thyreocites. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was confirmed on the basis of the increased values of anti-microsomal antibodies, the high levels of thyreogobulin 117 ng/ml and TSH 6.29 microIU/ml. The operation near by the nodular change in the right lobe of thyroidal gland revealed pyramidal lobe spread in the thyroglossal duct. Total thyroidectomia was done with the elimination of thyroglossal duct. Final patohystological findings showed papillary carcinoma in the nodal changes pT2, N0 and in the thyroglossal duct with the presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the residual parenchyme of the thyroid gland. After the surgery the whole body scintigraphy with iodine 131 (131I) did not reveal accumulation of 131I in the body, while the fixation in the neck was 1%. After that, the patient was treated with thyroxin with suppression-substitution doses. CONCLUSION: Abnormality in embrional development of thyroidal tissue might be the source of thyroidal carcinoma or the way of spreading of metastasis of primary thyroidal carcinoma from thyroid gland. The cause of this process is most probably a hereditary mutation in RET oncogenes.

[Significance of the determination of Doppler sonography haemodynamic indices for the assessment of distal perfusion in patients with critical ischemia of lower limbs].

BACKGROUND/AIM: The perfusion of tissue, especially the muscles of the lower limbs (LL), implies the blood flow that carries enough nutrition, energy materials and oxygen. The aim of this study was to determine whether the decreased Doppler sonography parameters, resistence index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were significant as indicatiors of irreversible ischemia of LL. METHODS: In 40 patients (mean age 66 +/- 14.9 years, 21% women and 79% men) with the signs of critical ischemia of LL, Lariche-Fontaine class III and IV, we performed contrast angiography of the LL arteries, and perfusion scintigraphy of LL using, thallium-201, while we performed Doppler sonography to determine resistance index (RI), as well as pulsatility index (PI). After that, all the patients were treated with vasodilatation using Bergmann's solution within a 10-day period. Following that, all the patients underwent the determination of haemodynamic indices RI and PI applying the methods of Doppler sonography. The obtained values of RI and PI indices revealed no clinical recovery which suggested the irreversibility of critical ischemia (unsuccessful therapy in 100% of the patients), and clinical recovery which suggested the reversibility of the disease (unsuccessful therapy in 80% of the patients). RESULTS: The obtained values of PI = 0-0.3 and RI = 0-0.25 for the examined LL arteries were the indicators of irreversible ischemia. A significant correlation between the values of RI in the distal parts of a. tibialis anterior and posterior was proved, as well as between the decreased perfusion of LL determined by tallium-201 (p < 0.05, r = 0.43), and a tibialis anterior (p = 0.05, r= 0.38). There was, however, no statistically significant correlation between the angiographic values and perfusion scintigraphy of LL. CONCLUSION: The obtained values of haemodynamic RI and PI indices should be a novel approach for introducing a new criteria for the assessment of reversible and irreversible critical ischemia of LL using the method od Doppler.

[Effect of a two-week program of individually monitored physical activity on insulin resistance in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetics]. / Efekti dvonedeljnog programa individualno dozirane fizicke aktivnosti na insulinsku rezistenciju kod gojaznih insulin-nezavisnih dijabeticara.

It is well known that under the influence of regular, individually measured aerobic physical activity, it is possible to raise the biological efficiency of insulin by several mechanisms: by increasing the number of insulin receptors, their sensitivity and efficiency, as well as by increasing glucose transporters GLUT-4 on the level of cell membrane. The aim of this research was to examine whether decreased insulin resistance could be achieved under the influence of the program of individually measured aerobic physical activity in the 2-week period, in the obese type 2 diabetes patients with the increased aerobic capacity (VO2)max. In 10 type 2 diabetes patients 47.6 +/- 4.6 years of age (group E), in the 14-days period, program of aerobic training was applied (10 sessions--35 min session of walking on treadmill, intensity 60.8 +/- 5.7% (VO2)max, frequency 5 times a week), as well as 1,600 kcal diet. At the same time, other 10 type 2 diabetes patients 45.9 +/- 5.5 years of age (group C) were on 1,600 kcal diet. Before and after this period the following was measured in both groups: insulin sensitivity (M/I) by the method of hyperinsulin euglycemic clamp, and (VO2)max by Astrand test on ergocycle. In contrast to the group C, in the second testing of E group subjects a significant increase was obtained in M/I (1.23 +/- 0.78 vs. 2.42 +/- 0.95 mg/kg/min/mU p < 0.001, 96.75%) as well as the increase of (VO2)max (26.34 +/- 4.26 vs. 29.16 +/- 5.01 ml/kg/min p < 0.05, 10.7%). The results had shown that 2-week program of aerobic training had had significant influence on the increased aerobic capacity and insulin sensitivity in the tested patients.

[Pheochromocytomas as adrenal gland incidentalomas]. / Feohromocitomi kao incidentalomi nadbubrezne zlezde.

Adrenal incidentalomas are a heterogeneous group of pathological entities, including benign or malignant adrenocortical or medullary tumors, hormonally active or inactive lesions, which are identified incidentally during the examination of nonadrenal-related abdominal complaints. About 1.5% to 23% of adrenal incidentalomas are pheochromocytomas. Composite pheochromocytoma is a rare tumour of adrenal medulla with divergente clinical course. This type of pheochromocytoma is designated "composite" or "mixed," depending on whether pheochromocytoma and nonpheochromocytoma components show the same embryologic origin. Nonpheochromocytoma components found in the composite pheochromocytoma include ganglioneuroma, ganglioneuroblastoma, neuroblastoma, and malignant schwannoma. The biologic behavior of composite pheochromocytomas may be as difficult to predict as more traditional pheochromocytomas; based on the number of cases reported to date the presence of areas resembling ganglioneuroblastoma or neuroblastoma does not necessary indicate a poor prognosis. Some may behave in a malignant fashion with metastasis by a component of the tumour which has neural features. Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are well-defined entities. Some of their nonsporadic associations and unusual morphological appearances are not universally appreciated. We report on a rare association of left adrenal CP, with typical right adrenal phochromocytoma and retroperitoneal paraganglioma, and a review of literature. We analyzed the clinical and immunohistochemical features in a 24-year-old woman with composite pheochromocytoma localized in the left adrenal gland and associated with blood pressure of 200/140 mmHg. Abdominal computed tomography and 131-J MIBG revealed a 65 x 60 mm mass in the right adrenal gland, but no revealed 45 x 40 mm retroperitoneal mass and 20 x 20 mm mass in the left adrenal region. Serum and urinary adrenaline levels were high, and catecholamine levels in the blood sample of the selective adrenal vein, were also high. Bilateral adrenalectomy and retroperitoneal mass were surgically removed without complications. Clinical symptoms were absent 6 years after surgery. After surgery the patient gave birth to two healthy babies. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that tumour cells of right adrenal pheochromocytoma and retroperitoneal paraganglioma were strongly positive for neurone specific enolase, synaptophisin and chromogranin A. The left adrenal tumour showed pheochromocytoma, ganglioneuroma and neuroblastoma components. Immunoreactivity of this tumour added several features to the wide immunohistochemical spectrum. This case demonstrates the indolent behavior of sporadic-type CP and retroperitoneal paraganglioma in an adult patient. Unusual morphological features of CP occur in a substantial number of cases and may cause diagnostic problems.