Prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label study to compare efficacy of a mineral-rich solution vs normal saline after complete ethmoidectomy.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of a mineral-rich solution vs normal saline solution (0.9% NaCl) following endoscopic complete bilateral ethmoidectomy. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial in subjects suffering from steroid-resistant sinonasal polyposis. Adults performed 4 nasal irrigations of mineral or saline solutions daily for 28 days. Evaluations included subject-reported RHINO quality of life (QoL) and NOSE scores, tolerability, and satisfaction, the Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score and assessments of crusting, secretions and mucociliary clearance (rhinoscintigraphy). RESULTS: A total of 189 subjects were randomized. Clinically relevant improvements (> 20 points) in RhinoQOL and NOSE scores were measured in both groups without any significant inter-group difference. Among the subjects with impaired RhinoQOL at pre-inclusion, the change in Impact-RhinoQOL score was significantly superior in mineral-rich vs saline solution at day 21 (p = 0.028) and day 28 (p = 0.027). The Lund-Kennedy score continuously improved in both groups earlier with the mineral-rich solution. Crusts were significantly fewer in number and less severe/obstructive in patients receiving mineral-rich vs saline solution at day 7 (p = 0.026) and day 14 (p = 0.016). Furthermore, secretions disappeared significantly more quickly and were less thick/purulent with mineral-rich solution at day 14 (p = 0.002) and day 21 (p = 0.043). Less epistaxis was reported in the mineral vs saline solution (p = 0.008 at day 21). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the composition of a nasal irrigation solution influences endoscopic scores and QoL after sinus surgery for patients over 60, those with an initially poor QoL and higher symptom score, and smokers.

Tetrofosmin early time gated post-stress single-photon emission computed tomography imaging: feasibility and potential benefits.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, the image quality, and the clinical relevance of an early gated post-stress (GPS) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) tetrofosmin (Myoview™-GE Healthcare) acquisition protocol. Time delay between myocardial technetium-labeled tracer administration and SPECT acquisition is usually about 30 minutes after stress, and 45 to 60 minutes at rest: because of the absence of significant redistribution, perfusion images are related to stress even 30 minutes after stress injection, while function and thickening data obtained with gated acquisition 30 minutes after stress are mainly related to rest conditions. METHODS: 194 patients were prospectively included and analyzed, in a multicenter registry. Three gated-SPECT 99(m)Tc-Tetrofosmin studies were performed per patient: GPS-SPECT, 30 minutes post-stress (GS30), and at rest (GR30). RESULTS: GPS image quality was excellent/good (93.9%), and similar to GS30 images (96.6%). The presence of adjacent myocardial sub-diaphragmatic activity on GPS images was similar to GS30 images (24% vs 22%), and less frequent than on GR30 images (31%). For perfusion, thickening, and motion scores, there was no significant difference between early and 30 minute post-stress in the global patient population, but significant differences were observed between GPS and GS30 for LVEF (65% ± 15% vs 63% ± 14%). In the ischemic patients, with the stress-rest protocol, the perfusion score was 14.2 on GPS images and 12.4 on GS30 images (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Tetrofosmin early GPS-SPECT is feasible without impairment of image quality (better count rate). Ischemic defect size on early post-stress images is slightly more pronounced than at 30 minutes: this could modify therapeutic decision. This technique produces reliable function information during early post-stress period, and might be useful for disclosing transient motion abnormalities.

Crowned dens syndrome diagnosed on ¹8F-FDG PET/CT.

An 87-year-old woman with corticosteroid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica underwent ¹8F-FDG PET/CT for suspected giant cell arteritis or neoplastic disease. FDG uptake in the immediate vicinity of the odontoid process, with a crownlike calcification, was identified on the CT scan on the posterior side of the dens, thus confirming the diagnosis of crowned dens syndrome. Because this rare syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed, nuclear physicians should be aware of the signs and symptoms of this condition, which may call for the use of PET/CT imagery.