Kaposi sarcoma in a child after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Should pre-transplant HHV-8 screening be considered in recipients from high prevalence areas?

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disease associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). We report the case of a 10-year-old male from a high HHV-8 prevalence area, diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia who underwent an upfront hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Five months after transplant, the patient was diagnosed with KS with skin, mucosae, lymph nodes and lung involvement. After withdrawal of immunosuppression the patient achieved complete remission without requiring further treatments. KS may occur after HSCT in patients from high HHV-8 prevalence areas. Considering that, we propose that screening of HHV-8 by antibody testing could be considered in HSCT donors/recipients from these areas.

Selective sentinel lymph node biopsy in papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with no preoperative evidence of lymph node metastasis. / Biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela en el carcinoma papilar de tiroides en pacientes sin evidencia preoperatoria de metástasis ganglionar.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphadenectomy is recommended during surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma when there is evidence of cervical lymph node metastasis (therapeutic) or in high-risk patients (prophylactic) such as those with T3 and T4 tumors of the TNM classification. Selective sentinel lymph node biopsy may improve preoperative diagnosis of nodal metastases. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of selective sentinel lymph node biopsy in a group of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and no evidence of nodal involvement before surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A retrospective, single-center study in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and no clinical evidence of lymph node involvement who underwent surgery between 2011 and 2013. The sentinel node was identified by scintigraphy. When the sentinel node was positive, the affected compartment was removed, and when sentinel node was negative, central lymph node dissection was performed. RESULTS: Forty-three patients, 34 females, with a mean age of 52.3 (±17) years, were enrolled. Forty-six (27%) of the 170 SNs resected from 24 (55.8%) patients were positive for metastasis. In addition, 94 (15.6%) out of the 612 lymph nodes removed in the lymphadenectomies were positive for metastases. Twelve of the 30 (40%) low risk patients (cT1N0 and cT2N0) changed their stage to pN1, whereas 12 of 13 (92%) high risk patients (cT3N0 and cT4N0) changed to pN1 stage. CONCLUSIONS: Selective sentinel lymph node biopsy changes the stage of more than 50% of patients from cN0 to pN1. This confirms the need for lymph node resection in T3 and T4 tumors, but reveals the presence of lymph node metastases in 40% of T1-T2 tumors.

Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis and Thalidomide in Chronic Granulomatous Disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency that leads to severe recurrent infection and inflammatory complications that are usually difficult to diagnose and treat. Several hyperinflammation mechanisms, such as decreased neutrophil apoptosis, toll-like receptor activation imbalance, Th17 cell induction, Nrf2 activity deficiency, and inflammasome activation, have been described in CGD patients However, there have been no reports of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis as an inflammatory complication in CGD, and the differential diagnosis of this condition with infectious osteomyelitis is challenging. Thalidomide has been used to treat several inflammatory manifestations in CGD patients with good clinical results. Here, we report the case of a previously asymptomatic 11-year-old boy who consulted for difficulty walking and pain at the back of the right thigh, with increased inflammatory markers. Multifocal bone involvement was seen on bone scintigraphy, and acute-phase reactants were elevated. On the basis of a suspected diagnosis of infectious osteomyelitis, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was started, with no clinical response. Bone biopsy and microbiological tests yielded negative results; at that point, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis was suspected. The patient was unresponsive to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. Thalidomide was started, and within 6 months, clinical and radiologic resolution of the condition was achieved with no adverse effects. More than 1 year after stopping thalidomide, the patient remained free of symptoms and inflammatory parameters are within normal levels. Thalidomide has a favorable safety profile compared with other alternatives and could be considered a feasible therapeutic option for this type of condition in selected patients.

Femoral head bone viability after free vascularized fibular grafting for osteonecrosis: SPECT/CT study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate femoral head bone viability following free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG) for osteonecrosis using SPECT/CT imaging. METHODS: Ten hips (9 patients) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) undergoing FVFG were prospectively enrolled. Four cases showed ARCO stage II, while six showed ARCO stage III. The mean age at surgery was 15.7 years (range, 13-22 years). Hip Harris Score (HHS) was measured pre- and post-operative. Bone scintigraphy with SPECT/CT was performed at 2 weeks and 6 months following surgery. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 4.0 years (range, 2-5.9 years). Mean HHS increased from 37.2 to 92.3. SPECT/CT findings revealed a progressive increase of femoral head uptake in all cases, suggesting subchondral graft bone viability. No progressive deformation of the femoral head was evidenced in radiographic evaluation at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates FVFG's capacity for revitalizing femoral head subchondral bone grafting in patients with ONFH, surgically treated following Urbaniak's technique. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:573-577, 2016.

Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy in a Hip Extra-Articular Resection Followed by Reconstruction Using an Extracorporeal Irradiated Acetabulum Autograft with Megaprosthesis, for Proximal Femur Osteosarcoma in a Pediatric Patient.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumour of bone. The oncologic surgery of a proximal femur osteosarcoma affecting the hip joint can be very challenging. We present an 8-year-old boy with a 5-month history of right hip pain. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lytic lesion of the proximal femur extending 13 cm to the diaphysis. Histological evaluation was consistent with high-grade osteoblastic osteosarcoma. After completing chemotherapy we performed an extra-articular resection of the hip. Reconstruction was accomplished by reimplanting the acetabulum after irradiation and modular proximal femur megaprosthesis. Endoprosthetic reconstruction following proximal femur resection is a good treatment alternative achieving good postoperative function. Extra-articular resection of the hip using a periacetabular osteotomy technique enabled us to achieve wide margins and leave an intact posterior column to optimize acetabular reconstruction stability. Extracorporeal irradiation and reimplantation is a valuable treatment option in a situation such as this where allograft geometric fit is a priority. We conclude that an extra-articular resection of the hip, followed by reconstruction with an extracorporeally irradiated acetabulum and a proximal femur modular megaprosthesis, is a useful combined treatment option for malignant lesions involving the hip joint, especially in paediatric patients.

Change in clinical management of sentinel lymph node location in early stage cervical cancer: the role of SPECT/CT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification with SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy imaging in the early stage invasive cervical cancer in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Between March 2007 and June 2009, a prospective consecutive study was designed for SLN mapping. Twenty-two patients with cervical cancer FIGO stage IB1 (n=20) or stage IIA1 (n=2) underwent SLN identification with preoperative SPECT/CT and planar images (technetium-99m colloid albumin injection around the tumor) and posterior intraoperative detection with both blue dye and a handheld or laparoscopic gamma probe. Complete pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in all cases by open (n=2) or laparoscopic (n=20) surgery. RESULTS: In the present series, a total of 35 SLN were detected with planar images and 40 SLN were identified and well located by SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy (median 2.0 nodes per patient). In 5/22 patients (22.7%) SPECT/CT procedure improves the number of localized SLN. Intraoperatively, 57 SLNs were identified, with a median of 3 SLNs per patient by gamma probe (a total of 53 hot nodes) and a median of 2 nodes per patient after blue dye injection (a total of 42 blue nodes). Microscopic nodal metastases (eight nodes, corresponding to four patients) were confirmed in 18.18% of cases; all these lymph nodes were previously detected as SLN. The remaining 450 nodes, including SLNs, following complete pelvic lymphadenectomy, were histologically negative. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node detection is improved by SPECT/CT imaging because of the increased number of SLN detected and the better tridimensional anatomic location, allowing easier intra-operative detection with gamma probe and showing, in this series, a 100% negative predictive value.

[Neuroimaging in Alzheimer's disease: findings in plasmapheresis with albumin]. / Neuroimagen en la enfermedad de Alzheimer: resultados en plasmaféresis con albúmina.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Changes in cerebral function were evaluated in patients with Alzheimer disease treated or not with plasmapheresis with Human Albumin Grifols 5%. Sequential brain single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging techniques were used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain SPECT (99mTc-ECD) studies were obtained at baseline (double headed gammacamera Siemens Ecam, LE-HR, 30 sec/image/3 degrees, 128 x 128). Studies were quantified by means of SPM (Statistical Parametric Mapping) and Neurogam. Changes between baseline and after a follow-up period of up to 12 months were evaluated in patients undergoing or not the plasma exchange treatment program. All the studies were double blinded and referenced to a normal age-matched database. Comparisons were performed individually and between groups: treated (plasma exchange) versus non treated group, and baseline versus post follow-up analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in the areas of Brodmann were observed between the treated and the control groups and after the follow-up period. Regarding the hippocampal uptake, significant differences were observed between the treated and the control groups. Together with the clinical findings, these preliminary results provide biological evidence to the hypothesis that plasmapheresis with Human Albumin Grifols 5% can play a role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Highlights of the EANM Congress Barcelona 2009: increasing our impact in diagnostic imaging.

The EANM Congress 2009 took place in Barcelona from 10 to 14 October under the chairmanship of Dr. Martin-Comin. As always, the meeting was successful with high-level scientific content and a great number of participants. In spite of the economic crisis, industry made an important contribution presenting new revolutionary equipment and tracers, and in particular the pharmaceutical industry has increased its involvement in our speciality. This article is a brief summary of the major scientific contributions presented at the annual congress 2009, highlighting the fields of nuclear medicine at a higher level of development, including those with an increased clinical impact (especially oncology, but also cardiology, neurology and other clinical sciences), new detectors and multimodality imaging, and those fields showing important progress, including radiochemistry and pharmacy (with the development of new tracers and increased collaboration of industry).

[Benefit of sentinel node biopsy in patients with breast ductal carcinoma in situ]. / Beneficio de la biopsia del ganglio linfático centinela en pacientes con carcinoma in situ de mama.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with a diagnosis of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have a low risk of developing axillary metastases. The use of sentinel node biopsy in this group of patients is controversial. The objective of this study is to determine if the sentinel node biopsy benefits a subgroup of patients with DCIS. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between April 2002 and December 2007, patients with a diagnosis of DCIS and who underwent a sentinel node biopsy were included in the study. In our centre the sentinel node biopsy was performed in patients with DCIS who required a mastectomy, high grade and >2cm DCIS and palpable DCIS. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were included in the study. In all cases the sentinel node was identified. Twenty-five (53.1%) patients underwent a mastectomy due to extensive DCIS; 14 of these (56%) with immediate reconstruction with implants. Twenty-five (53.1%) patients had high grade DCIS. In 7 (14.8%) patients the tumour was palpable. Fourteen patients (29.7%) were upgraded to invasive breast cancer in the definitive histology. In 2 (4.2%) patients who underwent a mastectomy a positive sentinel node was found. CONCLUSIONS: Performing sentinel node biopsy in this group of DCIS patients has lead us to identify 4% of patients with positive sentinel nodes. Furthermore, 29.7% of the patients have avoided a second invasive diagnostic procedure for definitive histology. For these reasons we consider it appropiate to perform sentinel node biopsy in this subgroup of patients with DCIS of the breast.

Guidelines for lung scintigraphy in children.

The purpose of this set of guidelines is to help the nuclear medicine practitioner perform a good quality lung isotope scan. The indications for the test are summarised. The different radiopharmaceuticals used for the ventilation and the perfusion studies, the technique for their administration, the dosimetry, the acquisition of the images, the processing and the display of the images are discussed in detail. The issue of whether a perfusion-only lung scan is sufficient or whether a full ventilation-perfusion study is necessary is also addressed. The document contains a comprehensive list of references and some web site addresses which may be of further assistance.

Comparison of recurrence after vulvectomy and lymphadenectomy with and without sentinel node biopsy in early stage vulvar cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the usefulness of sentinel lymph node biopsy in early stage vulvar cancer and to assess recurrences after surgical treatment with sentinel node identification or surgical treatment without sentinel node identification. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 55 patients with early stage vulvar cancer operated on between 1995 and 2005. A prospective series of 28 patients who underwent vulvectomy and lymphadenectomy with intraoperative sentinel lymph node identification between 2000 and 2005 (SLN group) was compared with a retrospective series of 27 patients who underwent vulvectomy and lymphadenectomy without sentinel node procedure between 1995 and 2000 (non-SLN group). Patients in the sentinel node identification group underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (technetium-99 colloid albumin injection around the tumor) and intraoperative mapping with isosulfan blue dye. RESULTS: In the SLN group, 9 tumors were T1 and 19 were T2, with a total of 40 groins dissected and 9 positive nodes in 7 patients. Sixty-two sentinel lymph nodes were detected with a mean of 2.2 sentinel nodes per patient (range 0-4). A false negative case was found. In the non-SLN group, 7 tumors were T1 and 20 were T2, with a total of 49 groins dissected and 9 positive nodes in 6 patients. Recurrence occurred in 8 patients (28.6%) in the SLN group and in 6 (26.9%) in the non-SLN group (P=0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node identification in early stage vulvar cancer is a feasible. Analysis of recurrence may allow considering this procedure as a possible alternative to inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy.

Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with intraoperative sentinel node identification in patients with early invasive cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the feasibility and results of total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with intraoperative sentinel lymph node identification in patients with early cervical cancer. METHODS: Between March 2001 and October 2003, 12 patients with FIGO stage IA(2) (n = 1) or IB(1) (n = 11) cancer of the cervix underwent surgical treatment through the laparoscopic route. All patients underwent a laparoscopic sentinel node identification with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (technetium-99 m colloid albumin injection around the tumor) and intraoperative lymphatic mapping with isosulfan blue dye and a laparoscopic gamma probe followed by systematic bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and laparoscopic type II (n = 5) or type III (n = 7) hysterectomy. RESULTS: A mean of 2.5 sentinel nodes per patient (range 1-4) was detected, with a mean of 2.33 nodes per patient by gamma probe and a mean of 2 per patient after blue injection (combined detection rate 100%). The most frequent localization of the nodes was the interiliac region. Histopathologic examination of sentinel nodes including cytokeratin immunohistochemical analysis did not show metastasis. Microscopic nodal metastases were not found. The mean number of resected pelvic nodes was 18.6 per patient (range 10-28). The operation was performed entirely by laparoscopy in all patients and no case of laparotomy conversion was recorded. The mean duration of operation was 271 min (range 235-300), with a mean blood loss of 445 mL (range 240-800), and a mean length of stay of 5.25 days (range 3-10). No major intraoperative complications occurred. After a median follow-up of 20 months (range 5-34), all patients are free of disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the feasibility of the combination of laparoscopic intraoperative sentinel node mapping and laparoscopic radical surgery in the context of minimally invasive surgery for the management of patients with early cervical cancer.

Current role of bone scan with phosphonates in the follow-up of breast cancer.

A number of studies have demonstrated that bone scintigraphy has high sensitivity and efficacy in the early detection of bone metastases from several tumours, including breast cancer. Bone scintigraphy is the most definitive tool for diagnosing and monitoring metastatic spread of breast cancer. However, in the past decade there has been a wide debate on its impact on survival time, morbidity and quality of life. Worldwide economic restrictions and these studies have led to the adoption of an almost minimalist policy for breast cancer follow-up using evidence-based guidelines. The recommended breast cancer surveillance testing includes only a few procedures (history, physical and breast self-examination, patient education on symptoms, pelvic examination). The routine use of additional tests, such as blood cell count, tumour markers, liver ultrasonography, bone scan and chest X-rays, is not recommended. Accordingly, scintigraphy should be reserved for a limited number of patients. On the other hand, early diagnosis of bone involvement may reduce the risk of skeletal related events, thus leading to a significant improvement in quality of life. Furthermore, new drugs (e.g. bisphosphonates) can now delay the onset of bone metastasis and reduce the number of patients who experience skeletal complications. In conclusion, the evidence of the clinical usefulness of bone scintigraphy (to allow early planning of new treatments in advanced disease) has to be re-evaluated, possibly by large randomised prospective trials.

Intraoperative sentinel node identification in early stage cervical cancer using a combination of radiolabeled albumin injection and isosulfan blue dye injection.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the feasibility of sentinel lymph node identification using radioisotopic lymphatic mapping with technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin and isosulfan blue dye injection in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for treatment of early cervical cancer. METHODS: Between September 2000 and October 2002, 25 patients with cervical cancer FIGO stage I (n=24) or stage II (n=1) underwent sentinel lymph node detection with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (technetium-99m colloid albumin injection around the tumor) and intraoperative lymphatic mapping with blue dye and a handheld or laparoscopic gamma probe. Complete pelvic or paraaortic lymphadenectomy was performed in all cases by open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. RESULTS: In 23 evaluable patients, a total of 51 sentinel lymph nodes were detected by lymphoscintigraphy (mean 2.21 nodes per patient). Intraoperatively, 61 sentinel lymph nodes were identified, with a mean of 2.52 nodes per patient by gamma probe and a mean of 1.94 nodes per patient after isosulfan blue injection. Forty percent of sentinel nodes were found in the interiliac region and 25% in the external iliac area. Microscopic nodal metastases (four nodes) were confirmed in 12% of cases. All these lymph nodes were previously detected as sentinel lymph nodes. The remaining 419 nodes after pelvic lymphadenectomy were histologically negative. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node identification with technetium-99m-labeled nanocolloid combined with blue dye injection is feasible and showed a 100% negative predictive value, and potentially identified women in whom lymph node dissection can be avoided.

Guidelines for direct radionuclide cystography in children.

These guidelines, which summarise the views of the Paediatric Committee of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, provide a framework which may prove helpful to nuclear medicine teams in daily practice. They contain information on the indications, acquisition, processing and interpretation of direct radioisotope cystography in children. The guidelines should be taken in the context of "good practice" and any local/national rules which apply to nuclear medicine examinations.