Long-term survival outcomes of reduced-intensity allogeneic or autologous transplantation in relapsed grade 3 follicular lymphoma.

Grade 3 follicular lymphoma (FL) has aggressive clinical behavior. To evaluate the optimal first transplantation approach in relapsed/refractory grade 3 FL patients, we compared the long-term outcomes after allogeneic (allo-) vs autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) in the rituximab era. A total of 197 patients undergoing first reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allo-HCT or first auto-HCT during 2000-2012 were included. Rituximab-naive patients were excluded. Allo-HCT recipients were younger, more heavily pretreated and had a longer interval between diagnosis and HCT. The 5-year probabilities of non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse/progression, PFS and overall survival (OS) for auto-HCT vs allo-HCT groups were 4% vs 27% (P<0.001), 61% vs 20% (P<0.001), 36% vs 51% (P=0.07) and 59% vs 54% (P=0.7), respectively. On multivariate analysis, auto-HCT was associated with reduced risk of NRM (relative risk (RR)=0.20; P=0.001). Within the first 11 months post HCT, auto- and allo-HCT had similar risks of relapse/progression and PFS. Beyond 11 months, auto-HCT was associated with higher risk of relapse/progression (RR=21.3; P=0.003) and inferior PFS (RR=3.2; P=0.005). In the first 24 months post HCT, auto-HCT was associated with improved OS (RR=0.42; P=0.005), but in long-time survivors (beyond 24 months) it was associated with inferior OS (RR=3.6; P=0.04). RIC allo-HCT as the first transplant approach can provide improved PFS and OS, in long-term survivors.

A prognostic model predicting autologous transplantation outcomes in children, adolescents and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AutoHCT) is a potentially curative treatment modality for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, no large studies have evaluated pretransplant factors predictive of outcomes of AutoHCT in children, adolescents and young adults (CAYA, age <30 years). In a retrospective study, we analyzed 606 CAYA patients (median age 23 years) with relapsed/refractory HL who underwent AutoHCT between 1995 and 2010. The probabilities of PFS at 1, 5 and 10 years were 66% (95% confidence interval (CI): 62-70), 52% (95% CI: 48-57) and 47% (95% CI: 42-51), respectively. Multivariate analysis for PFS demonstrated that at the time of AutoHCT patients with Karnofsky/Lansky score ⩾90, no extranodal involvement and chemosensitive disease had significantly improved PFS. Patients with time from diagnosis to first relapse of <1 year had a significantly inferior PFS. A prognostic model for PFS was developed that stratified patients into low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups, predicting for 5-year PFS probabilities of 72% (95% CI: 64-80), 53% (95% CI: 47-59) and 23% (95% CI: 9-36), respectively. This large study identifies a group of CAYA patients with relapsed/refractory HL who are at high risk of progression after AutoHCT. Such patients should be targeted for novel therapeutic and/or maintenance approaches post-AutoHCT.

Alternative donors extend transplantation for patients with lymphoma who lack an HLA matched donor.

Alternative donor transplantation is increasingly used for high-risk lymphoma patients. We analyzed 1593 transplant recipients (2000-2010) and compared transplant outcomes in recipients of 8/8 allele HLA-A, -B, -C and DRB1 matched unrelated donors (MUDs; n=1176), 7/8 allele HLA mismatched unrelated donors (MMUDs; n=275) and umbilical cord blood donors (1 or 2 units UCB; n=142). Adjusted 3-year non-relapse mortality of MMUD (44%) was higher as compared with MUD (35%; P=0.004), but similar to UCB recipients (37%; P=0.19), although UCB had lower rates of neutrophil and platelet recovery compared with unrelated donor groups. With a median follow-up of 55 months, 3-year adjusted cumulative incidence of relapse was lower after MMUD compared with MUD (25% vs 33%, P=0.003) but similar between UCB and MUD (30% vs 33%; P=0.48). In multivariate analysis, UCB recipients had lower risks of acute and chronic GVHD compared with adult donor groups (UCB vs MUD: hazard ratio (HR)=0.68, P=0.05; HR=0.35; P<0.001). Adjusted 3-year OS was comparable (43% MUD, 37% MMUD and 41% UCB). These data highlight the observation that patients with lymphoma have acceptable survival after alternative donor transplantation. MMUD and UCB can extend the curative potential of allotransplant to patients who lack suitable HLA matched sibling or MUD.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome.

We describe outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome (MF/SS). Outcomes of 129 subjects with MF/SS reported to the Center for the International Blood and Marrow Transplant from 2000-2009. Median time from diagnosis to transplant was 30 (4-206) months and most subjects were with multiply relapsed/ refractory disease. The majority (64%) received non-myeloablative conditioning (NST) or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). NST/RIC recipients were older in age compared with myeloablative recipients (median age 51 vs 44 years, P=0.005) and transplanted in recent years. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) at 1 and 5 years was 19% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12-27%) and 22% (95% CI 15-31%), respectively. Risk of disease progression was 50% (95% CI 41-60%) at 1 year and 61% (95% CI 50-71%) at 5 years. PFS at 1 and 5 years was 31% (95% CI 22-40%) and 17% (95% CI 9-26%), respectively. OS at 1 and 5 years was 54% (95% CI 45-63%) and 32% (95% CI 22-44%), respectively. Allogeneic HCT in MF/SS results in 5-year survival in approximately one-third of patients and of those, half remain disease-free.

Preliminary evidence for biologic activity of toceranib phosphate (Palladia(®)) in solid tumours.

The purpose of this study was to provide an initial assessment of the potential biologic activity of toceranib phosphate (Palladia®, Pfizer Animal Health, Madison, NJ, USA) in select solid tumours in dogs. Cases in which toceranib was used to treat dogs with apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA), metastatic osteosarcoma (OSA), thyroid carcinoma, head and neck carcinoma and nasal carcinoma were included. Clinical benefit (CB) was observed in 63/85 (74%) dogs including 28/32 AGASACA [8 partial response (PR), 20 stable disease (SD)], 11/23 OSAs (1 PR and 10 SD), 12/15 thyroid carcinomas (4 PR and 8 SD), 7/8 head and neck carcinomas [1 complete response (CR), 5 PR and 1 SD] and 5/7 (1 CR and 4 SD) nasal carcinomas. For dogs experiencing CB, the median dose of toceranib was 2.8 mg kg(-1) , 36/63 (58.7%) were dosed on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday basis and 47/63 (74.6%) were treated 4 months or longer. Although these data provide preliminary evidence that toceranib exhibits CB in dogs with certain solid tumours, future prospective studies are necessary to define its true activity.

Modification of loco-regional microenvironment in brain tumors by spinal cord stimulation. Implications for radio-chemotherapy.

The effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in high grade gliomas (HGG) depends on tumor micro-environment. We summarize our experience of the influence of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on this micro-environment. Patients with HGG (n = 26) were assessed pre- and post-SCS, using: (1) Doppler in middle cerebral arteries (MCA) and (2) in common carotid arteries (CCA); (3) tumor blood-flow using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT); (4) tumor-pO(2) (mmHg) using polarographic probes (eight tumor areas from five patients); and (5) tumor glucose metabolism using (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ((18)FDG) positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET). Pre-SCS: tumor blood-flow was lower (P < 0.001) than peri-tumor areas and healthy contra-lateral areas. Tumor-pO(2) was lower (P < 0.042) than healthy tissue. Tumor glucose metabolism was higher than peri-tumor areas (P = 0.017) and healthy contra-lateral areas (P = 0.048). Post-SCS: there were increases in: MCA blood-flow (P ≤ 0.002), CCA blood-flow (P ≤ 0.013), tumor blood-flow (P = 0.033), tumor glucose metabolism (P = 0.027) and tumor-pO(2) (P = 0.022). The percentage of hypoxic values decreased (P = 0.007). SCS can modify tumor micro-environment. The potential usefulness of SCS in improving the effectiveness of radio-chemotherapy in HGG needs to be evaluated.

Pattern of antibiotic prescription in the management of endodontic infections amongst Spanish oral surgeons.

AIM: To identify antibiotic prescription practices in the treatment of endodontic infections amongst Spanish oral surgeons. METHODOLOGY: Members of the Spanish Oral Surgery Society (SECIB) were surveyed on antibiotic prescription on six different pulpal and periapical diagnoses. A total of 200 questionnaires were delivered with 127 returned (64%). RESULTS: The average duration of antibiotic therapy was 7.0 +/- 1.0 days. Ninety five percent of respondents selected amoxicillin as the first choice antibiotic in patients with no medical allergies, alone (34%) or associated to clavulanate (61%). The first drug of choice for patients with an allergy to penicillins was clindamycin 300 mg (65%), followed by azithromycin (15%) and metronidazole-spiramycin (13%). For cases of irreversible pulpitis, 86% of respondents prescribed antibiotics. For the scenario of a necrotic pulp, acute apical periodontitis and no swelling, 71% prescribed antibiotics. Almost 60% of respondents prescribed antibiotics for necrotic pulps with chronic apical periodontitis and a sinus tract; in this clinical situation, odontologists prescribed more frequently antibiotics compared to stomatologists (P = 0.0080; odds ratio = 8.0; C. I. 95% = 1.7-37.1). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the members of the SECIB were selecting the appropriate antibiotic for use in endodontic infections, but there are still many who are prescribing antibiotics inappropriately. The use of antibiotics for minor infections, or in some cases in patients without infections, could be a major contributor to the world problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Out-of-protocol concurrent use of cisplatin and radiation therapy in locally advanced cervical cancer: feasibility and survival.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: We assessed the feasibility, response rates, and overall survival of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy during radiation therapy on an out-of-protocol basis. METHODS: Sixty-nine consecutive newly diagnosed untreated patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who received chemoradiation between 1999 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment consisted in external beam radiation followed by one 137-cessium intracavitary application. Cisplatin was administered for six weeks during external beam radiation. RESULTS: Treatment was well tolerated, although 52 patients presented some degree of acute adverse toxicity (gastrointestinal 65%, hematological 48%, genitourinary 10%). The 3-year survival rate was 61.8% (95% CI 54.5-69.0), with a mean 41.8 months (95% CI 35.7-48.3). Overall survival after adjusting by FIGO Stage IB2-IIA and IIB-IVA was 73.9% and 50%, respectively (p = 0.1839). Overall survival according to Stages IB2-IIb and III-IVA was 74.8% and 34.9%, respectively (P = 0.0376). CONCLUSION: In patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, adding a weekly regimen of cisplatin to standard pelvic radiation in an out-of-protocol basis is feasible, effective, and showed no unexpected toxicity.

Continual monitoring of intraepithelial lymphocyte immunophenotype and clonality is more important than snapshot analysis in the surveillance of refractory coeliac disease.

OBJECTIVE: An aberrant immunophenotype and monoclonality of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are frequently found in refractory coeliac disease (RCD). However, the utility of continual monitoring of IEL immunophenotype and clonality in the surveillance of RCD remains to be studied. DESIGN: The diagnostic and follow-up biopsies from 33 patients with CD, 7 with suspected RCD, 41 with RCD and 20 with enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) (including 11 evolved from RCD) were investigated by CD3epsilon/CD8 double immunohistochemistry and PCR-based clonality analysis of the rearranged T cell receptor (TCR) genes. RESULTS: An aberrant immunophenotype (CD3epsilon(+)CD8(-) IELs > or =40%) and monoclonality were detected occasionally in CD biopsies, either transiently in patients with CD not compliant with a gluten-free diet or in those who subsequently developed suspected RCD, RCD or EATL. In contrast, the aberrant immunophenotype and monoclonality were found in 30 of 41 (73%) and 24 of 37 (65%) biopsies, respectively, at the time of RCD diagnosis. Among the patients with RCD who did not show these abnormalities in their diagnostic biopsies, 8 of 10 (80%) and 5 of 11 (45%) cases gained an aberrant immunophenotype and monoclonality, respectively, during follow-up. Irrespective of whether detected in diagnostic or follow-up biopsies, persistence of both abnormalities was characteristic of RCD. Importantly, the presence of concurrent persistent monoclonality and aberrant immunophenotype, especially > or =80% CD3epsilon(+)CD8(-) IELs, was a strong predictor of EATL development in patients with RCD (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Continual monitoring of both immunophenotype and clonality of IELs is more important than snapshot analysis for RCD diagnosis and follow-up, and could provide a useful tool for surveillance of patients at risk of EATL.

Myeloablative therapy with autologous stem cell rescue for patients with Ewing sarcoma.

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with PFS in patients with Ewing sarcoma undergoing ASCT; 116 patients underwent ASCT in 1989-2000 and reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. Eighty patients (69%) received ASCT as first-line therapy and 36 (31%), for recurrent disease. Risk factors affecting ASCT were analyzed with use of the Cox regression method. Metastatic disease at diagnosis, recurrence prior to ASCT and performance score <90 were associated with higher rates of disease recurrence/progression. Five-year probabilities of PFS in patients with localized and metastatic disease at diagnosis who received ASCT as first-line therapy were 49% (95% CI 30-69) and 34% (95% CI 22-47) respectively. The 5-year probability of PFS in patients with localized disease at diagnosis, and received ASCT after recurrence was 14% (95% CI 3-30). PFS rates after ASCT are comparable to published rates in patients with similar disease characteristics treated with conventional chemotherapy, surgery and irradiation suggesting a limited role for ASCT in these patients. Therefore, ASCT if considered should be for high-risk patients in the setting of carefully controlled clinical trials.

Response of canine cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma to lomustine (CCNU): a retrospective study of 46 cases (1999-2004).

BACKGROUND: Epitheliotropic lymphoma (ELSA) is an uncommon cutaneous canine malignancy of T lymphocytes. A consensus regarding the therapeutic standard of care is lacking, warranting evaluation of chemotherapeutic agents traditionally employed against canine nodal lymphoma in the treatment of ELSA. HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this retrospective, multi-institutional study was to evaluate the efficacy of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-l-nitrosourea (CCNU) in the treatment of ELSA. ANIMALS: Forty-six dogs with adequate follow-up and treatment response information. METHODS: All cases were diagnosed histopathologically. Immunohistochemisty (CD3, CD79a) was performed on 42/46 samples. RESULTS: Presenting skin lesions included generalized scales (25/46), plaques or nodules (22/46), mucocutaneous lesions (14/ 46), and corneal involvement (1/46). Lymph node involvement and Sézary syndrome were documented in 7 and 2 dogs, respectively. The median number of CCNU treatments was 4 (range, 1-11), with a median starting dose of 60 mg/m(2) (range, 30-95). Of the 46 dogs, 15 achieved complete remission, 23 achieved partial remission, 5 had stable disease, and 3 had progressive disease, for an overall response rate of 83%. The median number of treatments to achieve a response was 1 (range, 1-6). The overall median duration of response was 94 days (range, 22-282). Sixteen dose reductions were required because of neutropenia (10/46), thrombocytopenia (1/46), anemia (1/46), increased liver enzyme activity (3/46), or unspecified reasons (1/46). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given the high response rate and well tolerated protocol, prospective studies are warranted to investigate the utility of CCNU alone or in multi-agent protocols for the treatment of ELSA.

[Positron emission tomography using 18-FDG-PET in radiologically indeterminate pulmonary lesions]. / Tomografía por emisión de positrones mediante PET-18FDG en lesiones pulmonares radiológicamente indeterminadas.

OBJECTIVE: Fluorine-18 deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) is a non-invasive technique that offers the possibility to define if the radiologically indetermined pulmonary lesions are benign or malignant with high positive and negative predictive values. Considering the indexed literature we can observe that there are few original studies performed with the diagnostic possibilities of our means. For this reason, our main objective is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography in sixty-seven radiologically indetermined pulmonary nodular lesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospectively, we evaluated the diagnostic ability of FDG-PET globally (by means of visual and semiquantitative analysis) and partially (only considering the Standardized Uptake Value (SUV)), in sixty-seven patients confirmed by pathology or clinical and radiological monitoring, in a time interval superior to one year. RESULTS: Globally, FDG-PET had a sensitivity (S) of 92%, specificity (SP) of 86.6%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 89.4%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 89.6% and diagnostic accuracy (DA) of 89%. The best results were obtained for an SUV equal or superior to 2.5. With this value, the clinical efficacy parameters were: S 0.92, SP 0.90, PPV 0.92, NPV 0.90 and DA 0.91. CONCLUSIONS: We can characterize most of the radiologically indetermined pulmonary lesions by FDG-PET. The additional use of SUV facilitates an increase in the positive predictive value and specificity of FDG-PET.

Biphasic response to dobutamine predicts improvement of left ventricular dysfunction after revascularization: correlation with positron emission and rest-redistribution 201Tl tomographies.

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine echocardiography (DSE), positron emission tomography (PET) and 201Tl-single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have been used to identify myocardial viability. There are few reports, however, that compare high doses DSE with myocardial metabolic and perfusion imaging techniques in the same patient population. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between high doses DSE, metabolic PET and 201Tl-SPECT imaging to predict the recovery of function after revascularization in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. METHODS: Twenty-five patients underwent DSE (up to 40 microg/kg/min), rest and 4-hour redistribution 201Tl SPECT, rest 13N-ammonia and 18fluoro-deoxy-glucose PET imaging and coronary angiography 7-10 days before surgical revascularization. A follow-up 2D-echocardiography was performed 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Of the 109 successfully revascularized segments with severe dysfunction, 62 (57%) improved. LV ejection fraction increased from 30 +/- 10% to 42 +/- 13 at follow-up (p < 0.05). 201Tl SPECT, PET and the presence of contractile reserve determined by DSE had a similar sensitivity (77-87%) to predict recovery of function, but specificity was higher for the PET mismatch pattern and biphasic DSE (85-89%) than for any of the 201Tl viability patterns (19-64%). The highest positive predictive values were obtained by biphasic DSE and PET mismatch pattern (78-79%) compared to all other criteria (54-67%). In a multivariate model, which included evidence of viability by all imaging modalities, biphasic response was the best predictor of regional recovery of function (Odds ratio, OR: 9.9, 95% confidence intervals, 95% CI: 3.5-27.8). CONCLUSIONS: Although DSE and PET had overall comparable results, the presence of contractile reserve by the biphasic response to dobutamine was a best predictor for the improvement of LV contractile function in this group of patients.

Patient surface radiation doses at two PET imaging facilities.

To develop a practical means of auditing the procedures and to optimize the administered radionuclide activity, patient surface radiation doses following the administration of 18FDG for PET imaging have been measured at breast and gonad locations at two PET facilities. Patient dosimetry was performed using LiF TLD-100 chips placed near the breasts and gonads for 2 h following tracer injection. Standard uptake values from the image-reconstruction algorithms of one PET camera were investigated in regions of interest in tomograms of the myocardium and liver with the aim of validating dosimetry at breasts. Mean doses measured on the patient's skin ranged between 3.3 and 6.1 microGy MBq(-1) at the gonads and between 3.9 and 6.4 microGy MBq(-1) at the breasts, noticeably lower than the calculations reported in the literature. These values show good concordance with the injected activities, although they are not proportional. The proportion of injected activity actually contributing to image production seems to decrease gradually as the injected activity increases. Conversely, for a given injected activity, breast and gonadal doses were found to be lower than the values expected from the numerical calculations reported in the literature, showing increasing discrepancies when the injected activity increased. Doses measured at the right breast were consistently higher than for the left, which is indicative of greater radiotracer absorption by the liver compared to the average absorption in the body.

De la rotación mandibular terapéutica: aspectos ortopédicos, ortodóncicos y quirúrgicos / About therapeutic mandibular rotation: orthopedic, orthodontic and surgical aspects

La rotación mandibular terapéutica se lleva a cabo para modificar la dimensión vertical facial en caras extremas, cortas o largas. El síndrome de cara corta se beneficia de la rotación mandibular horaria llevada a cabo por aparatos ortopédicos que permiten la extrusión de molares. La rotación antihoraria es buscada en el síndrome de cara larga por medio de la extracción de molares o la cirugía de maxilares. Han sido revisados los procedimientos no quirúrgicos, analizando la estabilidad esquelética en grupos que presentaban estabilidad dentoclusal. El patrón esquelético vertical se muestra poco estable, incluso en este tipo de individuos. Asimismo, se ha estudiado una muestra de 15 pacientes de clase III y cara larga tratados con cirugía combinada de los maxilares y fijación semirrígida. Los resultados constatan que a los 3 años de finalizado el tratamiento se observa una cantidad de recidiva esqulética vertical superior que la sagital, aún en presencia de estabilidad dentaria

[Smoking cessation and bupropion: anxiety and depression as predictors of therapeutic efficacy]. / Deshabituación tabáquica y bupropión: la ansiedad y la depresión como índices de eficacia terapéutica.

UNLABELLED: Smoking and depression are related. Bupropion, the first non-nicotinic drug that is an effective treatment in smoking cessation, is a tricyclic antidepressant that inhibits neuronal uptake of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the thalamic nuclei. OBJECTIVE: To assess if certain personality factors (anxiety or depression) might predict the efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation. METHOD: The study was carried out in two smoking cessation clinics in Madrid and Barcelona. Fifty patients (21 men) declaring the desire to quit smoking were enrolled. Their mean age was 43.6 years (SD 8.75). The patients were treated with 300 mg of bupropion per day for one month and expired CO was monitored for 6 months. Personality factors were assessed on a hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). We evaluated whether there was a significant difference in HADS scores for patients who were still not smoking after 6 months and those who had not managed to quit. RESULTS: The 50 patients were smokers of a mean 39 packs per year (SD 17.82) and had mean scores of 7.4 (SD 4.15) for anxiety and 5.8 (SD 3.93) for depression. Four patients (8%) were unable to complete the study. After one month, 28% of the patients smoked, after 3 months 56% smoked and after 6 months 58% still smoked. The patients who smoked during the first month had higher depression scores than did the non-smokers (p = 0.03). After 3 and 6 months the patients who had managed to continue not smoking were those who had higher anxiety scores than did those who still smoked (p = 0.0052 at 3 months and p = 0.017 at 6 months). CONCLUSION: Patients who responded better to treatment with bupropion after 6 months of follow-up were those with higher anxiety scores on the HADS. Depression levels influenced outcome only during the first month.

Early diagnosis of recurrent breast cancer with FDG-PET in patients with progressive elevation of serum tumor markers.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work is to assess the diagnostic value of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), in the early detection of tumour recurrence in already treated breast cancer patients in apparent complete remission and with a progressive elevation of tumour markers CEA and/or CA 15.3 without any other clinical or instrumental signs of relapses. METHODS: The author studied 45 women (mean age 58+/-12, range 35-80 years) with histological diagnosis of breast cancer who underwent a tumour marker-guided whole body FDG-PET. All patients were in remission, without any other clinical or instrumental signs of relapses, except for the progressive elevation of CA 15.3 and/or CEA, tested during the follow-up. FDG-PET results were controlled by pathology when histological sampling was possible, by other conventional imaging modalities (US, X-rays, CT, MRI) and/or by clinical follow-up up to 12 months at least. RESULTS: FDG-PET findings were evaluated in 38 patients: 27 resulted positive. Among these 27 PET positive patients 24 were true positive and 3 false positive. Tumour marker guided FDG-PET was also able to discover 3 unknown neoplasms not visualized by other modalities. PET revealed 54 sites of intense focal FDG uptake. The anatomical distribution of these sites was 19 skeleton, 18 lymph node basins, 5 liver, 5 pelvic region, 1 lung, 1 pericardium, 1 pleura, 1 contralateral breast, 2 peritoneum and 1 thyroid bed. Forty-eight of these 54 sites of FDG accumulation were confirmed to be metastases. FDG-PET resulted negative in 11 patients and only in 2 of them the other diagnostic modalities were able to discover metastatic lesions; we had 9 true negative and 2 false positive RESULTS. On the basis of our investigation the performances of tumour marker guided FDG-PET per patient are as follows: sensitivity 92% (24/26), specificity 75% (9/12), positive predictive value 89% (24/27), negative predictive value 82% (9/11), accuracy 87% (33/38). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the clinical utility of tumour marker-guided PET in the follow-up of breast cancer patients. This diagnostic approach allowed to modify the clinical management in those patients in whom a tumor relapse or unexpected primary neoplasm was discovered.