PET/MRI-guided GTV delineation during radiotherapy planning in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of 18-fluorine-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hybrid in gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation during radiotherapy planning in patients with carcinoma of the tongue. METHODS: Ten patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue underwent computed tomography (CT) and PET/MRI examination. The GTV for primary tumor and lymph nodes (nGTV) were defined on CT (GTV-CT) and compared to GTVs obtained from PET (GTV-PET) and MRI (GTV-MRI) images. Two methods of GTV determination were used: visual interpretation of CT, PET (GTV-PETvis) and MRI images and quantitative automatic method (Syngovia, Siemens) based on a chosen threshold value (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) of standardized uptake values (SUVmax) from PET examination (GTV-PET20%, GTV-PET30%, etc.). Statistical analysis of differences in GTV values obtained from CT, PET and MRI studies was performed. GTV-CT was used as a reference. RESULTS: In all, 80% of GTV-MRI and 40% of GTV-PETvis were larger than GTV-CT. Respectively, 20% of GTV-MRI and 60% of GTV-PETvis were smaller than GTV-CT. Taking into account all threshold measurements, 70% of volumes were smaller than GTV-CT. GTV-PET30% were the most closely related volumes to GTV-CT from all threshold methods in 50% of patients. GTV-PETvis generated the most similar volumes in relation to GTV-CT from all PET measurements. Statistical analysis confirmed those results. Compared to nGTV-CT, 70% of nGTV-MRI and 20% of nGTV-PETvis were larger. The remaining nGTV-MRI and nGTV-PETvis measurements were smaller than nGTV-CT. Measurements of all thresholds nGTVs were smaller than nGTV-CTV in 52.5% of cases. nGTV-PET20% were the most closely related volumes to nGTV-CT in 40% of the cases. Statistical analysis showed that nGTV-PET20% (p = 0.0468), nGTV-PETvis (p = 0.0166), and nGTV-PET50% (p = 0.0166) diverge significantly from nGTV-CT results. nGTV-MRI (p = 0.1141), nGTV-PET30% (p = 0.2845), and nGTV-PET40% (p = 0.5076) were significantly related with nGTV-CT. CONCLUSION: Combination of PET/MRI provides more information during target tumor mass delineation in radiotherapy planning of patients with SCC of the tongue than other standard imaging methods. The most frequently matching threshold value was 30% of SUVmax for primary tumor delineation and 30-40% of SUVmax for nGTV determination.

Systematic biobanking, novel imaging techniques, and advanced molecular analysis for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy: The Polish MOBIT project.

Personalized and precision medicine is gaining recognition due to the limitations by standard diagnosis and treatment; many areas of medicine, from cancer to psychiatry, are moving towards tailored and individualized treatment for patients based on their clinical characteristics and genetic signatures as well as novel imaging techniques. Advances in whole genome sequencing have led to identification of genes involved in a variety of diseases. Moreover, biomarkers indicating severity of disease or susceptibility to treatment are increasingly being characterized. The continued identification of new genes and biomarkers specific to disease subtypes and individual patients is essential and inevitable for translation into personalized medicine, in estimating both, disease risk and response to therapy. Taking into consideration the mostly unsolved necessity of tailored therapy in oncology the innovative project MOBIT (molecular biomarkers for individualized therapy) was designed. The aims of the project are: (i) establishing integrative management of precise tumor diagnosis and therapy including systematic biobanking, novel imaging techniques, and advanced molecular analysis by collecting comprehensive tumor tissues, liquid biopsies (whole blood, serum, plasma), and urine specimens (supernatant; sediment) as well as (ii) developing personalized lung cancer diagnostics based on tumor heterogeneity and integrated genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and radiomics PET/MRI analysis. It will consist of 5 work packages. In this paper the rationale of the Polish MOBIT project as well as its design is presented. (iii) The project is to draw interest in and to invite national and international, private and public, preclinical and clinical initiatives to establish individualized and precise procedures for integrating novel targeted therapies and advanced imaging techniques.

Value of direct radionuclide cystography in diagnosing vesico-peritoneal fistulae.

A 36-year-old female patient underwent a laparoscopic surgery to remove a uterine fibroid. The procedure failed to relieve the pelvic pain, although its nature changed. After a period of observation, the patient was re-admitted to hospital on suspicion of a vesico-uterine fistula to be differentiated with endometriosis. Diagnostic investigations - cystography, cystoscopy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance - did not reveal a fistula. Laparoscopy was performed, with a possible biopsy in order to eliminate endometriosis. The result was negative, but chronic progressive reactive/inflammatory lesions were noticed, possibly indicating the presence of a vesico-peritoneal fistula. Therefore, a direct radionuclide cystography was performed. The scintigraphic images single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) showed a radioactive spot, indicative of a vesico-peritoneal fistula. The fistula was treated for three months by catheterisation of the urinary bladder. The follow-up SPECT-CT did not reveal any urine leakage from the bladder. The clinical symptoms disappeared as well.

Calculation of therapeutic activity of radioiodine in Graves' disease by means of Marinelli's formula, using technetium (99mTc) scintigraphy.

The therapeutic activity of 131I administered to patients with Graves' disease can be calculated by means of Marinelli's formula. The thyroidal iodine uptake (131IUmax) needed for the calculation is usually determined with the use of 131I. The purpose of the paper was to estimate 131IUmax on the basis of technetium uptake in the thyroid at 20 min (99mTcU20min). Eighty patients suffering from Graves' disease were qualified for radioiodine therapy with measurement of fT4, fT3, thyroid-stimulating hormone and its receptor (TRAb). Prior to the treatment, all the patients were euthyroid. 131IUmax for each patient was determined according to the levels of 131I after 24 h (131IU24h), while effective half-life (T eff) according to the measurements of 131IU24h and 131I uptake after 48 h (131IU48h). Additionally, on the day before measuring 131IU24h, 99mTcU20min was calculated for each patient. It was demonstrated that there existed a correlation, with statistical significance at p < 0.05, between the following pairs of values: TRAb and 131IU24h, TRAb and 99mTcU20min, and 99mTcU20min and 131IU24h. The interdependence between 131IU24h and 99mTcU20min at the level of significance p < 0.05 is described by the following algorithms: 131IU24h = 17.72 × ln (99mTcU20min) + 30.485, if TRAb < 10 IU/ml, and 131IU24h = 18.03 × ln (99mTcU20min) + 38.726, if TRAb > 10 IU/ml. It is possible to predict thyroid iodine uptake 131IU24h in Graves' disease on the basis of measuring the uptake of 99mTcU20min. This shortens the time necessary for diagnosis and enables the calculation of 131I activity using Marinelli's formula.

Single, very low dose (0.03 mg) of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) effectively increases radioiodine uptake in the I-131 treatment of large nontoxic multinodular goiter.

BACKGROUND: Radioiodine therapy (RIT) in patients with large nontoxic multinodular goiter (MNG) recently becomes more common method in comparison to surgery (especially in elderly patients and with contraindications because of severe chronic diseases other systems). Repeatedly low thyroid radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) decreases effectiveness of RIT or makes it impossible. The recombinant human thyrotropin can increase RAIU and improve the results of RIT. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: was to assess the influence of a single very low dose (0.03 mg) of rhTSH on RAIU and thyroid function in euthyroid (MNG-EU) and subclinical hyperthyroid (MNG-SC) patients with a large multinodular goiter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 patients (14 male, 26 female, age 57-80 yr) with large non-toxic MNG over 80 grams and with baseline RAIU < 40% were included into the double-blind randomized study and divided into two groups: rhTSH-group and control group. First group received the single intramuscular injection of 0.03 mg rhTSH and the second received placebo. The RAIU were measured 24 and 48 hours after the rhTSH and then all the patients were administered therapeutic doses of I-131. TSH and free thyroxine levels were measured at 1st and 2nd day after the injection of rhTSH and later, at 4 and 8 weeks after the RIT. RESULTS: The mean RAIU increased significantly from 30.44 ± 7.4% to 77.22 ± 8.7% (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in RAIU between euthyroid (MNG-EU) and subclinically hyperthyroid (MNG-SC) patients. The peak of serum TSH was noticed 24 hours after rhTSH injection and in MNG-EU patients it has remained within normal range, similarly as fT4. In the MNG-SC group the administration of rhTSH resulted in a significant increase in the TSH values after 24 hours, whose mean level slightly exceeded the upper limit of the normal range with normalization at 48 hours. 8 weeks after the RIT, the TSH and fT4 levels did not exceed the normal range and did not differ in a statistically significant way. CONCLUSIONS: Even the single very low dose of rhTSH increases the values of RAIU in significant way, in euthyroid and subclinically hyperthyroid patients. The administration of rhTSH is well-tolerated. Neoadjuvant administration of a low dose (0.03 mg) of rhTSH before I-131 seems to be an optimal method of management which may increase the effectiveness of RIT and decrease the exposure of the patients to absorbed doses of ionizing radiation.

Scientific Meeting Report Radiosynovectomy--radionuclide treatment of synovitis in the peripheral joints.

On 25 February 2012, an interdisciplinary scientific meeting on the Radiosynovectomy of Peripheral Joints (RPJ) was held in a lecture hall of Nukleomed clinic in Warsaw.

[Contemporary role of scintigraphy in diagnosis, and evaluation of radioiodine therapy for treatment of thyroid diseases]. / Wspólczesna rola badan scyntygraficznych w diagnostyce i ocenie skutecznosci radioizotopowego leczenia chorób tarczycy.

The paper presents a short historical outline and contemporary use of scintigraphic studies of thyroid gland. Appropriate recommendations and correct interpretations of the results of routine thyroid scans and the usefulness of other scintigraphic studies with 111In-octreoscan, 99mTc-MIBI, 99mTc-DMSA, 18FDG and radiolabeled monoclonal anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibodies were discussed in the light of the present thyroid diagnostic studies. Particular attention was paid to the dependence of the scintigraphic thyroid images upon the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level in the patient's serum. The chosen examples of scintigraphic studies show the advantages of scintigraphic evaluation of efficacy of radioiodine therapy. The most often mistakes of the scintigraphy interpretations were showed.