Bench to bedside molecular functional imaging in translational cancer medicine: to image or to imagine?

Ongoing research on malignant and normal cell biology has substantially enhanced the understanding of the biology of cancer and carcinogenesis. This has led to the development of methods to image the evolution of cancer, target specific biological molecules, and study the anti-tumour effects of novel therapeutic agents. At the same time, there has been a paradigm shift in the field of oncological imaging from purely structural or functional imaging to combined multimodal structure-function approaches that enable the assessment of malignancy from all aspects (including molecular and functional level) in a single examination. The evolving molecular functional imaging using specific molecular targets (especially with combined positron-emission tomography [PET] computed tomography [CT] using 2- [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose [FDG] and other novel PET tracers) has great potential in translational research, giving specific quantitative information with regard to tumour activity, and has been of pivotal importance in diagnoses and therapy tailoring. Furthermore, molecular functional imaging has taken a key place in the present era of translational cancer research, producing an important tool to study and evolve newer receptor-targeted therapies, gene therapies, and in cancer stem cell research, which could form the basis to translate these agents into clinical practice, popularly termed "theranostics". Targeted molecular imaging needs to be developed in close association with biotechnology, information technology, and basic translational scientists for its best utility. This article reviews the current role of molecular functional imaging as one of the main pillars of translational research.

Imaging of Neck Nodes in Head and Neck Cancers - a Comprehensive Update.

Cervical lymph node metastases from head and neck squamous cell cancers significantly reduce disease-free survival and worsen overall prognosis and, hence, deserve more aggressive management and follow-up. As per the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual, extranodal extension, especially in human papillomavirus-negative cancers, has been incorporated in staging as it is important in deciding management and significantly impacts the outcome of head and neck squamous cell cancer. Lymph node imaging with various radiological modalities, including ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, has been widely used, not only to demonstrate nodal involvement but also for guided histopathological evaluation and therapeutic intervention. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, together with positron emission tomography, are used widely for the follow-up of treated patients. Finally, there is an emerging role for artificial intelligence in neck node imaging that has shown promising results, increasing the accuracy of detection of nodal involvement, especially normal-appearing nodes. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of involved neck nodes with a focus on sentinel node anatomy, pathogenesis, imaging correlates (including radiogenomics and artificial intelligence) and the role of image-guided interventions.

Positron emission tomography thyroid incidentaloma: Is it different in Indian subcontinent?

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET) forms an integral part in work-up and follow-up of various malignancies. With the increased use of PET in oncology, finding of an incidental focal thyroid uptake (incidentaloma) is not unusual and presents a diagnostic challenge. AIM: The aim of the following study is to evaluate the frequency and radio-pathologic correlation of focal 18-fluoro deoxyglucose uptake (FDG) on PET within the thyroid from a large series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 37,000 consecutive patients who underwent FDG-PET at tertiary cancer center in India. Radiological, pathological, PET scan and follow-up details were evaluated. Statistical analyzes were carried out using Mann Whitney test and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: Abnormal thyroid uptake was seen in 78 (0.2%) patients. Nearly 61 (0.16%) scans had focal and 17 (0.04%) had diffuse FDG uptake. A total of 57 patients with focal uptake were available for further evaluation. No further evaluation was done in 24 (42.1%) patients who had advanced index malignancy. Of the remaining 33 patients 26 were benign and seven were a cause for concern (four primary thyroid cancers, one follicular neoplasm with hurthle cell change and two metastatic cancers). There was no significant correlation in Standardized uptake value (SUV) max of benign and malignant lesion (P = 0.5 on Mann Whitney) or size (r = 0.087 Pearson correlation co-efficient P= 0.667). CONCLUSION: Incidence of PET incidentaloma is low in this large cohort of Indian patients. Nearly 27% of focal incidentaloma were malignant. There was no correlation between the SUVmax, size and malignancy.

Abortion as a cause of maternal death.

PIP: 185 deaths out of 83,135 outpatient cases, 19,027 admissions, 8121 deliveries, and 808 abortions are presented from a hospital in North India. 35 deaths occurred associated with abortion, which was an increase, vs. a declining over-all maternal death rate. Hemorrhage, sepsis and ruptured uterus were first, second and third causes of death, respectively.^ieng