Prognostic Role of Pre- and Post-Treatment [18F]FDG PET/CT in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx in Patients Treated with Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of imaging with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in oropharynx cancer (OPC) has been demonstrated in the past. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of both baseline and post-treatment PET/CT in patients with OPC and treated with chemo- and/or radiotherapy. METHODS: The PET/CT parameters of scans performed before and after therapy were collected and analyzed to find significant prognosticators for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection's influence on the prognosis was also taken into account. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included in the study. The staging volumetric parameters of PET/CT were significant prognosticators for OS, while the same parameters were affordable predictors for PFS at the restaging evaluation. No significant correlations between HPV infection and PET/CT parameters were reported. CONCLUSION: The prognostic role of volumetric [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters in patients with OPC was reported.

Performance of [18F]FDG PET/CT in Diagnosing Cyst Infections in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and a Bivariate Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG PET/CT) has been suggested as a useful imaging method for diagnosing cyst infections in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The aim of this article is to provide evidence-based data in this setting. METHODS: A systematic literature review (exploring several bibliographic databases) and a bivariate meta-analysis were carried out to calculate the pooled diagnostic performance of [18F]FDG PET/CT in diagnosing probable cyst infection in ADPKD. RESULTS: Ten studies (282 PET/CT scans and 249 patients) were included in the analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of [18F]FDG PET/CT in this setting were 84.6% (95% confidence interval: 75.4-90.7) and 94.9% (95% confidence interval: 72.6-99.2), respectively, without statistical heterogeneity or significant publication bias. [18F]FDG PET/CT significantly changed patient management in more than half of ADPKD patients with suspected cyst infection. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]FDG PET/CT has high performance in diagnosing probable cyst infections in ADPKD patients with an impact on management in the majority of patients. Although more studies are warranted, the provided evidence-based data are an important step towards the integration of [18F]FDG PET/CT in clinical and diagnostic guidelines on probable cyst infection in ADPKD patients.

Role of 64CuCl2 PET/CT in Detecting and Staging Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Comparison with Contrast-Enhanced CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Molecular imaging of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MBC) is restricted to its locoregional and distant metastases, since most radiopharmaceuticals have a urinary excretion that limits the visualization of the primary tumor. 64CuCl2 , a positron-emitting radiotracer with nearly exclusive biliary elimination, could be well suited to exploring urinary tract neoplasms. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of 64CuCl2-based staging of patients with MBC; furthermore, we compared the diagnostic capability of this method with those of the current gold standards, that is, contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients referred to our institution for pathology-confirmed MBC staging/restaging between September 2021 and January 2023. All patients underwent ceCT, 18F-FDG, and 64CuCl2 PET/CT within 2 wk. Patient-based analysis and lesion-based analysis were performed for all of the potentially affected districts (overall, bladder wall, lymph nodes, skeleton, liver, lung, and pelvic soft tissue). Results: Forty-two patients (9 women) were enrolled. Thirty-six (86%) had evidence of disease, with a total of 353 disease sites. On patient-based analysis, ceCT and 64CuCl2 PET/CT showed higher sensitivity than 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting the primary tumor (P < 0.001); moreover, 64CuCl2 PET/CT was slightly more sensitive than 18F-FDG PET/CT in disclosing soft-tissue lesions (P < 0.05). Both PET methods were more specific and accurate than ceCT in classifying nodal lesions (P < 0.05). On lesion-based analysis, 64CuCl2 PET/CT outperformed 18F-FDG PET/CT and ceCT in detecting disease localizations overall (P < 0.001), in the lymph nodes (P < 0.01), in the skeleton (P < 0.001), and in the soft tissue (P < 0.05). Conclusion: 64CuCl2 PET/CT appears to be a sensitive modality for staging/restaging of MBC and might represent a "one-stop shop" diagnostic method in these scenarios.

The Potential Role of PSMA-Targeted PET in Salivary Gland Malignancies: An Updated Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested using positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of salivary gland malignancies (SGM), particularly adenoid-cystic carcinoma (ACC). METHODS: The authors conducted an extensive review of the scientific literature to examine the potential diagnostic role of PET/CT using PSMA-targeting radiopharmaceuticals in salivary gland malignancies (SGMs) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). This study included newly diagnosed SGM patients and those with disease recurrence in their imaging evaluation. RESULTS: This updated systematic review included a total of six studies that examined the diagnostic performance of PSMA-targeted PET/CT in ACC. The articles provided evidence of a high detection rate of PSMA-targeting PET/CT in ACC across all clinical contexts examined. SGMs other than ACC exhibited poorer diagnostic performance. CONCLUSIONS: PSMA-targeted PET/CT seems promising in detecting ACC lesions; moreover, PSMA appears to be a suitable potential target for radioligand therapy. Prospective multicentric studies are warranted to strengthen the role of PSMA-targeting radiopharmaceuticals in ACC, as both diagnostic and theragnostic agents.

Dual-Tracer Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography with [18F]FDG and [18F]fluorocholine in a Patient with Metastatic Parathyroid Carcinoma.

Here, we describe the case of a 43-year-old male patient with a metastatic parathyroid carcinoma who underwent dual-tracer whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with [18F]fluorocholine and fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) for staging. [18F]FDG PET/CT detected multiple cervical and mediastinal lymph nodal lesions with increased tracer uptake, whereas [18F]fluorocholine PET/CT detected increased tracer uptake on cervical and mediastinal lymph nodal lesions and bone and lung lesions with a better evaluation of metastatic spread. Due to these imaging findings, the patient underwent systemic treatment with chemotherapy. This case demonstrates the added value of dual-tracer PET/CT in this rare metastatic tumor.

Risk of TIRADS-based inappropriate FNAC in autonomous thyroid nodules is clinically negligible.

Objective: Thyroid nodule (TN) is usually managed according to Thyroid Imaging And Reporting Data Systems (TIRADS) with the major aim to reduce as much as possible unnecessary fine-needle aspiration cytologies (UN-FNACs). Since the assessment of autonomously functioning thyroid nodule (AFTN) according to TIRADS is heterogeneous, that virtually benign entity may increase the rate of UN-FNAC. This study retrospectively analyzed the appropriateness of TIRADS-based FNAC indication in AFTNs, also looking at the impact of TSH and nodule size. Methods: Cases diagnosed with AFTN on scintigraphy were searched. Patients who had undergone AFTN treatment, were on medications or supplementation that could affect thyroid function, or had multiple AFTNs were excluded. The AFTNs were assessed according to ACR-TIRADS. Results: Forty-eight AFTNs were included of which 37.5% had FNAC indication according to TIRADS. The FNAC indication rate in the case of TSH lower than 0.4 mIU/L was significantly higher than in other cases (P = 0.0078). The most accurate TSH cut-off and AFTN size associated with UN-FNAC were ≤ 0.41 mIU/L and > 22 mm, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that both TSH and nodule size were independent predictors of UN-FNAC with OR of 6.65 and 6.46, respectively. According to these data, the rate of FNAC indication dropped to 4.16%. Conclusion: Inappropriate FNACs in AFTNs are primarily observed in patients with low TSH and large AFTN. Since these cases typically undergo scintigraphy, the risk of TIRADS-based UN-FNAC is clinically negligible. There is no need for integrating other imaging procedures into the TIRADS model.

The Homunculus of unspecific bone uptakes associated with PSMA-targeted tracers: a systematic review-based definition.

PURPOSE: Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-targeted Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has revolutionised prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and treatment, offering superior diagnostic accuracy over traditional methods and enabling theragnostic applications. However, a significant diagnostic challenge has emerged with identifying unspecific bone uptakes (UBUs), which could lead to over-staging and inappropriate treatment decisions if misinterpreted. This systematic review explores the phenomenon of UBUs in PCa patients undergoing PSMA-PET imaging. METHODS: Studies assessing the prevalence, topographical distribution, and potential clinical implications of UBUs were selected according to the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method and evaluated with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. RESULTS: The percentage of PCa patients with UBUs on PSMA-PET scans ranged from 0 to 71.7%, depending on the radiopharmaceutical used, with [18F]PSMA-1007 showing the highest incidence. The ribs are the primary site of UBUs across all PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals. The spine is the second most frequent UBU site for [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11, [18F]DCFPyL, [18F]rhPSMA-7, while the pelvic girdle represents the second most frequent site for [18F]PSMA-1007. The average maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax) of UBUs varied from 3.4 to 7.7 and was generally lower than that of bone metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the need for heightened awareness and precise interpretation of UBUs to avoid potential over-staging and subsequent inappropriate treatment decisions. Considering the radiopharmaceutical used, PET-derived semiquantitative parameters, the topographical distribution of UBUs, and accurately evaluating the pre-test probability based on clinical and laboratory parameters may aid nuclear medicine physicians in interpreting PSMA-PET findings.

Increased [68Ga]Ga-SST uptake in the uncinate pancreatic process in new digital PET/CT machine and potential association with clinical and histologic factors in NET patients.

INTRODUCTION: A physiological increase in the uptake of [68Ga]Ga-labeled somatostatin analogues ([68Ga]Ga-SST) PET tracers has been reported in the uncinate pancreatic process (UP) and might be even higher in latest generation of PET/CT scanners and might be falsely interpreted as NET. We aimed to investigate the uptake of UP in a large population of NET patients who underwent [68Ga]Ga-SST PET/CT with digital SiPM detectors. We also explored potential associations between UP uptake and various clinical, imaging, and pathological factors routinely assessed in NET patients. METHODS: We analyzed all consecutive NET patients from July 2018 to June 2022 in this retrospective, single-center study. All patients underwent a [68Ga]Ga-SST PET/CT scan on a digital SiPM PET/CT scanner. On visual analysis, we distinguished between normal linear and homogenous UP uptake or abnormal if otherwise. We compared SUVmax/mean in patients with normal UP uptake to those with abnormal UP uptake with suspicious NET lesions on contrast-enhanced CT (ce-CT) and according to the site of the primary NET (pancreatic NET vs. other), patient gender (female vs. male) and tumor grade (grade 1-2 vs. 3) using a Mann-Whitney test. We also assessed the correlation between SUVmax/mean values in UP with patients' age, primary NET Ki-67 counting, and its SUVmax/mean, TLA and MTV values. RESULTS: We included 131 NET patients with a total of 34 [68Ga]Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and 113 [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT scans. An abnormal UP uptake was seen in 32 patients with 65.7% of suspicious NET lesion or extrinsic compression on morphological imaging. Normal UP uptake SUVmax/mean were measured in 115 [68Ga]Ga-SST scans (78.2%) with normal UP uptake and without suspicious lesion on morphological imaging. We found an average SUVmax of 12.3 ± 4.1 for [68Ga]Ga-DOTATATE and 19.8 ± 9.8 g/ml for [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC, hence higher than those reported in the literature [SUVmax 5 ± 1.6 to 12.6 ± 2.2 g/ml] with significant difference with abnormal UP uptake and between both PET tracers (both p < 0.01). Significant results were a higher UP uptake on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC in male patients (p = 0.02) and significant associations between UP uptake on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and SUVmax/mean of the primary tumor (ρ [0.337-0.363]; p [0.01-0.02]). CONCLUSION: We confirmed a higher and very frequent UP uptake in latest SiPM-detector [68Ga]Ga-SST PET/CT with an even higher uptake in patients that had [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT. SUVmean/max were significantly higher in abnormal UP uptake but there were overlaps with UP SUV values for both [68Ga]Ga-SST and a correlation to morphological imaging is crucial. Besides, significant associations between UP uptake and SUVmean/max of the primary NET as well as patients' gender were seen in the larger cohort of [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC patients suggesting that both physiological and pathological parameters could affect UP uptake.

The Role of Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor Positron Emission Tomography in Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases: An Updated Systematic Review.

The role of fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is emerging for the assessment of non-oncological diseases, such as inflammatory and infectious diseases, even if the evidence in the literature is still in its initial phases. We conducted a systematic search of Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library databases for studies published before 31 December 2023 reporting infectious and inflammatory disease imaging with FAPI PET/CT. We included twenty-one studies for a total of 1046 patients. The most frequent disease studied was lung interstitial disease, investigated in six studies for a total of 200 patients, followed by bone and joint diseases in two studies and 185 patients, IgG4-related disease in 53 patients, and Crohn's disease in 30 patients. Despite the heterogeneity of studies in terms of study design and technical features, FAPI PET/CT showed a high detection rate and diagnostic role. Moreover, when compared with 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT (n = 7 studies), FAPI PET/CT seems to have better diagnostic performances. The presence of chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling, typical of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, may be the underlying mechanism of FAPI uptake.

Prognostic and Predictive Role of SPOP Mutations in Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Mutations in the speckle-type POZ (SPOP) gene are frequently identified in prostate cancer (PC); yet, prognostic implications for affected patients remain unclear. Limited consensus exists regarding tailored treatments for SPOP-mutant (SPOPmut) PC. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the prognostic and predictive significance of SPOP mutations across distinct PC stages and treatments. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted up to January 29, 2024. The meta-analysis included studies comparing survival outcomes between SPOPmut and SPOP wild-type (SPOPwt) PC. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: From 669 records, 26 studies (including five abstracts) were analyzed. A meta-analysis of metastasis-free survival in localized (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.88; p < 0.01) and overall survival (OS) in metastatic PC (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.53-0.76; p < 0.01) showed a favorable prognosis for patients with SPOPmut PC. In metastatic settings, SPOP mutations correlated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) and OS in patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy ± androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (HR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.35-0.76, p < 0.01, and HR: 0.60, 95% CI:0.46-0.79, p < 0.01, respectively). In metastatic castration-resistant PC, only abiraterone provided improved PFS and OS to patients with SPOP mutations compared with patients with SPOPwt, but data were limited. SPOP mutations did not correlate with improved PFS (p = 0.80) or OS (p = 0.27) for docetaxel. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SPOPmut PC seem to exhibit superior oncological outcomes compared with patients with SPOPwt. Tailored risk stratification and treatment approaches should be explored in such patients. PATIENT SUMMARY: Speckle-type POZ (SPOP) mutations could be a favorable prognostic factor in patients with prostate cancer (PC) and may also predict better progression-free and overall survival than treatment with hormonal agents. Therefore, less intensified treatments omitting chemotherapy for patients with SPOP-mutant PC should be explored in clinical trials.

Acute Aseptic Meningitis Temporally Associated with Intravenous Polyclonal Immunoglobulin Therapy: A Systematic Review.

An acute aseptic meningitis has been occasionally observed on intravenous polyclonal human immunoglobulin therapy. Since case reports cannot be employed to draw inferences about the relationships between immunoglobulin therapy and meningitis, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Eligible were cases, case series, and pharmacovigilance studies. We found 71 individually documented cases (36 individuals ≤ 18 years of age) of meningitis. Ninety percent of cases presented ≤ 3 days after initiating immunoglobulin therapy and recovered within ≤ 7 days (with a shorter disease duration in children: ≤ 3 days in 29 (94%) cases). In 22 (31%) instances, the authors noted a link between the onset of meningitis and a rapid intravenous infusion of immunoglobulins. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a predominantly neutrophilic (N = 46, 66%) pleocytosis. Recurrences after re-exposure were observed in eight (N = 11%) patients. Eight case series addressed the prevalence of meningitis in 4089 patients treated with immunoglobulins. A pooled prevalence of 0.6% was noted. Finally, pharmacovigilance data revealed that meningitis temporally associated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy occurred with at least five different products. In conclusion, intravenous immunoglobulin may cause an acute aseptic meningitis. The clinical features remit rapidly after discontinuing the medication.

The Clinical Role of CXCR4-Targeted PET on Lymphoproliferative Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background/Objectives: We conducted a comprehensive investigation to explore the pathological expression of the CXCR4 receptor in lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) using [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT or PET/MRI technology. The PICO question was as follows: What is the diagnostic role (outcome) of [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET (intervention) in patients with LPDs (problem/population)? Methods: The study was written based on the reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, and it was registered on the prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) website (CRD42024506866). A comprehensive computer literature search of Scopus, MEDLINE, Scholar, and Embase databases was conducted, including articles indexed up to February 2024. To the methodological evaluation of the studies used the quality assessment of diagnosis accuracy studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Results: Of the 8380 records discovered, 23 were suitable for systematic review. Fifteen studies (on 571 LPD patients) focused on diagnosis and staging, and eight trials (194 LPD patients) assessed treatment response. Conclusions: The main conclusions that can be inferred from the published studies are as follows: (a) [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET may have excellent diagnostic performance in the study of several LPDs; (b) [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor PET may be superior to [18F]FDG or complementary in some LPDs variants and settings; (c) multiple myeloma seems to have a high uptake of [68Ga]Ga-Pentixafor. Overall, this technique is probably suitable for imaging, staging, and follow-up on patients with LPD. Due to limited data, further studies are warranted to confirm the promising role of [68Ga]Ga-Pantixafor in this context.

The Diagnostic Performance of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in Identifying Richter Transformation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: An Updated Systematic Review and Bivariate Meta-Analysis.

Richter transformation is a rare phenomenon characterized by the transformation of cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into a more aggressive lymphoma variant. The early identification of CLLs with a high risk of RT is fundamental. In this field, 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG PET/CT) has been shown to be a non-invasive and promising tool, but apparently, unclear data seem to be present in the literature. This systematic review and bivariate meta-analysis aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT and its parameters in predicting RT. Between 2006 and 2024, 15 studies were published on this topic, including 1593 CLL patients. Among semiquantitative variables, SUVmax was the most investigated, and the best threshold derived for detecting RT was five. With this cut-off value, a pooled sensitivity of 86.8% (95% CI: 78.5-93.3), a pooled specificity of 48.1% (95% CI: 27-69.9), a pooled negative predictive value of 90.5% (95% CI: 88.4-92.4), a pooled negative likelihood ratio of 0.35 (95% CI: 0.17-0.70), a pooled positive likelihood ratio of 1.8 (95% CI: 1.3-2.4), and a pooled diagnostic odds ratio of 6.7 (3.5-12.5) were obtained. With a higher cut-off (SUVmax = 10), the specificity increased while the sensitivity reduced. The other metabolic features, like metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis, and radiomic features, were only marginally investigated with controversial evidence.

Natural History of Myocardial αvß3 Integrin Expression After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Correlation with Changes in Myocardial Blood Flow.

Angiogenesis is an essential part of the cardiac repair process after myocardial infarction, but its spatiotemporal dynamics remain to be fully deciphered.68Ga-NODAGA-Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) is a PET tracer targeting αvß3 integrin expression, which is a marker of angiogenesis. Methods: In this prospective single-center trial, we aimed to monitor angiogenesis through myocardial integrin αvß3 expression in 20 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In addition, the correlations between the expression levels of myocardial αvß3 integrin and the subsequent changes in 82Rb PET/CT parameters, including rest and stress myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial flow reserve (MFR), and wall motion abnormalities, were assessed. The patients underwent 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT and rest and stress 82Rb-PET/CT at 1 wk, 1 mo, and 3 mo after STEMI. To assess 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptake, the summed rest 82Rb and 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD images were coregistered, and segmental SUVs were calculated (RGD SUV). Results: At 1 wk after STEMI, 19 participants (95%) presented increased 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD uptake in the infarcted myocardium. Seventeen participants completed the full imaging series. The values of the RGD SUV in the infarcted myocardium were stable 1 mo after STEMI (1 wk vs. 1 mo, 1.47 g/mL [interquartile range (IQR), 1.37-1.64 g/mL] vs. 1.47 g/mL [IQR, 1.30-1.66 g/mL]; P = 0.9), followed by a significant partial decrease at 3 mo (1.32 g/mL [IQR, 1.12-1.71 g/mL]; P = 0.011 vs. 1 wk and 0.018 vs. 1 mo). In segment-based analysis, positive correlations were found between RGD SUV at 1 wk and the subsequent changes in stress MBF (Spearman ρ: r = 0.17, P = 0.0033) and MFR (Spearman ρ: r = 0.31, P < 0.0001) at 1 mo. A negative correlation was found between RGD SUV at 1 wk and the subsequent changes in wall motion abnormalities at 3 mo (Spearman ρ: r = -0.12, P = 0.035). Conclusion: The present study found that αvß3 integrin expression is significantly increased in the infarcted myocardium 1 wk after STEMI. This expression remains stable after 1 mo and partially decreases after 3 mo. Initial αvß3 integrin expression at 1 wk is significantly weakly correlated with subsequent improvements in stress MBF, MFR, and wall motion analysis.

Kidney and urogenital abnormalities in Down syndrome: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reviews on Down syndrome do not or only marginally address the issue of kidney and urogenital tract abnormalities, and lower urinary tract dysfunctions. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of the literature.  METHODS: A literature search was undertaken in the Library of Medicine, Web of Science and Excerpta Medica. The search algorithm combined various keywords: (Down syndrome OR trisomy 21 OR mongolism) AND (kidney OR urinary tract OR bladder) AND (malformation OR dysfunction OR anomaly OR abnormality OR size). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement was used. RESULTS: Eight case-control studies were retained for the final analysis. Three studies addressed the prevalence of kidney and urogenital tract abnormalities: an increased pooled relative risk of 5.49 (95%-CI: 1.78-16.93) was observed in Down syndrome. Penile malformations, obstructive malformations (including urethral valves), dilated urinary tract system, and kidney hypodysplasia were especially common. Three reports addressed the prevalence of lower urinary tract dysfunction: an increased pooled relative risk of 2.95 (95%-CI: 1.15-7.56) was observed. Finally, an autoptic study and an ultrasound study disclosed a reduced kidney size in Down syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicates that abnormalities of the kidney and urogenital tract, lower urinary tract dysfunctions, and a reduced kidney size present with an increased frequency in individuals with Down syndrome.

EANM consensus document on the use of [18F]FDG PET/CT in fever and inflammation of unknown origin.

PURPOSE: Patients with fever and inflammation of unknown origin (FUO/IUO) are clinically challenging due to variable clinical presentations with nonspecific symptoms and many differential diagnoses. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) is increasingly used in FUO and IUO, but the optimal diagnostic strategy remains controversial. This consensus document aims to assist clinicians and nuclear medicine specialists in the appropriate use of [18F]FDG-PET/CT in FUO and IUO based on current evidence. METHODS: A working group created by the EANM infection and inflammation committee performed a systematic literature search based on PICOs with "patients with FUO/IUO" as population, "[18F]FDG-PET/CT" as intervention, and several outcomes including pre-scan characteristics, scan protocol, diagnostic yield, impact on management, prognosis, and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: We included 68 articles published from 2001 to 2023: 9 systematic reviews, 49 original papers on general adult populations, and 10 original papers on specific populations. All papers were analysed and included in the evidence-based recommendations. CONCLUSION: FUO and IUO remains a clinical challenge and [18F]FDG PET/CT has a definite role in the diagnostic pathway with an overall diagnostic yield or helpfulness in 50-60% of patients. A positive scan is often contributory by directly guiding treatment or subsequent diagnostic procedure. However, a negative scan may be equally important by excluding focal disease and predicting a favorable prognosis. Similar results are obtained in specific populations such as ICU-patients, children and HIV-patients.

Reappraising the role of thyroid scintigraphy in the era of TIRADS: A clinically-oriented viewpoint.

Thyroid nodules (TNs) are a common entity, with the majority being benign. Therefore, employing an accurate rule-out strategy in clinical practice is essential. In the thyroid field, the current era is significantly marked by the worldwide diffusion of ultrasound (US)-based malignancy risk stratification systems of TN, usually reported as Thyroid Imaging Reporting And Data System (TIRADS). With the advent of US (and later TIRADS), the role of thyroid scintigraphy (TS) in clinical practice has gradually diminished. The authors of the present paper believe that the role of TS should be reappraised, also considering its essential role in detecting autonomously functioning thyroid nodules and its limited contribution to detecting thyroid cancers. Thus, this document aims to furnish endocrinologists, radiologists, surgeons, and nuclear medicine physicians with practical information to appropriately use TS.