Valor pronóstico de los parámetros hematológicos y los parámetros metabólicos de la PET/TC con [18F]FDG en el cáncer de cabeza y cuello / Prognostic value of haematological parameters and [18F]FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in head and neck cancer

Objetivo Determinar la utilidad de los cocientes neutrófilos/linfocitos (N/L) y plaquetas/linfocitos (P/L), así como de parámetros cuantitativos de la PET/TC con [18F]FDG, como factores pronósticos para la supervivencia global (SG), la supervivencia cáncer específica (SCE) y la supervivencia libre de progresión (SLP) en pacientes con carcinoma escamoso de cabeza y cuello (CyC) Material y métodos Se valoraron retrospectivamente 66 pacientes (56 hombres) diagnosticados de CyC durante un intervalo de 8años. Se determinaron los parámetros SUV máximo (SUVmax), volumen metabólico tumoral (MTV) y glucólisis tumoral total (TLG) del estudio PET/TC al diagnóstico. Tras tratamiento con quimiorradioterapia, se valoró la supervivencia de los pacientes. El modelo de regresión de Cox y el método de Kaplan-Meier se utilizaron para analizar factores pronósticos y curvas de supervivencia. Resultados El seguimiento medio fue de 50,4meses, produciéndose 39 recurrencias-progresiones y 39 fallecimientos. En el análisis univariante los parámetros metabólicos, excepto el SUVmax, fueron factores predictivos para las tres supervivencias, y los dos parámetros sanguíneos lo fueron para la SG y la SCE. La TLG fue el único factor predictivo en el análisis multivariante. Las tres curvas de supervivencias fueron significativamente diferentes para los parámetros metabólicos y la curva de SG para el cociente N/L. Se apreciaron correlaciones entre el cociente N/L, el MTV y la TLG. No se demostraron correlaciones entre el cociente P/L y los parámetros metabólicos. Conclusión El uso de marcadores hematológicos y metabólicos permitiría identificar pacientes con un alto riesgo de recurrencias y pobre supervivencia e individualizar el tratamiento aplicando terapias más agresivas (AU)

Aim To determine the usefulness of neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) and platelet/lymphocyte (P/L) ratios as well as quantitative [18F]FDG PET/CT parameters as prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HyN). Material and methods Sixty-six patients (56 men) diagnosed with HyN carcinoma were retrospectively assessed over an 8-year interval. Maximum SUV (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) parameters were determined from the PET/CT study at diagnosis. After treatment with chemoradiotherapy, patient survival was assessed. The Cox regression model and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to analyse prognostic factors and survival curves. Results Median follow-up was 50.4months, with 39 recurrences-progressions and 39 deaths. In the univariate analysis, metabolic parameters, except SUVmax, were predictive factors for all three survivals and the two blood parameters were predictive for OS and EFS. TLG was the only predictive factor in the multivariate analysis. The three survival curves were significantly different for the metabolic parameters and the OS curve for the N/L ratio. Correlations were seen between N/L ratio, MTV and TLG. No correlations were demonstrated between P/L ratio and metabolic parameters. Conclusion The use of haematological and metabolic markers would allow to identify patients with a high risk of recurrences and poor survival and to individualise treatment by applying more aggressive therapies (AU)

Cumplimentación del consentimiento informado en cirugía radioguiada por los servicios de Cirugía General y Medicina Nuclear de una unidad de cirugía radioguiada / Completion of the informed consent in radioguided surgery by the General Surgery and Nuclear Medicine services of a radioguided surgery unit

Objetivo Identificar la frecuencia de errores en los documentos de consentimiento informado en cirugía radioguiada en un hospital de tercer nivel y detectar posibles causas o factores asociados a un mayor riesgo de error. Material y método Se analizaron los consentimientos informados de un total de 369 intervenciones de cirugía radioguiada, cumplimentados por los servicios de Medicina Nuclear y Cirugía General, y se analizó el grado de cumplimentación de los mismos y su correlación con facultativos responsables, tipo de enfermedad e intervención, tiempo de espera y cumplimentación del consentimiento de la otra especialidad. Resultados Se identificaron errores en 22 consentimientos de Medicina Nuclear y 71 consentimientos de Cirugía General. El error más común fue la ausencia de identificación del facultativo responsable (17 en Medicina Nuclear, 51 en Cirugía General), y el segundo más común la ausencia de documento (2 en Medicina Nuclear, 20 en Cirugía General). Existieron diferencias significativas en los errores cometidos en función del médico responsable, sin encontrarse correlación significativa con el resto de las variables. Conclusiones Los médicos responsables fueron el principal factor asociado a un mayor riesgo de error en la cumplimentación de consentimientos informados. Serían recomendables nuevos estudios para analizar factores casuales y posibles intervenciones para minimizar errores (AU)

Objective To identify the frequency of errors in the informed consent documents in radioguided surgery in a third level hospital and to detect possible causes or factors associated with a greater risk of error. Material and method The informed consents of a total of 369 radioguided surgery interventions, completed by the Nuclear Medicine and General Surgery services, were analyzed, as well as their degree of completion and its correlation with responsible physicians, type of pathology and intervention, waiting time and completion of the consent of the other specialty. Results Errors were identified in 22 consent forms for Nuclear Medicine and 71 consent forms for General Surgery. The most common error was the absence of identification of the responsible physician (17 in Nuclear Medicine, 51 in General Surgery), and the second most common was the absence of a document (2 in Nuclear Medicine, 20 in General Surgery). There were significant differences in the errors made depending on the doctor in charge, without finding a significant correlation with the other variables. Conclusions The responsible physicians were the main factor associated with a greater risk of error in the completion of informed consent. New studies would be recommended to analyze causal factors and possible interventions to minimize errors (AU)

Criterios PERCIST, Hopkins y parámetros metabólicos de la PET/TC como factores pronósticos en el cáncer escamoso de cabeza y cuello / PERCIST and Hopkins criteria and PET/CT metabolic parameters as prognostic factors in squamous head and neck cancer

Objetivo Valorar la utilidad clínica de los criterios PERCIST, Hopkins y de los cambios en los parámetros cuantitativos de la PET/TC con [18F]FDG como factores pronósticos para la supervivencia libre de progresión (SLP) y la supervivencia cáncer específica (SCE) en pacientes con cáncer escamoso de cabeza y cuello tratados mediante quimiorradioterapia. Material y métodos Se valoraron retrospectivamente 40 pacientes (34 hombres) diagnosticados de cáncer escamoso de cabeza y cuello durante un intervalo de 8 años. Se utilizaron los criterios PERCIST y Hopkins para determinar la respuesta al tratamiento. Así mismo, se cuantificaron las variaciones de los parámetros metabólicos SUV máximo (ΔSUVmax), volumen metabólico tumoral (ΔMTV) y glicólisis tumoral total (ΔTLG) entre los estudios PET/TC pre- y postratamiento. El modelo de regresión de Cox, las curvas ROC y el método de Kaplan-Meier se aplicaron para el análisis de factores pronósticos y curvas de supervivencia. Resultado El seguimiento medio fue de 39,4 meses produciéndose 24 recidivas-progresiones y 22 muertes. Tanto los criterios PERCIST y Hopkins como los tres parámetros metabólicos fueron factores predictivos en análisis univariante y solo el ΔSUVmax en el multivariante. El análisis de supervivencia mostró curvas de SLP y SCE significativamente diferentes para los cinco parámetros considerados. Conclusión La aplicación de los criterios PERCIST y Hopkins, así como los ΔSUVmax, ΔMTV y ΔTLG de los estudios PET/TC demostraron ser factores pronósticos para la supervivencia en pacientes de nuestro entorno tratados por cáncer de cabeza y cuello. Los resultados podrían ayudar a personalizar el tratamiento (AU)

Aim To assess the clinical utility of PERCIST and Hopkins criteria and changes in [18F]FDG PET/CT quantitative parameters as prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by chemoradiotherapy. Material and methods Forty patients (34 men) diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively assessed over an interval of 8 years. PERCIST and Hopkins criteria were used to assess response to treatment. Variations in the metabolic parameters maximum SUV (ΔSUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (ΔMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (ΔTLG) between pre- and post-treatment PET/CT studies were also determined. Cox regression model, ROC curves and Kaplan-Meier method were used for the analysis of prognostic factors and survival curves. Results The average follow-up was 39.4 months, with 24 progressions and 22 deaths. Both PERCIST and Hopkins criteria and the three metabolic parameters were predictive factors in the univariate analysis and only ΔSUVmax in the multivariate analysis. Survival analysis showed statistically significant differences in PFS and CSS curves for the five parameters considered. Conclusion Application of PERCIST and Hopkins criteria as well as ΔSUVmax, ΔMTV and ΔTLG from PET/CT studies proved to be prognostic factors for survival in patients in our setting treated for head and neck cancer. The results could help to personalize treatment (AU)

Completion of the informed consent in radioguided surgery by the General Surgery and Nuclear Medicine services of a radioguided surgery unit.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of errors in informed consent documents in radioguided surgery in a third level hospital and to detect possible causes or factors associated with a greater risk of error. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Informed consent forms of a total of 369 radioguided surgery interventions, completed by the Nuclear Medicine and General Surgery services, were analyzed, and the degree of completion of the forms and its correlation with the physicians responsible, type of pathology, intervention, and waiting time were compared with the completion of consent by another specialty. RESULTS: Errors were identified in 22 consent forms from Nuclear Medicine and 71 from General Surgery. The most common error was the absence of identification of the physician responsible (17 in Nuclear Medicine, 51 in General Surgery), and the second most common was the absence of a document (2 in Nuclear Medicine, 20 in General Surgery). There were significant differences in the errors made depending on the doctor in charge, with no significant correlation with the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: The physicians responsible were the main factor associated with a greater risk of error in the completion of informed consent forms. Further studies are needed to analyze the causal factors and possible interventions to minimize errors.

PERCIST and Hopkins criteria and PET/CT metabolic parameters as prognostic factors in squamous head and neck cancer.

AIM: To assess the clinical utility of PERCIST and Hopkins criteria and changes in [18F]FDG PET/CT quantitative parameters as prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by chemoradiotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients (34 men) diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively assessed over an interval of 8 years. PERCIST and Hopkins criteria were used to assess response to treatment. Variations in the metabolic parameters maximum SUV (ΔSUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (ΔMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (ΔTLG) between pre- and post-treatment PET/CT studies were also determined. The Cox regression model, ROC curves and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for the analysis of prognostic factors and survival curves. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 39.4 months, with 24 progressions and 22 deaths. Both PERCIST and Hopkins criteria and the three metabolic parameters were predictive factors in the univariate analysis and only ΔSUVmax was in the multivariate analysis. Survival analysis showed statistically significant differences in PFS and CSS curves for the five parameters considered. CONCLUSION: Application of PERCIST and Hopkins criteria as well as ΔSUVmax, ΔMTV and ΔTLG from PET/CT studies proved to be prognostic factors for survival in patients in our setting for treating head and neck cancer. The results may help to personalize treatment.

Contribution of brain perfusion SPECT in the diagnosis of a case of cerebral malaria. / Aportación diagnóstica de la SPECT de perfusión cerebral en un caso de malaria cerebral.

Cerebral malaria is a serious complication of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Its pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations are still currently being studied. Structural imaging techniques such as CT and MRI provide non-specific information during the diagnostic process. However, there are hardly any references on the use and potential benefits of radioisotope procedures for this pathology. In this article we present the case of a patient diagnosed with cerebral malaria treated in our centre, subjected to progressive monitoring using SPECT perfusion.

Coexistence of two different types of lymphoma in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome. The usefulness of the PET-CT.

Sjögren syndrome is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease in which there is an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Neoplastic lung involvement and the coexistence of different histological types of lymphoma are uncommon in these patients. These patients frequently have associated infectious processes, most of them due to oral candidiasis. When there is immunodeficiency, the hematogenous spread of the fungus may affect the lungs. We present the case of a female patient diagnosed with follicular non- Hodgkin lymphoma within the context of long-term Sjögren syndrome. In addition to the neoplastic nodal and splenic disease, the PET-CT study showed extensive lung involvement. Due to suspicion of a false positive result for pulmonary Candida infection, antifungal treatment was initiated, with no response. A further histological study showed the presence of a second and different type of lymphoma.

[Radioguided surgery of intestinal carcinoid tumor relapse. Role of SPECT-CT]. / Cirugía radiodirigida de metástasis de tumor carcinoide intestinal. Importancia de la realización de SPECT-TAC.

We present a patient with clinical suspicion of intestinal carcinoid relapse confirmed by a somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. A very intense somatostatin avid abdominal lesion was located and radioguided surgery was proposed. Prior to the procedure, we performed a SPECT-CT that made it possible to detect and localize the lesion anatomically, thus facilitating the performance of the radioguided procedure. Furthermore, it modified the planning of the intervention with the adequate physical and human resources to prevent the possible surgical complications.

[Optimization of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer by intraoperative axillary palpation]. / Optimización de la biopsia selectiva de ganglio centinela en el cáncer de mama mediante palpación axilar intraoperatoria.

INTRODUCTION: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) by radioisotopes is a widely accepted and reliable surgical method for staging breast cancer in patients with unknown positive axillary lymph nodes involvement. The main limitation of this method is due to the appearance of false negatives that may be caused by tumor lymph node blockage of the sentinel lymph node and uptake in the neighboring lymph nodes. Infiltered sentinel nodes are generally increased in size and firm. Thus, they can be detected by intraoperative palpation, even when there is no uptake by the radiotracer. AIM: To reduce the false negative rates by applying intraoperative axillary palpation after SNB. METHOD: Over a two-year period, we complemented the SNB in 168 patients with careful intraoperative axillary palpation, detecting and removing all the palpable suspicious lymph nodes (SLN) that were analyzed as sentinel nodes RESULTS: In 32 out of 168 patients, 50 palpable SLN were found. In 3 out of 32 patients, 4 infiltrated SLNs were demonstrated with negative SNB and positive axillary lymphadenectomy. Thus, intraoperative palpation avoided false negative results. In one patient, one palpable SLN with tumor involvement was observed and SNB was also positive. In the remaining 28 patients, the histological analysis of 45 SLN was negative for tumor but SNB was positive in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative axillary palpation, once the SNB was done, reduced the false negative rate. Thus, we consider that it should be included as one more part of this procedure.

[Negative predictive value of (123)I Ioflupane SPECT in movement disorders]. / Valor predictivo negativo del SPECT con Ioflupano (123)I en los trastornos del movimiento.

OBJECTIVE: A non-degenerative etiology is supported by a normal SPI [normal SPECT with 123I-Ioflupane (SPI)] in a patient with movement disorders (MD). METHOD: A total of 196 SPIs were conducted during the period of 2004/05. Of these, 44 were selected in order to rule out degenerative MD (DMD), the results being normal in these patients. The clinical background of these patients were reviewed in a minimum period of 24 months (range 24-40), collecting the diagnoses reached by the neurology specialists. The SPI were evaluated using a consensus, according to subjective criteria and quantification. RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 44 patients (81%) were identified at 2 years of having nondegenerative movement disorders: 18 as essential tremor, 5 as drug-induced disorder, 4 as vascular disease, 3 as peripheral polyneuropathy, 2 postural tremors, 1 writer's cramp, 1 psychogenic tremor, 1 intercranial hypertension and 1 fibromyalgia. The remaining 8 patients were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 5 cases, 1 corticobasal degeneration, 1 multisystemic atrophy and another degenerative Parkinsonism with unclear etiology. CONCLUSION: The SPI in our hospital has a lower negative predictive value than the data reported in the literature. The false negatives could be explained because most of our patients come from neurologist physicians who are not movement disorder experts. In addition, a small proportion of degenerative Parkinsonism could evolve with normal SPI.

[Alteration in the biodistribution of 99mTc-albumin microspheres after its administration through a canalized umbilical vein]. / Alteración en la biodistribución de 99mTc-microesferas de albúmina por su administración a través de una vena umbilical canalizada.

We present the case of a newborn female patient with a suspected right hypoplastic lung who was referred to our Service to perform a perfusion lung scintigraphy. The tracer (99mTc-albumin microspheres) was injected with a central catheter through the umbilical vein. The lung scan showed abnormal extrapulmonary activity that was attributed to an erroneous canalization (catheter in Arantius duct). A new study, with injection through the peripheral vein, showed the lung perfusion, with a global decrease of activity in the right lung. This case demonstrates a cause of abnormal extrapulmonary perfusion tracer uptake, verifying that using the correct access route is mandatory.