[18F]FDOPA PET/CT is superior to [68Ga]DOTATOC PET/CT in diagnostic imaging of pheochromocytoma.

BACKGROUND: Both [18F]FDOPA (FDOPA) and [68Ga]DOTATOC PET/CT (DOTATOC) are widely used for detection of pheochromocytomas/paraganglioma (PPGL). However, direct comparisons of the performance of the two tracers are only available in small series. We conducted a retrospective comparative analysis of FDOPA and DOTATOC to assess their sensitivity and accuracy in detecting PPGL when administered based on suspicion of PPGL. We consecutively included patients referred on suspicion of PPGL or PPGL recurrence who were scanned with both FDOPA and DOTATOC. Both scans were reviewed retrospectively by two experienced observers, who were blinded to the final diagnosis. The assessment was made both visually and quantitatively. The final diagnosis was primarily based on pathology. RESULTS: In total, 113 patients were included (97 suspected of primary PPGL and 16 suspected of recurrence). Of the 97 patients, 51 had pheochromocytomas (PCC) (in total 55 lesions) and 6 had paragangliomas (PGL) (in total 7 lesions). FDOPA detected and correctly localized all 55 PCC, while DOTATOC only detected 25 (sensitivity 100% vs. 49%, p < 0.0001; specificity 95% vs. 98%, p = 1.00). The negative predictive value (100% vs. 63%, p < 0.001) and diagnostic accuracy (98% vs. 70%, p < 0.01) were higher for FDOPA compared to DOTATOC. FDOPA identified 6 of 6 patients with hormone producing PGL, of which one was negative on DOTATOC. Diagnostic performances of FDOPA and DOTATOC were similar in the 16 patients with previous PPGL suspected of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: FDOPA is superior to DOTATOC for localization of PCC. In contrast to DOTATOC, FDOPA also identified all PGL but with a limited number of patient cases.

ctDNA-guided adjuvant treatment after radical-intent treatment of metastatic spread from colorectal cancer-the first interim results from the OPTIMISE study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with detectable ctDNA after radical-intent treatment of metastatic spread from colorectal cancer (mCRC) have a very high risk of recurrence, which may be prevented with intensified adjuvant chemotherapy (aCTh). In the OPTIMISE study, we investigate ctDNA-guided aCTh after radical-intent treatment of mCRC. Here we present results from the preplanned interim analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is an open-label 1:1 randomized clinical trial comparing ctDNA-guided aCTh against standard of care (SOC), with a run-in phase investigating feasibility measures. Key inclusion criteria; radical-intent treatment for mCRC and clinically eligible for triple-agent chemotherapy. Patients underwent a PET-CT scan before randomization. ctDNA analyses of plasma samples were done by ddPCR, detecting CRC-specific mutations and methylation of the NPY gene. In the ctDNA-guided arm, ctDNA positivity led to an escalation strategy with triple-agent chemotherapy, and conversely ctDNA negativity led to a de-escalation strategy by shared-decision making. Patients randomized to the standard arm were treated according to SOC. Feasibility measures for the run-in phase were; the inclusion of 30 patients over 12 months in two Danish hospitals, compliance with randomization >80%, rate of PET-CT-positive findings <20%, and eligibility for triple-agent chemotherapy >80%. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included. The rate of PET-CT-positive cases was 22% (n = 7/32). Ninety-seven percent of the patients were randomized. Fourteen patients were randomly assigned to SOC and sixteen to ctDNA-guided adjuvant treatment and follow-up. All analyses of baseline plasma samples in the ctDNA-guided arm passed the quality control, and 19% were ctDNA positive. The median time to result was three working days. All ctDNA-positive patients were eligible for triple-agent chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The study was proven to be feasible and continues in the planned large-scale phase II trial. Results from the OPTIMISE study will potentially optimize the adjuvant treatment of patients undergoing radical-intent treatment of mCRC, thereby improving survival and reducing chemotherapy-related toxicity.

Incidental Finding of Pulmonary Embolism at Workup Before SIRT.

ABSTRACT: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a catheter-guided treatment offered to selected patients with primary and secondary liver malignancies. SIRT is preceded by a workup procedure, where 99mTc-MAA (macroaggregated albumin) is injected in the tumor supplying artery/arteries followed by MAA scintigraphy. SIRT is frequently offered to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but large HCCs are known to be associated with a high risk of liver-to-lung shunting. We present a HCC patient case where a large lung-shunt enabled diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Personal innovative approach in radiation therapy of lung cancer- functional lung avoidance SPECT-guided (ASPECT) radiation therapy: a study protocol for phase II randomised double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy (RT) plays a key role in curative-intent treatment for locally advanced lung cancer. Radiation induced pulmonary toxicity can be significant for some patients and becomes a limiting factor for radiation dose, suitability for treatment, as well as post treatment quality of life and suitability for the newly introduced adjuvant immunotherapy. Modern RT techniques aim to minimise the radiation dose to the lungs, without accounting for regional distribution of lung function. Many lung cancer patients have significant regional differences in pulmonary function due to smoking and chronic lung co-morbidity. Even though reduction of dose to functional lung has shown to be feasible, the method of preferential functional lung avoidance has not been investigated in a randomised clinical trial. METHODS: In this study, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging technique is used for functional lung definition, in conjunction with advanced radiation dose delivery method in randomised, double-blind trial. The study aims to assess the impact of functional lung avoidance technique on pulmonary toxicity and quality of life in patients receiving chemo-RT for lung cancer. Eligibility criteria are biopsy verified lung cancer, scheduled to receive (chemo)-RT with curative intent. Every patient will undergo a pre-treatment perfusion SPECT/CT to identify functional lung. At radiation dose planning, two plans will be produced for all patients on trial. Standard reference plan, without the use of SPECT imaging data, and functional avoidance plan, will be optimised to reduce the dose to functional lung within the predefined constraints. Both plans will be clinically approved. Patients will then be randomised in a 2:1 ratio to be treated according to either the functional avoidance or the standard plan. This study aims to accrue a total of 200 patients within 3 years. The primary endpoint is symptomatic radiation-induced lung toxicity, measured serially 1-12 months after RT. Secondary endpoints include: a quality of life and patient reported lung symptoms assessment, overall survival, progression-free survival, and loco-regional disease control. DISCUSSION: ASPECT trial will investigate functional avoidance method of radiation delivery in clinical practice, and will establish toxicity outcomes for patients with lung cancer undergoing curative chemo-RT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04676828 . Registered 1 December 2020.

[18 F]-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose positron emission tomography/computed tomography as complementary imaging tool in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Positron emission tomography (PET) with the liver-specific tracer [18 F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose (18 F-FDGal) can be used for imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Curative intended and locoregional treatments of HCC require absence of extrahepatic disease. The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether adding 18 F-FDGal PET/CT to standard work-up changes the planned treatment in patients with HCC deemed suitable for curative or locoregional treatment. METHODS: Fifty patients with HCC were included at our tertiary liver centre. The primary study outcome was a change in treatment strategy. A subgroup of 29 patients was also examined with [18 F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18 F-FDG) PET/CT for comparison. RESULTS: 18 F-FDGal PET/CT detected eight extrahepatic HCC metastases in six patients (12%), which were primarily not detected by ceCT or MRI. These findings led to a change in treatment in five patients (10%). One of the eight extrahepatic HCC foci was also detected by 18 F-FDG PET/CT. A total of 85 malignant intrahepatic foci were examined, 12 of these were new findings by 18 F-FDGal PET/CT which had a sensitivity of 71%, highest for large foci. None of the additional intrahepatic foci found by 18 F-FDGal PET changed the planned treatment. CONCLUSIONS: For the detection of extrahepatic HCC metastases, 18 F-FDGal PET/CT was superior both to standard clinical work-up with contrast-enhanced CT, and/or MRI, and to 18 F-FDG PET/CT in patients deemed suitable for locoregional treatment. 18 F-FDGal PET/CT led to a change in the planned treatment in 10% of the patients whereas 18 F-FDG PET/CT did not change the planned treatment in any patient.

Simple dichotomous assessment of cranial artery inflammation by conventional 18F-FDG PET/CT shows high accuracy for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of conventional 18F-FDG PET/CT of cranial arteries in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: The study was a retrospective case-control study. The reference diagnosis was fulfillment of the 1990 ACR criteria for GCA. All patients had new-onset GCA. Conventional 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed before glucocorticoid treatment. Controls were age- and sex-matched patients with a previous history of malignant melanoma (MM) undergoing surveillance PET/CT >6 months after MM resection. PET images were evenly cropped to include only head and neck and were assessed in random order by four nuclear medicine physicians blinded to reference diagnosis. Temporal (TA), maxillary (MA) and vertebral (VA) arteries were visually rated for 18F-FDG uptake. Interreader agreement was evaluated by Fleiss kappa. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients and 44 controls were identified. In both groups, the mean age was 69 years (p = 0.45) and 25/44 were women. 35/41 GCA patients were temporal artery biopsy positive (TAB). Considering only FDG uptake in TA and/or MA, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 64 and 100%. Including VA, sensitivity increased to 82% and specificity remained 100%. Interreader agreement was 91% and Fleiss kappa 0.82 for the PET diagnosis based on the cranial arteries. CONCLUSION: Conventional 18F-FDG PET/CT is an accurate and reliable tool to diagnose cranial arteritis in glucocorticoid-naïve GCA patients. The high diagnostic specificity suggests that TAB can be omitted in patients with 18F-FDG uptake in cranial arteries. 18F-FDG PET/CT performed in patients with suspected vasculitis should always include the head and neck.

[Severe hypoglycaemia due to insulinoma after gastric bypass surgery].

Postprandial hypoglycaemia with endogenous hyper-insulinaemia is relatively common after gastric bypass (GB) surgery. However, alternative aetiologies of hypoglycaemia should be kept in mind. We report a case of severe hypo-glycaemia in a patient who had previously undergone GB surgery for morbid obesity. Hypoglycaemic episodes differed from typical GB-related hypoglycaemia by occurring during fasting periods. Examination revealed insulinoma, and nine months after resection the patient remained symptom free.

Diagnostic accuracy of CE-CT, MRI and FDG PET/CT for detecting colorectal cancer liver metastases in patients considered eligible for hepatic resection and/or local ablation.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and combined fluorodeoxyglucose/positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for detection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in patients eligible for local treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This health-research ethics-committee-approved prospective consecutive diagnostic accuracy study, with written informed consent, included 80 cases (76 patients, four participating twice) between 29 June 2015 and 7 February 2017. Prior chemotherapy or local treatment did not exclude participation. Combined FDG-PET/CT including CE-CT and MRI was performed within 0-3 days shortly before local treatment. CE-CT and MRI images were read independently by two readers for each modality. The combined FDG-PET/CT images were read independently by two pairs of readers. A composite reference standard was used. Sensitivities, specificities and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCROC) were calculated and compared. RESULTS: In total, 260 CRLMs were confirmed. The MRI readers had significantly higher per-lesion sensitivity (85.9% and 83.8%) than both CE-CT readers (69.1% and 62.3%) and both PET/CT reader pairs (72.0% and 72.1%) (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in per-lesion specificity. MRI readers had significantly higher AUCROC (0.92 and 0.88) than both CE-CT readers (0.80 and 0.82) (p≤0.001). AUCROC for MR reader 1 was higher than that of both PET/CT reader pairs (0.83 and 0.84) (p≤0.0001). CONCLUSION: MRI performed significantly better than both CE-CT and combined FDG-PET/CT for detection of CRLM in consecutive patients eligible for local treatment irrespective of prior chemotherapy or local treatment. KEY POINTS: • Patients eligible for local treatment of colorectal liver-metastases require optimal imaging. • In 80 consecutive patients, MRI had superior per lesion diagnostic performance. • Findings were independent of prior treatment and type of planned local treatment. • Equally, MRI had superior diagnostic performance on per segment basis.

Time and dose-related changes in lung perfusion after definitive radiotherapy for NSCLC.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To examine radiation-induced changes in regional lung perfusion per dose level in 58 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: NSCLC patients receiving chemo-radiotherapy (RT) of minimum 60 Gy were included prospectively in the study. Lung perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) was performed before and serially after RT. Changes (relative to baseline, %) in regional lung perfusion were correlated with regional dose. Toxicity outcome was radiation pneumonitis (RP) CTC grades 2-5. RESULTS: Perfusion changes were associated with dose. Dose-dependent reduction in regional perfusion was observed at 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Relative perfusion loss per dose bin was 4% at 1 month, 14% at 3 months, 13% at 6 months and 21% at 12 months after RT. In patients with RP, perfusion reduction was larger in high dose lung regions, compared to those without RP. Low dose regions, on the contrary, revealed perfusion gain in the patients with RP. CONCLUSION: Progressive dose dependent perfusion loss is manifested on SPECT up to 12 months following IMRT. These findings suggest that the dynamic change in perfusion may have prognostic value in predicting radiation pneumonitis in NSCLC patients treated with IMRT.

Comparison of four MRI protocols for detection of extrahepatic colorectal cancer metastases.

PURPOSE: To compare three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols containing diffusion-weighted imaging with background suppression (DWIBS) and one traditional protocol for detecting extrahepatic colorectal cancer metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with extrahepatic colorectal cancer metastases were scanned in three stations from the skull base to the upper thighs using a 1.5T MRI system with six different MRI sequences; transverse and coronal T2 -weighted (T2 W) turbo spin-echo (TSE), coronal short tau inversion recovery (STIR), 3D T1 W TSE, DWIBS, and a contrast-enhanced T1 W 3D gradient echo (GRE) sequence. The six sequences were used to build four hypothetical MRI interpretive sets which were read by two readers in consensus, blinded to prior imaging. Lesions were categorized into 13 anatomic regions. Fluorodeoxyglucose / positron emission tomography / computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) read with full access to prior imaging and clinical records was used as the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, and false discovery rate (FDR) were calculated as appropriate and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. RESULTS: In all, 177 malignant lesions were detected by FDG-PET/CT and distributed in 92 out of 390 scanned anatomic regions. The sensitivity was statistically higher in two out of three sets incorporating DWIBS on a per-lesion basis (66.7%, 63.3%, and 66.7% vs. 57.6%) (P = 0.01, P = 0.11, and P = 0.01, respectively) and in all sets incorporating DWIBS on a per-region basis (75.0%, 75.0%, and 77.2 vs. 66.3%) (P = 0.04, P = 0.04, and P = 0.01, respectively). There was no difference in specificity, FDR, or AUCROC . There was no difference between sets containing DWIBS irrespective of the use of a contrast-enhanced sequence. CONCLUSION: MRI sets containing DWIBS had superior sensitivity. This sensitivity was retained when omitting a contrast-enhanced sequence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1619-1630.

[Nuclear medicine techniques for selective internal radiotherapy of liver cancer].

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) of hepatocellular carcinoma has been introduced at Aarhus University Hospital. 90Y-microspheres are implanted in the tumour by catheterization of the tumour feeding liver artery. Pretreatment angiography and test treatment using 99mTc-labelled particles followed by scintigraphy ensure a feasible and effective treatment. Post-treatment imaging of radiation from 90Y visualize the localization of microspheres. Currently, SIRT is also applied for liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumours. Future indications may include other liver tumours and metastases.

A dual tracer (68)Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and (18)F-FDG PET/CT pilot study for detection of cardiac sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a potentially fatal condition lacking a single test with acceptable diagnostic accuracy. (18)F-FDG PET/CT has emerged as a promising imaging modality, but is challenged by physiological myocardial glucose uptake. An alternative tracer, (68)Ga-DOTANOC, binds to somatostatin receptors on inflammatory cells in sarcoid granulomas. We therefore aimed to conduct a proof-of-concept study using (68)Ga-DOTANOC to diagnose CS. In addition, we compared diagnostic accuracy and inter-observer variability of (68)Ga-DOTANOC vs. (18)F-FDG PET/CT. METHODS: Nineteen patients (seven female) with suspected CS were prospectively recruited and dual tracer scanned within 7 days. PET images were reviewed by four expert readers for signs of CS and compared to the reference standard (Japanese ministry of Health and Welfare CS criteria). RESULTS: CS was diagnosed in 3/19 patients. By consensus, 11/19 (18)F-FDG scans and 0/19 (68)Ga-DOTANOC scans were rated as inconclusive. The sensitivity of (18)F-FDG PET for diagnosing CS was 33 %, specificity was 88 %, PPV was 33 %, NPV was 88 %, and diagnostic accuracy was 79 %. For (68)Ga-DOTANOC, accuracy was 100 %. Inter-observer agreement was poor for (18)F-FDG PET (Fleiss' combined kappa 0.27, NS) and significantly better for (68)Ga-DOTANOC (Fleiss' combined kappa 0.46, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite prolonged pre-scan fasting, a large proportion of (18)F-FDG PET/CT images were rated as inconclusive, resulting in low agreement among reviewers and correspondingly poor diagnostic accuracy. By contrast, (68)Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT had excellent diagnostic accuracy with the caveat that inter-observer variability was still significant. Nevertheless, (68)Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT looks very promising as an alternative CS PET tracer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials NCT01729169 .

Inclusion of functional information from perfusion SPECT improves predictive value of dose-volume parameters in lung toxicity outcome after radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To compare functional and standard dose-volume parameters as predictors of postradiation pulmonary toxicity in lung cancer patients undergoing curative chemo-radiotherapy (RT) studied prospectively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 58 patients treated with Intensity Modulated RT (60-66Gy) were analysed. Standard dose-volume parameters were extracted from treatment planning computed tomography (CT) scans. Corresponding functional dose-volume parameters were calculated from perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Primary end-point was radiation pneumonitis (RP) grade 2-5. RESULTS: Functional mean lung dose (MLD) and lung volumes receiving 5, 10, 20 and 30Gy (V5-V30, respectively) revealed high correlation with corresponding standard parameters (r>0.8). Standard MLD, V20 and V30 were significantly higher in patients with RP (p=0.01). All functional parameters were significantly higher in the RP patients (p<0.03). In multivariate analysis functional parameters produced superior risk estimates, while all standard parameters, except V30, were not related to the risk of RP. Area under the curve (AUC) for functional metrics generally exceeded the AUC for corresponding standard parameters, but they were not significantly different from each other. CONCLUSION: SPECT-based functional parameters were better to predict the risk of RP compared to standard CT-based dose-volume parameters. Functional parameters may be useful to guide radiotherapy planning in order to reduce the risk of radiation-induced toxicity.

Accuracy of 18F-FDG PET-CT in triaging lung cancer patients with suspected brain metastases for MRI.

OBJECTIVE: Brain metastases are common in lung cancer. Whole-body 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) is used for general staging, but MRI is the best modality for characterizing brain abnormalities. We aimed to determine whether PET/CT is suitable for selecting patients for MRI on the suspicion of brain metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: F-FDG PET/CT (from the vertex to mid-thigh) was performed in 1108 consecutive patients suspected of lung cancer. The final diagnoses were extracted from medical records as lung cancer, with or without brain metastases, other kinds of cancers, or no cancer. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for detecting brain metastases were calculated. Interobserver variation was tested in a subset of 88 PET/CT scans. RESULTS: Of the 1108 referred patients, 596 had lung cancer. Sixty-six had brain metastases. One PET/CT was false positive. Thirty-one scans were true positive among the 43 patients who were diagnosed with brain metastases 1 month before to 3 months after PET/CT (metastasis prevalence, 7.3%). Twelve PET/CT scans were false negative. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were 72, 100, and 97%, respectively. Interobserver agreement between two experienced observers was high (κ=0.83), whereas agreement between the experienced and the inexperienced observer was poor. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of brain PET/CT for detecting brain metastases in lung cancer was above 70%, and the specificity was very high. Thus, PET/CT may be suitable for selecting patients for MRI in diagnostic centers that do not perform routine MRI in the pretherapeutic staging workup. The agreement among experienced readers was very high.

Loss of lung function after chemo-radiotherapy for NSCLC measured by perfusion SPECT/CT: Correlation with radiation dose and clinical morbidity.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to assess dose and time dependence of radiotherapy (RT)-induced changes in regional lung function measured with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the lung and relate these changes to the symptomatic endpoint of radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: NSCLC patients scheduled to receive curative RT of minimum 60 Gy were included prospectively in the study. Lung perfusion SPECT/CT was performed before and three months after RT. Reconstructed SPECT/CT data were registered to treatment planning CT. Dose to the lung was segmented into regions corresponding to 0-5, 6-20, 21-40, 41-60 and > 60 Gy. Changes (%) in regional lung perfusion before and after RT were correlated with regional dose and symptomatic RP (CTC grade 2-5) outcome. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were included, of which 45 had three-month follow-up SPECT/CT scans. Analysis showed a statistically significant dose-dependent reduction in regional perfusion at three-month follow-up. The largest population composite perfusion loss was in 41-60 Gy (42.2%) and > 60 Gy (41.7%) dose bins. Lung regions receiving low dose of 0-5 Gy and 6-20 Gy had corresponding perfusion increase (-7.2% and -6.1%, respectively). Regional perfusion reduction was different in patients with and without RP with the largest difference in 21-40 Gy bin (p = 0.02), while for other bins the difference did not reach statistical significance. The risk of symptomatic RP was higher for the patients with perfusion reduction after RT (p = 0.02), with the relative risk estimate of 3.6 (95% CI 1.1-12). CONCLUSION: Perfusion lung function changes in a dose-dependent manner after RT. The severity of radiation-induced lung symptoms is significantly correlated with SPECT perfusion changes. Perfusion reduction early after RT is associated with a high risk of later development of symptomatic RP.

Role of perfusion SPECT in prediction and measurement of pulmonary complications after radiotherapy for lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ability of baseline perfusion defect score (DS) on SPECT to predict the development of severe symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) and to evaluate changes in perfusion on SPECT as a method of lung perfusion function assessment after curative radiotherapy (RT) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Patients with NSCLC undergoing curative RT were included prospectively. Perfusion SPECT/CT and global pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed before RT and four times during follow-up. Functional activity on SPECT was measured using a semiquantitative perfusion DS. Pulmonary morbidity was graded by the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4 for pneumonitis. Patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of RP. RESULTS: A total of 71 consecutive patients were included in the study. Baseline DS was associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A significant inverse correlation was found between baseline DS and forced expiratory volume in 1 s and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. Patients with severe RP had significantly higher baseline total lung DS (mean 5.43) than those with no or mild symptoms (mean DS 3.96, p < 0.01). PFT results were not different between these two groups. The odds ratio for total lung DS was 7.8 (95% CI 1.9 - 31) demonstrating the ability of this parameter to predict severe RP. Adjustment for other potential confounders known to be associated with increased risk of RP was performed and did not change the odds ratio. The median follow-up time after RT was 8.4 months. The largest DS increase of 13.3% was associated with severe RP at 3 months of follow-up (p < 0.01). The development of severe RP during follow-up was not associated with changes in PFT results. CONCLUSION: Perfusion SPECT is a valuable method for predicting severe RP and for assessing changes in regional functional perfusion after curative RT comparable with global PFT.

Monitoring Kidney Function in Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Treated with (90)Y-DOTATOC: Associations with Risk Factors.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an established treatment for progressive neuroendocrine tumours with nephrotoxicity as the limiting factor. It is therefore important to monitor kidney function changes after PRRT treatment. We aimed to investigate kidney function by different methods and during a 4-hour and a 24-hour amino acid (AA) infusion protocol. We measured the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in 28 patients before and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after (90)YDOTATOC therapy. We used standardized (51)Cr-EDTA plasma clearance (Cr-GFR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) by the simplified 4 variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease based on serum creatinine values. Further, we determined GFR in 15 patients treated with a 4-hour infusion of AA compared to 13 patients with a 24-hour infusion at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after therapy. Pre-existing risk factors associated with kidney failure were seen in 82% of the patients. We observed a significant reduction in Cr-GFR up to 12 months after PRRT (mean loss 27 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (32%)). The eGFR continuously overestimated the Cr-GFR with a bias of 8%. There was no significant difference between the two AA protocols, however, the 24-hour AA protocol tended to reduce mean Cr-GFR loss 12 months post therapy. Pre-existing risk factors for kidney failure were highly prevalent in this patient cohort, and kidney function after PRRT treatment is best monitored by (51)Cr-EDTA plasma clearance. Further, the use of a 24-hour AA kidney protection protocol seems to reduce the loss of kidney function in these patients.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in malignant melanoma as same day procedure vs delayed procedure: clinical and economic outcome.

The aim of this study was to compare a delayed sentinel node biopsy (dSNB) procedure with a same-day procedure (sSNB) in malignant melanoma. In March 2012, Aarhus University Hospital went from the dSNB to the sSNB procedure defined by lymphoscintigraphy (LS) and sentinel node biopsy (SNB) performed on the same day. Before that time, LS was performed 24 hours prior to SNB. The aim was to investigate whether differences between the two procedures exist. Patients who underwent the SNB procedure between April and July 2011 and 2012, respectively, were included in the study. The criteria for SNB were malignant melanoma thickness >1 mm, Clark level IV/V, and ulcus or unknown thickness of the melanoma. All patients underwent re-excision and SNB at the same time. Pathological evaluation was not changed in the observation periods; however, the LS procedures varied. Only a minor turnover among the surgeons was observed. One hundred and eight patients were included in the study, 59 (dSNB) from 2011 and 49 (sSNB) from 2012, respectively. A median of 2.17 (dSNB) and 2.31 (sSNB) SLNs were removed, with no statistical differences. No difference in node positivity rates was observed. However, the number of hospitalisation days differed significantly, with 1.94 days in dSNB and 0.49 days in sSNB. Rates of complications at the site of the SNB procedure were similar. No differences in disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) were recorded. SNB does not increase the overall survival. It is, therefore, essential to keep the morbidity and economic costs low, while keeping the quality of the procedure high.