Osteomesopyknosis associated with a novel ALOX5 variant that impacts the RANKL pathway.

BACKGROUND: Bone tissue homeostasis relies on the coordinated activity of the bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Osteomesopyknosis is considered a distinctive rare sclerosing skeletal disorder of unelucidated pathophysiology and presumably autosomal dominant transmission. However, the causal genes are unknown. METHODS: We present a case report encompassing clinical assessments, imaging studies, and whole-exome sequencing analysis, complemented by functional in vitro experiments. RESULTS: This new case of osteomesopyknosis was associated with a missense ALOX5 variant predicted to induce protein misfolding and proteasomal degradation. Transfection experiments demonstrated that the variant was associated with reduced protein levels restored by proteasomal inhibition with bortezomib. Likewise, gene expression analysis showed that the mutated gene was associated with a decreased RANKL/OPG ratio, which is a critical driver of osteoclast precursor differentiation. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate impaired bone resorption as the underlying mechanism of this rare osteosclerosis, implicating ALOX5 pathogenic variants as potential etiological factors.

Where Should I Draw the Line: PET-Driven, Data-Driven, or Manufacturer Cut-Off?

Background: The optimal cut-off for Alzheimer's disease (AD) CSF biomarkers remains controversial. Objective: To analyze the performance of cut-off points standardized by three methods: one that optimized the agreement between 11C-Pittsburgh compound B PET (a-PET) and CSF biomarkers (Aß1-42, pTau, tTau, and Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratio) in our population, called PET-driven; an unbiased cut-off using data from a healthy research cohort, called data-driven, and that provided by the manufacturer. We also compare changes in ATN classification. Methods: CSF biomarkers measured by the LUMIPULSE G600II platform and qualitative visualization of amyloid positron emission tomography (a-PET) were performed in all the patients. We established a cut-off for each single biomarker and Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratio that optimized their agreement with a-PET using ROC curves. Sensitivity, Specificity, and Overall Percent of Agreement are assessed using a-PET or clinical diagnosis as gold standard for every cut-off. Also, we established a data-driven cut-off from our cognitively unimpaired cohort. We then analyzed changes in ATN classification. Results: One hundred and ten patients were recruited. Sixty-six (60%) were a-PET positive. PET-driven cut-offs were: pTau > 57, tTau > 362.62, Aß1-42/Aß1-40 < 0.069. For a single biomarker, pTau showed the highest accuracy (AUC 0.926). New PET-driven cut-offs classified patients similarly to manufacturer cut-offs (only two patients changed). However, 20 patients (18%) changed when data-driven cut-offs were used. Conclusions: We established our sample's best CSF biomarkers cut-offs using a-PET as the gold standard. These cut-offs categorize better symptomatic subjects than data-driven in ATN classification, but they are very similar to the manufacturer's.

Plasma Phosphorylated Tau 231 Increases at One-Year Intervals in Cognitively Unimpaired Subjects.

Background: Plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) constitute a non-invasive tool for diagnosing and classifying subjects. They change even in preclinical stages, but it is necessary to understand their properties so they can be helpful in a clinical context. Objective: With this work we want to study the evolution of p-tau231 plasma levels in the preclinical stages of AD and its relationship with both cognitive and imaging parameters. Methods: We evaluated plasma phosphorylated (p)-tau231 levels in 146 cognitively unimpaired subjects in sequential visits. We performed a Linear Mixed-effects Model to analyze their rate of change. We also correlated their baseline levels with cognitive tests and structural and functional image values. ATN status was defined based on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. Results: Plasma p-tau231 showed a significant rate of change over time. It correlated negatively with memory tests only in amyloid-positive subjects. No significant correlations were found with any imaging measures. Conclusions: Increases in plasma p-tau231 can be detected at one-year intervals in cognitively healthy subjects. It could constitute a sensitive marker for detecting early signs of neuronal network impairment by amyloid.

Erdheim-Chester Disease Due to a Novel Internal Duplication of NRAS: Response to Targeted Therapy with Cobimetinib.

Histiocytoses encompass a group of exceptionally rare disorders characterized by the abnormal infiltration of tissues by histocytes. Among these, Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) stands out as a multisystem histiocytosis that typically affects bones and various other tissues. Historically, the treatment of ECD has been challenging. However, recent breakthroughs in our understanding, particularly the discovery of somatic mutations in the RAS-MAPK pathway, have opened new opportunities for targeted therapy in a significant subset of patients with ECD and other histiocytoses. In this report, we present the case of a patient with ECD harboring a previously unidentified microduplication in the NRAS gene in a small fraction of skin cells. This discovery played a pivotal role in tailoring an effective therapeutic approach involving kinase inhibitors downstream of NRAS. This case underscores the crucial role of deep sequencing of tissue samples in ECD, enabling the delivery of personalized targeted therapy to patients.

Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in a Giant Left Pectoral Muscle Plasmacytoma and Multiple Myeloma Case.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an unusual manifestation in multiple myeloma (MM). It can present as a solitary bone lesion and/or soft-tissue mass. Plasmacytoma can be presented at any location, but it is more common in the head and neck, usually without systemic involvement. The presence of plasmacytoma in MM is a predictor of rapidly progressive disease. The value of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (PET-FDG) is increasing, in the diagnosis, detection of occult lesions, and therapeutic monitoring. We describe a patient with rapidly-progressive, refractory, left pectoral muscle plasmacytoma and MM. A PET-FDG guided the therapy and allowed to identify the presence of disease relapse.

A 5-year longitudinal evaluation in patients with mild cognitive impairment by 11C-PIB PET/CT: a visual analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cerebral amyloid distribution in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), assessed by carbon-11-Pittsburgh compound B (C-PIB) PET/CT, after 5 years of follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten amnestic MCI (A-MCI) and four nonamnestic (NA-MCI) patients were studied by C-PIB PET/CT and re-evaluated 5 years later by a new C-PIB PET/CT. PET/CT scans were acquired 60-90 min after the administration of 555 MBq C-PIB and analyzed visually, to obtain a score of the cerebral cortical C-PIB retention in the frontal, basal ganglia (BG), temporoparietal (TP), occipital, posterior cingulate, and cerebellum areas. Initial and 5-year follow-up C-PIB retentions were compared. RESULTS: Initially, 9/10 A-MCI patients were C-PIB positive and one was C-PIB negative. All four NA-MCI patients were C-PIB negative. Of the C-PIB-positive A-MCI patients, seven progressed to Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD-D), one to mixed dementia and one remained as A-MCI. The C-PIB-negative A-MCI patient remained as A-MCI. Of the four C-PIB-negative NA-MCI, one progressed to semantic dementia. All changes in C-PIB retention were of low intensity. The A-MCI patients who progressed to AD-D (n=7) showed an increase in C-PIB retention in the frontal (5/7), BG (3/7), TP (3/7), occipital (1/7), and posterior cingulate (1/7) regions. The A-MCI patient who progressed to mix dementia showed an increase in C-PIB retention in the frontal region. The C-PIB-positive A-MCI patient who remained as A-MCI showed an increase in C-PIB retention in the frontal, BG, and TP areas. The amyloid deposition in the anterior part of the brain (frontal, TP, and BG) increased more than that in the posterior part (occipital and precuneus) (7/9 vs. 2/9; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PIB retention increased predominantly in the frontal, BG, and TP areas. C-PIB-positive A-MCI patients mostly progressed to AD-D, showing similar topographic changes in their cerebral C-PIB pattern than the patient who remained as A-MCI.

Effect of positive carbon-11-choline PET/CT results in the therapeutic management of prostate cancer biochemical relapse.

OBJECTIVE: Carbon-11-(C)-choline PET/computed tomography (CT) has shown good results in re-staging of prostate cancer (PCa) with raised serum levels of prostate-specific antigen. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of positive C-choline PET/CT results in the therapeutic management of patients with PCa with biochemical relapse (BR) after curative intention treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 112 patients with PCa BR and positive C-choline PET/CT were retrospectively evaluated. PET/CT was acquired 20 min after intravenous administration of 555-740 MBq of C-choline. The therapeutic management after C-choline PET/CT was obtained from the clinical records. The minimum follow-up time was 18 months. RESULTS: In 80 (71.4%) of 112 patients, C-choline PET/CT showed local recurrence of PCa; in 17 (15.2%) patients, distant recurrence; and in 15 (13.4%) patients, local plus distant recurrence. A second malignancy was detected in five (4.5%) patients. The planned therapeutic management was changed as per positive C-choline PET/CT result in 74 (66.1%) patients and were treated as follows: 31 (27.7%) patients with HT, combined with other treatments in eight (7.1%), 17 (15.2%) with BT, 13 (11.6%) with external beam radiotherapy, one (0.9%) with RP, and four (3.6%) with chemotherapy. Treatment approach was not modified in 37 (33%) patients. No data was available from one (0.9%) patient. CONCLUSION: Positive C-choline PET/CT result had an important effect in the therapeutic management of patients with PCa and BR, leading to a change in the planned approach in two (66.1%) out of three patients. In addition, in 4.5% of the patients, the C-choline PET/CT allowed the detection of a second malignancy.

Utility of Amyloid and FDG-PET in Clinical Practice: Differences Between Secondary and Tertiary Care Memory Units.

The clinical utility of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) has not been fully established. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of amyloid imaging on clinical decision making in a secondary care unit and compare our results with a previous study in a tertiary center following the same methods. We reviewed retrospectively 151 cognitively impaired patients who underwent amyloid (Pittsburgh compound B [PiB]) PET and were evaluated clinically before and after the scan in a secondary care unit. One hundred and fifty concurrently underwent fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET. We assessed changes between the pre- and post-PET clinical diagnosis and Alzheimer's disease treatment plan. The association between PiB/FDG results and changes in management was evaluated using χ2 and multivariate logistic regression. Concordance between classification based on scan readings and baseline diagnosis was 66% for PiB and 47% for FDG. The primary diagnosis changed after PET in 17.2% of cases. When examined independently, discordant PiB and discordant FDG were both associated with diagnostic change (p < 0.0001). However, when examined together in a multivariate logistic regression, only discordant PiB remained significant (p = 0.0002). Changes in treatment were associated with concordant PiB (p = 0.009) while FDG had no effect on treatment decisions. Based on our regression model, patients with diagnostic dilemmas, a suspected non-amyloid syndrome, and Clinical Dementia Rating <1 were more likely to benefit from amyloid PET due to a higher likelihood of diagnostic change. We found that changes in diagnosis after PET in our secondary center almost doubled those of our previous analysis of a tertiary unit (9% versus 17.2%). Our results offer some clues about the rational use of amyloid PET in a secondary care memory unit stressing its utility in mild cognitive impairment patients.

18F-FDG PET/CT in the follow-up of large-vessel vasculitis: A study of 37 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: 18F-FDG PET/CT has proved to be of potential value for early diagnosis of large-vessel vasculitis (LVV), which frequently involves the aorta. However, its role in the follow-up of these patients has not been well established. Our aim was to evaluate the contribution of 18F-FDG PET/CT in this clinical situation. METHODS: This study included 37 consecutive patients (28 women, 66.5 ± 9.9 years) with an initial 18F-FDG PET/CT positive for LVV and a mean ± standard deviation follow-up PET/CT of 7.5 ± 2.9 months after the initial scan. A semiquantitative analysis of aortic wall uptake was performed calculating the target-to-background ratio (TBR: aortic wall uptake divided by blood pool uptake). The initial and follow-up TBR as well as the clinical and laboratory outcome were compared. RESULTS: Overall, the mean TBR decreased from 1.7 ± 0.5 at the initial scan to 1.5 ± 0.3 at the time of follow-up (p = 0.0001). In the 21 patients who experienced clinical improvement following therapy the TBR also decreased from 1.8 ± 0.6 to 1.5 ± 0.3 (p = 0.0002). However, in the other 16 patients, in whom the treating physician considered that there was no clinical improvement following therapy, no statistically significant differences in TBR were found when data from the first and the follow-up PET/CT scans were compared (1.6 ± 0.3 versus 1.5 ± 0.3, p = 0.1416). Patients who experienced clinical improvement following therapy showed a nonstatistically significant higher TBR at the time of disease diagnosis (1.8 ± 0.6 versus 1.6 ± 0.3; p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in the present study highlight the impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT on the management of patients with LVV.

Value of the visual and semiquantitative analysis of carbon-11-methionine PET/CT in brain tumors' recurrence versus post-therapeutic changes.

To compare the visual and semiquantitative analysis of carbon-11-methionine (C-MET) PET/computed tomography (CT) images in patients with primary brain tumors and suspected recurrence, persistence, or necrotic post-therapeutic changes. A total of 41 consecutive C-MET-PET/CT scans on 35 (21 men, mean age 44.1±16.6 years) patients were requested for MRI suspicion of recurrent or persistent primary tumor after therapy. The C-MET PET/CT were obtained 20 min after an intravenous injection of 555-740 MBq (15-20 mCi) of C-MET. Both visual and semiquantitative evaluations were performed comparing C-MET uptake between suspicious areas and different lesion/normal-to-background ratios. The final diagnosis was established by histological examination in 12 cases and clinical and MRI follow-up in 29 cases. Visual analyses were positive in 27 (63.4%) and negative in 14 (36.6%) of the C-MET PET/CT. The sensitivity was 83.9%, specificity was 90.0%, positive predictive value was 96.3%, negative predictive value was 64.3% and accuracy was 71.4%. For the semiquantitative analysis, all the lesion/normal-to-background ratios could differentiate between tumor and nontumor (P<0.001), the lesion/contralateral parenchyma (L/CP) maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) being the index with the highest area under de curve (0.938). Applying an L/CP SUVmax index of 1.21, the sensitivity was 89.3%, specificity was 90.0%, positive predictive value was 96.1%, negative predictive value was 75%, and accuracy was 82.9%. C-MET-PET/CT was a useful technique to differentiate post-therapeutic changes from tumor presence in treated patients with brain neoplasm in whom cerebral MRI is nonconclusive, showing a high diagnostic performance. Our results showed only slight differences between visual analysis methods and the L/CP SUVmax ratio, the best of the semiquantitative methods.

Erythema Nodosum-Like Panniculitis as a False-Positive 18F-FDG PET/CT in Advanced Melanoma Treated With Dabrafenib and Trametinib.

We present a 35-year-old woman with left axillary mass. Histopathological analysis revealed metastatic infiltration for BRAF-mutant melanoma. F-FDG PET/CT showed bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy as well as bone and subcutaneous metastases. Dabrafenib (a BRAF inhibitor) and trametinib (a MEK inhibitor) combined therapy was started with a complete metabolic response established by 2 consecutive PET/CT scans. A follow-up PET/CT showed FDG uptake in several subcutaneous nodules in both distal legs, suggesting metastases. Painless cutaneous lesions were observed on physical examination, and biopsy revealed erythema nodosum-like panniculitis.

The Role of PET/CT Molecular Imaging in the Diagnosis of Recurrence and Surveillance of Patients Treated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and its prognosis remains poor. Molecular imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT can metabolically characterize the nature of lesions as benign or malignant, allowing a better staging at the diagnosis of this kind of patient. This advantage can also be applied in the re-staging due to the suspicion of recurrent disease. Many patients have a recurrence of the disease, including surgically treated patients. In the current context, with new personalized oncological treatments, the surveillance for recurrence and its accurate diagnosis are crucial to improve their survival. In this paper, we revise the current knowledge about the clinical and molecular factors related to the recurrent disease. In the context of new, promising, available personalized treatments, the role of molecular imaging with PET/CT and 18F-FDG and non-18F-FDG radiotracers in the follow-up of NSCLC-treated patients is especially attractive and interesting.

Diagnostic role of 11C-Pittsburgh compound B retention patterns and glucose metabolism by fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in amnestic and nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment patients.

OBJECTIVE: Amyloid imaging clinically is usually reported as positive or negative, and the role of amyloid topography has not been studied before. To evaluate in a clinical setting the regional distribution patterns of C-Pittsburgh compound B (C-PIB) and the fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) uptake in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we designed this study. METHODS: We studied 81 consecutive MCI patients, 64 amnestic (A-MCI) and 17 nonamnestic (NA-MCI) by C-PIB and F-FDG PET/computed tomography, by visual analysis. PIB retention was classified according to the regional distribution into the following patterns: A (frontal, lateral temporal, basal ganglia and anterior cingulate) and B (global retention). F-FDG images were considered positive only if temporoparietal hypometabolism consistent with Alzheimer's disease was observed. RESULTS: In 42 of the 64 A-MCI, C-PIB was positive. Twelve of the 42 positive A-MCI showed an A-pattern, all F-FDG negative, and 30 a B-pattern, 10 F-FDG positive and 20 F-FDG negative. Of the 17 NA-MCI, C-PIB was positive in three and F-FDG was positive in one. The different proportion of C-PIB positivity in A-MCI and NA-MCI was highly significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Two different C-PIB patterns were observed in MCI patients and for the A-pattern, glucose hypometabolism consistent with Alzheimer's disease is highly unlikely. These findings may contribute towards a better selection of patients for future potential treatments and also to optimize the use of F-FDG-PET/CT.

Amyloid Imaging With 11C-PIB in Patients With Cognitive Impairment in a Clinical Setting: A Visual and Semiquantitative Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate amyloid imaging with 11C-PIB PET/CT in the study of cognitive impairment in a clinical setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 64 patients, with a mean age of 65 years, classified as subjective memory complaints (SMCs; n = 8), nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment (NA-MCI; n = 10), amnestic MCI (A-MCI; n = 19), prodromal Alzheimer disease (AD; n = 12), suspicion of frontotemporal dementia (n = 8), Lewy bodies dementia (DLB; n = 2), and cortical degeneration (CD; n = 5). Ten healthy controls (HCs), with a mean age of 59 years, were also included. 11C-PIB was acquired 60 minutes after IV injection of 555 MBq 11C-PIB. A visual and semiquantitative analysis was performed. RESULTS: In HC, 11C-PIB was negative in 9 and positive in 1. Of the 64 patients, 11C-PIB was negative in 27 (42%) and positive in 37 (58%). 11C-PIB was positive in 3 of 8 SMC, in none of 10 NA-MCI, in 14 of 19 A-MCI, in 10 of 12 prodromal AD, in 3 of 8 frontotemporal dementia, and in the 2 and 5 DLB and CD patients. The semiquantitative results in terms of mean global SUV ratio were 1.13 for HC, 1.36 for SMC, 1.07 for NA-MCI, 2.01 for A-MCI, 2.37 for prodromal AD, 2.75 for DLB, and 2.44 for CD. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinical setting, 11C-PIB scan had a relevant contribution on patients with cognitive impairment, excluding AD in a high proportion of MCI patients and differentiating AD from other dementias. In A-MCI, 11C-PIB revealed ß-amyloid deposit in 74%, whereas it was negative in all NA-MCI patients.

11C-Choline and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Detection of Occult Prostate Cancer in the Context of a Paraneoplastic Syndrome.

In a 73-year-old man, an occult neoplasm was suspected after 2 consecutive deep venous thrombosis, the latter under anticoagulant therapy and previous axonopathy. After normal CT and MRI findings, a requested (18)F-FDG PET/CT showed a focal uptake in the prostate. Because FDG uptake in the prostate is infrequent, a (11)C-choline PET/CT was indicated revealing a focal uptake in the same location. No other abnormalities were detected in the rest of the body. A guided biopsy by ultrasonography was performed revealing a prostate carcinoma and inflammation in both prostatic lobes.

Diagnosis of mantle-cell lymphoma relapse by 18F-FDG PET/CT after water gastric distention.

Proper gastric distention with oral contrast agents is a well-recognized CT technique for imaging of the stomach. We present the basal and after water ingestion F-FDG PET/CT images that show abnormal focal FDG uptake in a clinically unsuspected gastric relapse of mantle-cell lymphoma. The patient had achieved complete remission after chemoradiotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation 3 years before. The images obtained after the distention of the stomach with water were crucial to confirm the presence of an FDG-avid lesion in the antrum and to distinguish between physiological and pathological radiotracer uptake. Histological analysis confirmed mantle-cell lymphoma infiltration.

Amyloid imaging with (11)C-PIB PET/CT and glucose metabolism with (18)F-FDG PET/CT in a study on cognitive impairment in the clinical setting.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of amyloid imaging with (11)C-Pittsburgh compound B ((11)C-PIB) and of glucose metabolism on F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT to the study of cognitive impairment in the clinical setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients (15 male, 19 female) were enrolled in the study. They were classified according to their clinically presented symptoms. Six patients had subjective memory complaints, five had nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), seven had amnestic MCI, seven had prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD), five had frontotemporal dementia, two had dementia with Lewy bodies, and two had cortical degeneration. All the scans were conducted to determine the likelihood of AD or to differentiate between AD and other dementia. Static 30-min (11)C-PIB and 15-min (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans were obtained. A visual analysis of images was performed. RESULTS: Three of the six patients with subjective memory complaints had positive (11)C-PIB scans and one of them also had (18)F-FDG hypometabolism. All five nonamnestic MCI patients had normal (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG. Four of the seven amnestic MCI patients showed (11)C-PIB cortical retention but only one had positive (18)F-FDG. Positive (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG were detected in five of the seven prodromal AD patients. All the five patients with FDT had positive (18)F-FDG scans, but only one of the five had (11)C-PIB cortical retention. Both dementia with Lewy bodies and cortical degeneration patients had positive (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG scans. CONCLUSION: The combined use of (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG PET provides relevant information for the clinical management of cognitive impairment. The detection of positive (11)C-PIB cortical retention in patients may be an indicator of the need for further clinical assessment and monitoring.

Aortic 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake pattern at 60 min (early) and 180 min (delayed) acquisition in a control population: a visual and semiquantitative comparative analysis.

18F-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG) PET/CT acquisition is generally performed 60 min after injection. The normal biodistribution pattern of F-FDG includes activity in the aortic territory due to blood pool activity, which could interfere in the diagnosis of aortic diseases by overlapping the wall uptake. The aim of the study was to evaluate the change over time of F-FDG uptake by the aortic wall and the activity in the lumen in a control population and to establish normal reference values. This prospective study included 15 control patients (mean age: 58.2 years). PET/CT was acquired 60 min (early scan) and 180 min (delayed scan) after an F-FDG injection at a dose of 7 MBq/kg. A visual and semiquantitative analysis of the F-FDG aortic wall uptake was carried out, and lumen activity and the aortic wall to lumen ratio [target-to-background ratio (TBR)] were determined. In the visual analysis all patients showed F-FDG activity at the aortic territory at 60 and 180 min. The pattern of uptake at 60 min was diffuse in all 15 patients (100%), without delineation of the aortic wall uptake; however, at 180 min the uptake pattern of the aortic wall changed to lineal in 14 patients (93.3%). The aortic wall maximum standardized uptake value decreased from 2.07±0.34 to 1.7±0.46 during the delayed acquisition (P=0.0279) and the lumen maximum standardized uptake value decreased highly significantly (1.99±0.35 vs. 1.36±0.32, P=0.0001). Therefore, TBR also increased highly significantly from 1.04±0.06 to 1.25±0.16 (P<0.0001). The high decrease in blood pool activity from 60 to 180 min provides a better delineation of the aortic wall uptake, which corresponds to the normal pattern at that time. The TBR increased significantly at 180 min, and 1.25±0.16 is suggested as the threshold for diagnostic purposes, especially for the diagnosis of vasculitis.

Diagnosis of recurrence and assessment of post-recurrence survival in patients with extracranial non-small cell lung cancer evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT.

UNLABELLED: The accurate diagnosis of recurrence of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial for the appropriate management of patients with suspicion of recurrence (SOR). We evaluated prospectively in the clinical setting the contribution of FDG PET/CT in patients with SOR of NSCLC in terms of sensitivity, specificity, impact on therapy and on survival. METHODS: Of the 55 patients included in the study, recurrence was confirmed in 37 but, follow up data for survival evaluation was available in 34. There were 59 SOR in the 55 patients and in 41 recurrence was confirmed. 53 of the 59 suspicions, had a contrast enhanced CT. All patients had a FDG PET/CT scan after iv injection of 8 MBq/kg of F18-FDG. RESULTS: Of the 59 SOR, FDG PET/CT was positive in all 41 in which recurrence was confirmed (100% sensitivity) and, it was negative in 15 of the 18 in which it was ruled out (specificity 83%). In 27 SOR with inconclusive CT, FDG PET/CT showed 100% sensitivity (18/18) and 78% specificity (7/9). FDG PET/CT had an impact on treatment in 42 of the 59 SOR. In all 34 patients, FDG PET/CT diagnosed recurrence and overall survival at 20 months and 5 years was 44% and 11%, respectively. When the extent of recurrence assessed by FDG PET/CT was considered, survival at 20 months and at 5 years of patients with loco-regional recurrence was 77% and 28% and in patients with distant recurrence 14% and 0% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the small number of patients, our study demonstrates that FDG PET/CT is highly accurate for the detection of NSCLC recurrence. Therefore it has a great impact on the therapy regimen and on survival depending on the extent of the recurrent disease, survival being better for patients with local recurrence. By differentiating local from distant recurrence, it allows the selection of patients who, could potentially benefit from new therapies. The results also suggest that there are grounds to include FDG PET/CT in the guidelines for surveillance for NSCLC.

New insight of molecular imaging into the atheroma biology: (18)F-fluoride PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT of 3 carotid plaques in a symptomatic neurologic patient.

In a 75-year-old patient admitted with a middle cerebral artery stroke, a contrast-enhanced CT showed 3 atheroma plaques. Five days after the stroke, a F-fluoride PET/CT to evaluate calcification and, 24 hours later, a F-FDG PET/CT to evaluate inflammation were carried out. The different metabolic behavior of both radiotracers, showing different intensities and distribution in each plaque, may represent different phases of the atherogenesis and in combination could provide new information for the early identification of the carotid unstable plaque.