Septic pulmonary emboli detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT in children with S. aureus catheter-related bacteremia.

PURPOSE: The role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in the diagnosis of metastatic infectious foci in children with catheter-related blood stream infection has been hardly studied, although some authors have reported it benefit in the screening of metastatic foci in adult population. Septic pulmonary emboli are among the most difficult to identify, because many cases do not present pulmonary complaints or abnormal chest radiography. However, diagnosis of these foci has important therapeutic consequences. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of septic pulmonary embolism in children with S. aureus catheter-related bacteremia. METHODS: We report 3 children with S. aureus catheter-related bacteremia and normal chest X-ray at admission, in whom 18F-FDG PET/CT led to the diagnosis of unsuspected septic pulmonary emboli, with an impact on clinical management. RESULTS: All patients had hemophilia and implantable venous access ports and presented with fever and normal lung auscultation. Only 1 reported non-specific symptoms (undifferentiated left chest pain). All patients had normal chest X-ray on admission. Catheters were removed within 48 h after admission in 2 cases, and 5 days after admission in the last case, subsiding fever. In 2 children, paired blood cultures were not able to identify bacteremia. However, in all cases catheter tip and subcutaneous port cultures yielded S. aureus and PET/CT detected unsuspected pulmonary metastatic emboli. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/CT should be considered as a useful tool to diagnose septic pulmonary embolism in S. aureus catheter-related bacteremia, especially if conventional diagnostic imaging techniques have failed to reveal possible metastatic foci. Further studies are needed to clarify the usefulness of PET/CT performance in children with CRBSI.

Utilidad de la gammagrafía con eritrocitos desnaturalizados marcados con 99mTc y la 18F-FDG PET-TC en la diferenciación de bazos accesorios e implantes tumorales. A propósito de un caso / Utility of 99mTc-labelled heat-denatured erythrocyte scintigraphy and 18F-FDG PET-CT to differentiate accessory spleens from tumoral metastases. A case report

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Gammagrafía peritoneal con 99mTc-MAA en las comunicaciones pleuroperitoneales en pacientes en diálisis peritoneal / 99mTc-MAA peritoneal scintigraphy in pleuroperitoneal comunication in peritoneal dialysis patients

La diálisis peritoneal (DP) constituye una alternativa plenamente contrastada en el tratamiento de la insuficiencia renal crónica, aunque no está exenta de complicaciones. Entre las más frecuentes se encuentran la peritonitis y las infecciones de la zona de acceso. El derrame pleural secundario a comunicación pleuroperitoneal (CPP) es una complicación grave y poco frecuente en estos pacientes.Presentamos el caso de un varón de 50 años diagnosticado de insuficiencia renal crónica en tratamiento con diálisis peritoneal que presentó disnea progresiva y derrame pleural derecho. La gammagrafía peritoneal con 99mTc permitió confirmar el paso de líquido de diálisis intraperitoneal a cavidad pleural(AU)

Peritoneal dialysis is a fully-contrasted alternative for the treatment of end-stage renal disease although it is not exempt of complications. Peritonitis and exit-site infections are among the most frequent complications found. Pleural effusion secondary to pleuroperitoneal communication (PPC) is a serious and uncommon complication in these patients.We present the case of a 50-year old man diagnosed of end-stage renal disease undergoing treatment with peritoneal dialysis who presented progressive dyspnea and right pleural effusion. The peritoneal scintigraphy with 99mTc-MAA makes it possible to confirm communication of intraperitoneal dialysis fluid to the pleural cavity(AU)

[99mTc-MAA peritoneal scintigraphy in pleuroperitoneal comunication in peritoneal dialysis patients]. / Gammagrafía peritoneal con 99mTc-MAA en las comunicaciones pleuroperitoneales en pacientes en diálisis peritoneal.

Peritoneal dialysis is a fully-contrasted alternative for the treatment of end-stage renal disease although it is not exempt of complications. Peritonitis and exit-site infections are among the most frequent complications found. Pleural effusion secondary to pleuroperitoneal communication (PPC) is a serious and uncommon complication in these patients. We present the case of a 50-year old man diagnosed of end-stage renal disease undergoing treatment with peritoneal dialysis who presented progressive dyspnea and right pleural effusion. The peritoneal scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-MAA makes it possible to confirm communication of intraperitoneal dialysis fluid to the pleural cavity.

Semiología de la PET/TAC con 18F-FDG / No disponible

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Anatomía del abdomen mediante tomografía computarizada / Abdomen anatomy by computed tomography

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[Iatrogenic lung microembolism detected by 18FDG PET/CT]. / Microembolia pulmonar iatrogénica detectada mediante 18F-FDG PET/TC.

We present the cases of two oncology patients: a male with Hodgkin's disease after completion of chemotherapy, and a woman recently diagnosed of melanoma, who underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-FDG for therapeutic monitoring and initial staging, respectively. In both cases, hypermetabolic foci of 18F-FDG in lung parenchyma were found, without morphologic abnormalities in CT. These findings would have been consistent with lung pathology in the absence of any anatomic correlation. Combined PET/CT interpretation was of lung microembolisms probably originated at the injection site.

Microembolia pulmonar iatrogénica detectada mediante 18F-FDG PET/TC / Iatrogenic lung microembolism detected by 18FDG PET/CT

Presentamos los casos de dos pacientes oncológicos: varón con enfermedad de Hodgkin tras finalizar tratamiento quimioterápico y mujer recién diagnosticada de melanoma coroideo, a los que se realiza tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computarizada (PET/TC) con 18F-fluorodesoxiglucosa ( 18F-FDG) para monitorización terapéutica y estudio de extensión inicial, respectivamente. En ambos casos se encuentran focos hipermetabólicos de 18F-FDG en parénquima pulmonar, sin concordancia morfológica en la TC. Estos hallazgos hubieran sugerido patología pulmonar en caso de no disponer de estudio anatómico conjunto. La interpretación de la PET/TC fue de microembolismos pulmonares probablemente originados en el punto de inyección

We present the cases of two oncology patients: a male with Hodgkin's disease after completion of chemotherapy, and a woman recently diagnosed of melanoma, who underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-FDG for therapeutic monitoring and initial staging, respectively. In both cases, hypermetabolic foci of 18F-FDG in lung parenchyma were found, without morphologic abnormalities in CT. These findings would have been consistent with lung pathology in the absence of any anatomic correlation. Combined PET/CT interpretation was of lung microembolisms probably originated at the injection site

[Treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma with 131I MIBG: a long survival]. / Feocromocitoma maligno tratado con MIBG I131:una larga supervivencia.

131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) is a structural analogue of adrenal hormone norepinephrine employed to localise tumours derived of neural crest and in the treatment of malignant pheochromocytomas. Although the number of patients is low, in the revised literature there are objective remissions and reduction of hormonal activity, with symptomatic answers. However, the reduction of size of tumour only has been described in some times and hardly ever in the presence of osseous metastasis. We present one patient diagnoses of malignant pheochromocytoma with osseous metastasis, who was treated with 131I-MIBG. It was administrated a total dose of 1,800 mCu, with an excellent tolerance and short adverse symptoms. There were a partial tumour response and a complete hormonal response, with a survival of 30 years after the diagnoses.

Feocromocitoma maligno tratado con MIBG I131: una larga supervivencia / Treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma with 131I-MIBG: a long survival

La metaiodobenzilguanidina marcada con I131 (MIBG I131) es un analogo estructural de la hormona adrenérgica norepinefrina que se utiliza para la localización de tumores derivados de la cresta neural y para el tratamiento de feocromocitomas malignos. Aunque el número de pacientes tratados es pequeño, en la literatura revisada se dispone de datos acerca de la inducción de remisiones objetivas y de la reducción de la actividad hormonal, consiguiendo respuestas sintomáticas. Sin embargo, la reducción del tamaño tumoral sólo se ha descrito en algunas ocasiones y casi nunca en presencia de metástasis óseas. Presentamos el caso de un paciente diagnosticado de feocromocitoma maligno, con afectación ósea, que recibió tratamiento con MIBG I131.Se administró una dosis total aproximada de 1.800 mCu, con una buena tolerancia y escasos efectos secundarios. Hubo una respuesta tumoral parcial y una respuesta hormonal completa, con una supervivencia de 30 años tras el diagnóstico (AU)

[Follow-up of children and young adults with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with radioiodine]. / Seguimiento de niños y jóvenes adultos con cáncer diferenciado de tiroides (CDT) tratados con radioyodo.

This is a retrospective study carried out in a group of 30 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (age at diagnosis equal to or less than twenty years old). The aim of the study is to evaluate outcome after 131I therapy. Patients were classified into three groups on the basis of initial surgery, pathology and scintigraphic results: group I (thyroid extent), group II (locoregional extent), and group III (distant metastatic disease). Clinical parameters, 131I scans, serum thyroglobulin determinations and 131I therapeutic administered doses were evaluated in the follow-up. Some other complementary techniques such as chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests are also described. Scintigraphic absence of thyroid tissue has been observed in 83% of the cases; high thyroglobulin level is still detectable in 34% of the patients as a single evidence of disease, and 21% remain without any abnormal clinical, scintigraphic or analytical findings. Total doses administered have increased in groups I, II and III respectively, and have also been inversely proportional to the extension of lymph node surgery. At present, all the patients are alive and in good general condition. According to the results obtained, we conclude that children and young adults with DTC should undergo periodical 131I therapeutic doses in case of positive scans (once total thyroidectomy has been realized, with or without lymph node resection depending on the extension of disease). In our experience, the use of radioiodine is effective and safe in the follow-up of children and youngs with DTC.

Seguimiento de niños y jóvenes adultos con cáncer diferenciadode tiroides (CDT) tratados con radioyodo / Follow-up of children and young adults with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with radioiodine

Este es un estudio retrospectivo realizado en un grupo de treinta pacientes con carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides (edad al dignóstico igual o menor a veinte años), que tiene como objetivo valorar la respuesta al tratamiento con radioyodo. Los pacientes fueron clasificados en tres grupos según los resultados quirúrgicos, anatomopatológicos y gammagráficos iniciales: grupo I (enfermedad limitada al tiroides), grupo II (enfermedad locorregional), grupo III (afectación metastásica a distancia). En el seguimiento se evaluaron parámetros clínicos, resultados de rastreos gammagráficos con Iodo-131, determinaciones de tiroglobulina sérica y dosis terapeúticas de radioyodo administradas. También se describen otras técnicas complementarias como la radiología de tórax y las pruebas de función respiratoria. Hemos observado una negativización gammagráfica en el 83 por ciento de los casos; un 34 por ciento presenta niveles de tiroglobulina elevados como único hallazgo sugestivo de existencia de enfermedad y un 21 por ciento no presenta hallazgos clínicos, analíticos o gammagráficos patológicos. Las dosis totales de radioyodo administradas han sido crecientes en los grupos I, II y III respectivamente, e inversamente proporcionales a la extensión de la limpieza ganglionar efectuada. En la actualidad todos los pacientes están vivos y presentan un buen estado general.De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, concluímos que el manejo adecuado del CDT en este grupo de edad debe incluir rastreos gammagráficos periódicos con 131I y dosis terapeúticas de 131I en caso de rastreos positivos (una vez realizada la tiroidectomía total, con o sin limpieza ganglionar dependiendo de la extensión de la enfermedad). Según nuestra experiencia, el empleo de radioiodo es eficaz y seguro en el seguimiento de niños y jóvenes con CDT. (AU)