Virtual planning as a resource for correcting severe facial asymmetry ­ case report / Planejamento virtual como recurso para correção de assimetria facial severa ­ relato de caso

A hiperplasia hemimandibular é responsável por prejuízos estéticos, funcionais, motores e psicossociais. Com etiologia incerta, ocorre frente ao desequilíbrio de fatores regulatórios de crescimento presentes na camada cartilaginosa do côndilo. O relato objetiva descrever a tomada de decisões baseada em exames complementares específicos aliados à adequada intervenção cirúrgica da lesão. Paciente gênero feminino, 33 anos de idade, compareceu à clínica particular com queixa principal de "face assimétrica", foi requerido uma avaliação cintilográfica objetivando e confirmando a interrupção do crescimento condilar, descartando a hipótese de Osteocondroma e condilectomia. Após preparo ortodôntico prévio, os exames tomográficos foram utilizados na criação de um protótipo que foi impresso após a realização dos movimentos ósseos planejados. Mediante à reconstrução, foi concluído que a assimetria presente não seria totalmente corrigida somente através da intervenção ortognática, sendo necessária também uma osteotomia removendo parte da base do corpo e ângulo mandibular, através da confecção de um guia de corte, promovendo à reanatomização sem a necessidade de acesso extra oral submandibular, evitando uma cicatriz em face feminina. Paciente encontra-se em pós-operatório de 60 meses, sem queixas e satisfeita. Portanto, é evidenciado cada vez mais a influência positiva que o planejamento virtual pode trazer aos profissionais na otimização dos resultados cirúrgicos.

Hemimandibular hyperplasia is responsible for aesthetic, functional, motor, and psychosocial impairments. With an uncertain etiology, it occurs due to the imbalance of regulatory growth factors present in the cartilaginous layer of the condyle. The report aims to describe decision-making based on specific complementary exams combined with the appropriate surgical intervention for the condition. A 33-year-old female patient presented at a private clinic with the main complaint of "asymmetric face." A scintigraphic evaluation was requested to objectively confirm the interruption of condylar growth, ruling out the hypothesis of Osteochondroma and condylectomy. After prior orthodontic preparation, tomographic exams were used to create a prototype that was printed after planned bone movements. Through the reconstruction, it was concluded that the existing asymmetry would not be entirely corrected through orthognathic intervention alone, necessitating also an osteotomy to remove part of the base of the body and mandibular angle. This was done through the creation of a cutting guide, allowing for reanatomization without the need for submandibular extraoral access, thus avoiding a scar on the female face. The patient is 60 months postoperative, with no complaints and satisfied. Therefore, the increasingly positive influence of virtual planning on optimizing surgical outcomes for professionals is evident.

[Prevalence of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis in patients hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and septal thickness]. / Prevalencia de amiloidosis cardíaca por transtiretina en pacientes internados por insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección preservada y engrosamiento septal.

INTRODUCTION: Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) usually presents as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Its diagnosis has a significant clinical impact, as specific treatment is currently available. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of ATTR-CM in patients hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and septal thickness in our region. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Patients over 18 years old hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (greater than 50%) and septal thickness greater than or equal to 12 mm during the period from 8/2019 to 1/2023 were prospectively included. A pyrophosphate bone scintigraphy (PYP) was planned to assess cardiac involvement. The prevalence of ATTR-CM and its 95% confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: A PYP was performed in 59/82 patients. The median age was 85 [IQR 78-88] years old, 54% women. On admission, 61% had atrial fibrillation/flutter rhythm and the median NT-Pro-Bnp was 3536 [IQR 1700-7748] pg/nl. The mean ejection fraction was 57% (± 5). The prevalence of ATTR-CM diagnosed by bone scintigraphy with PYP was 19% (95%CI 9.7-30.1). No differences were found compared with those patients who did not perform a PYP. CONCLUSION: In patients admitted for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and septal thickness, the diagnosis of ATTR-CM was relatively common (1/5). We believe that it should be routinely explored.

Introducción: La amiloidosis cardíaca por transtiretina (TTR) se suele presentar como insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) con fracción de eyección preservada. Diagnosticarla tiene impacto clínico, ya que actualmente se dispone de tratamiento específico. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia en nuestro medio de TTR en pacientes hospitalizados por IC con función sistólica preservada e hipertrofia septal. Métodos: Estudio de corte transversal. Se incluyeron de forma prospectiva pacientes mayores a 18 años internados por IC con función sistólica conservada (fracción de eyección mayor a 50%) y espesor septal mayor o igual a 12 mm durante el periodo del 8/2019 a 1/2023. El compromiso cardiaco se evaluó mediante un centellograma óseo con pirofosfato (PYP) Se calculó la prevalencia de amiloidosis por TTR y su IC95%. Resultados: Se efectuó un centellograma en 59/82 pacientes. La edad fue de 85 [RIC 78-88] años, el 54% mujeres. Al ingreso, el 61% presentó ritmo de fibrilación/aleteo auricular y una mediana de NT-Pro-Bnp de 3536 pg/ml [RIC 1700-7748 pg/nl]. La media de fracción de eyección fue de 57 (± 5) %. La prevalencia de amiloidosis cardiaca por TTR diagnosticada por centellograma óseo con PYP fue del 19% (IC95% 9,7-30,1). No se detectaron diferencias con los 23 pacientes que no efectuaron centellograma. Conclusiones: En pacientes internados por IC con fracción de eyección preservada y engrosamiento septal el diagnóstico de amiloidosis cardiaca por TTR fue relativamente frecuente (1/5), por lo que consideramos que debería explorarse en forma rutinaria.

Limited utility of routine bone scintigraphy in the staging of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The most widely used staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the Barcelona Liver Clinic Cancer (BCLC) system, which considers tumor burden, performance status, and liver function. Tumor burden is assessed with cross sectional imaging of the abdomen and chest, controversy surrounds the routine use of bone scintigraphy (BS) for detecting extrahepatic metastases. This study evaluated the role of BS in staging HCC in Mexican patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study of all adults with HCC at a Mexican referral center from 2000 to 2018. Staging included abdominal computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging, chest CT, and BS. The main outcome was the impact of BS on staging and/or therapy plans. RESULTS: Among 238 patients, 2 with fibrolamellar variant and 44 with incomplete data were excluded. Median age was 66 years, 84 % had cirrhosis, and the predominant etiology was hepatitis C virus (43 %). BCLC stages were distributed as follows: A (14 %), B (7 %), C (68 %), and D (11 %). Extrahepatic disease was present in 18 %; only 8 % patients had a positive BS. Among the positive cases, 4 were true positives, but they did not alter staging or therapy plans. CONCLUSIONS: Routine BS in HCC staging demonstrated low yield, with a notable rate of false positives. Considering the implications of extrahepatic disease, BS may be justified for liver transplant candidates outside conventional criteria. Our study highlights the limited role of BS in early-stage HCC and advocates for a more selective utilization.

Scintigraphic and Echocardiographic Study of Patients with Pathogenic or Probably Pathogenic Variants of the TTR Gene without Overt Cardiac Involvement. / Avaliação Cintilográfica e Ecocardiográfica em Portadores de Variantes Patogênicas ou Provavelmente Patogênicas do Gene TTR sem Envolvimento Cardíaco Manifesto.

BACKGROUND: Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is an infiltrative disease caused by abnormal protein deposition mainly in the heart and peripheral nervous system. When it affects the heart, the disease presents as restrictive cardiomyopathy; when it affects the peripheral and autonomic nervous system, it manifests as polyneuropathy, and is called familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). There are two ATTR subtypes: wild-type ATTR, where there is no mutation, and mutant ATTR (ATTRm), which is characterized by a mutation in the gene encoding the transthyretin protein (TTR). In both subtypes, cardiac involvement is the major marker of poor prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of subclinical cardiac involvement in a sample of patients with TTR gene mutation by using pyrophosphate scintigraphy and strain echocardiography; to compare scintigraphy and strain findings; to evaluate the association between neurological manifestations (FAP) and subclinical cardiac involvement; and to analyze whether there is an association between any specific mutation and cardiac involvement. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with carriers of the TTR gene mutation, without cardiovascular symptoms or changes in electrocardiographic or conventional echocardiographic parameters. All patients underwent pyrophosphate scintigraphy and strain echocardiography. Subclinical cardiac involvement was defined as a Perugini score ≥ 2, heart-to-contralateral lung (H/CL) ratio ≥ 1.5 at 1 h, H/CL ≥1.3 at 3 h, or global longitudinal strain (GLS) ≤ -17%. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed and Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test were applied. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The 23 patients evaluated had a median age of 51 years (IQR 37-57 years), 15 (65.2%) were female, 12 (52.2%) were Pardo, nine (39.1%) had systemic arterial hypertension, and nine (39.1%) had a previous diagnosis of FAP. Of the nine patients with FAP, 8 (34.8%) were on tafamidis. The associated mutations were Val142IIe, Val50Met, and IIe127Val. The median GLS in the sample was -19% (-16% to -20%). Of the 23 patients, nine (39.1%; 95% CI = 29-49%) met criteria for cardiac involvement, six (26%) by the GLS-based criteria only. There was no association between having FAP and being an asymptomatic carrier, as assessed by strain echocardiography and pyrophosphate scintigraphy (p = 0.19). The prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, and reduced GLS did not differ between groups. Septal e' wave velocity was the only variable that significantly differed between individuals with and without reduced GLS, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.80 (95% CI = 0.61-0.98, p = 0.027). The best diagnostic accuracy was achieved with a septal e' velocity ≤ 8.5 cm/s. There was no association between mutation type and preclinical cardiac involvement, nor between tafamidis use and lower degree of cardiac involvement (37.5% versus 40.0%, p = 0.90). CONCLUSION: Subclinical cardiac involvement was common in a sample of TTR mutation carriers without cardiac involvement. Reduced left ventricular GLS was the most frequent finding. There was no association between the presence of amyloid polyneuropathy and subclinical cardiac involvement. Type of mutation was not associated with early cardiac involvement. In this sample, the use of tafamidis 20 mg/day was not associated with a lower prevalence of subclinical cardiac involvement.

FUNDAMENTO: A amiloidose por transtirretina (ATTR) é uma doença infiltrativa causada pela deposição anormal de proteína principalmente no coração e no sistema nervoso periférico. Quando acomete o coração, a doença manifesta-se como uma cardiomiopatia restritiva e, quando afeta o sistema nervoso periférico e autônomo, apresenta-se como uma polineuropatia, podendo ser chamada de Polineuropatia Amiloidótica Familiar (PAF). Existem dois subtipos de ATTR, a ATTR selvagem, em que não há variantes genéticas, e a ATTR hereditária, caracterizada por uma variante no gene que codifica a proteína transtirretina (T\TR). Em ambos os subtipos, o envolvimento cardíaco é o principal marcador prognóstico. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a prevalência do envolvimento cardíaco subclínico em uma amostra de pacientes com variantes genéticas no gene TTR usando a cintilografia com pirofosfato e o ecocardiograma com strain; comparar os achados cintilográficos e as medidas de strain; avaliar a associação entre PAF e o envolvimento subclínico; e analisar se existe uma associação entre uma variante genética específica e o envolvimento cardíaco. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com carreadores de variantes no gene TTR sem sintomas cardiovasculares e sem alterações nos parâmetros da eletrocardiografia ou do ecocardiograma convencional. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à cintilografia com pirofosfato e à ecocardiografia com análise de strain. O envolvimento cardíaco subclínico, definido como um escore de Perugini ≥ 2, razão Coração (C)/ Hemitórax Contralateral (CL) ≥ 1,5 em uma hora, C/CL ≥ 1,3 na terceira hora, ou um strain longitudinal global (SGL) ≤ −17%. Realizadas análises descritiva e analítica, e aplicados o teste exato de Fisher e o teste de Mann-Whitney. Um valor de p<0,05 foi considerado significativo. RESULTADOS: Os 23 pacientes avaliados apresentavam uma idade mediana de 51 (37-57) anos, 15 (65,2%) eram do sexo feminino, 12 (52,2%) eram pardos, nove (39,1%) apresentavam hipertensão arterial sistêmica, e nove (39,1%) tinham um diagnóstico prévio de PAF. Dos nove pacientes com PAF, oito (34,8%) usavam tafamidis. As variantes genéticas identificadas foram Val142IIe, Val50Met e IIe127Val. O valor mediano do SGL foi −19% (-16% ­ −20%). Dos 23 pacientes, nove (39,1%; 95% CI = 29­49%) preencheram os critérios de envolvimento cardíaco, seis (26%) somente pelo critério do SGL. Não houve associação entre PAF e um carreador assintomático avaliado por ecocardiograma com análise de strain e pela cintilografia com pirofostato (p=0,19). A prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes mellitus, dislipidemia, tabagismo e SGL reduzido não foi diferente entre os grupos. A velocidade da onda e' septal foi a única variável que apresentou diferença significativa entre os indivíduos com e sem SGL reduzido, com uma área sob a curva ROC de 0,80 (IC95% = 0,61­0,98, p = 0,027). A melhor acurácia diagnóstica foi alcançada com uma velocidade e' septal ≤ 8,5 cm/s. Não houve associação entre o tipo de variante genética e o envolvimento cardíaco pré-clínico, nem entre o uso de tafamidis e este mesmo envolvimento (37,5% versus 40,0%, p = 0,90). CONCLUSÃO: O envolvimento cardíaco subclínico foi frequente em uma amostra de carreadores da variante genética do gene TTR. Um valor do SGL reduzido foi o achado mais comum. Não houve associação entre a presença de polineuropatia amiloidótica e o envolvimento subclínico. O tipo de variante genética não foi associado com envolvimento cardíaco precoce. Nesta amostra, o uso de tafamidis (20mg/dia) não foi associado com uma menor prevalência de envolvimento cardíaco subclínico.

Alternância entre bloqueio focal do ventrículo esquerdo e bloqueio de ramo mascarado durante cintilografia com estresse farmacológico: relato de caso / Alternation between focal left ventricular block and masked bundle branch block during pharmacological stress scintigraphy: case report

INTRODUÇÃO: O bloqueio de ramo mascarado é caracterizado no eletrocardiograma por um bloqueio de ramo direito (BRD) evidente no plano horizontal, associado ao bloqueio divisional anterossuperior (BDAS) e ondas S mínimas ou ausentes na derivação DI, o que dá ao plano frontal um padrão semelhante ao bloqueio de ramo esquerdo (BRE) com eixo de QRS desviado para esquerda. Por outro lado, o eletrocardiograma no bloqueio focal ou periférico do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) evidencia um QRS com retardo final e duração ≥ 120 ms, porém sem critérios de BRE ou BRD. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente masculino, 76 anos, com histórico de hipertensão, diabetes mellitus do tipo 2, dislipidemia, ex-tabagista, portador de insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção reduzida realizou cateterismo cardíaco em dezembro de 2023, por doença arterial coronariana (DAC) estável, relevando: oclusão no terço médio da coronária direita, recebendo circulação colateral, 2º ramo diagonal com lesão de 80% no terço proximal e 1º ramo marginal com lesão de 70% no óstio de seu sub-ramo inferior, além de diversas lesões <50%. Devido a doença difusa e vasos de fino calibre foi optado por otimização do tratamento clínico. Paciente interna após 2 meses por dor torácica sendo solicitado cintilografia miocárdica com prova farmacológica (dipiridamol). O paciente apresentava o seguinte eletrocardiograma em repouso: Ritmo sinusal, bloqueio focal do VE + BDAS, presença de onda R alta em V2 - sugestivo de área inativa lateral. (Figura 1) Durante infusão de dipiridamol, paciente apresentou alteração do eletrocardiograma evoluindo para padrão de bloqueio de ramo mascado. (figura 2) E retornando ao seu eletrocardiograma de base após o término da infusão. A cintilografia evidenciou queda da fração de ejeção de 27% basal para 21% no estresse, ausência de sinais de isquemia do miocárdio e hipocaptação persiste de grande extensão nas paredes inferior, inferosseptal e inferolateral do ventrículo esquerdo. CONCLUSÃO: O bloqueio focal do VE e o bloqueio mascarado estão relacionados a fibrose ou disfunção miocárdica. A presença desses bloqueios se traduz em prognóstico desfavorável, estando associada a um maior risco de morte por doença cardiovascular e a um aumento substancial do risco de arritmias. Nesse caso podemos caracterizar um paciente com DAC estabelecida e grande área de fibrose, e a alteração no eletrocardiograma encontrada reforça a gravidade do quadro e implica pior prognóstico clínico.

Temporal evolution of postsurgical bone repair in a rabbit model: A [99mTc]Tc-MDP scintigraphic study.

Bone regeneration is crucial for repairing bone tissue following various injuries. Research techniques that enable the study of metabolic changes in bone tissue under different conditions are important for understanding bone repair and remodeling. This study used bone scintigraphy to evaluate osteogenesis secondary to osteotomy in a preclinical model of New Zealand rabbits. For this purpose, we conducted a longitudinal, prospective, case-control study in which scintigraphic variables were measured in both the right forearm (case-operated) and the left forearm (control - non-operated). The study sample consisted of 10 rabbits subjected to osteotomy, followed by a 12-week postoperative evaluation period, divided into six imaging stages at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. We observed that the operated forearm showed significantly higher external radiation than the control side, using the pinhole collimator, denoting an increase in the biodistribution and tropism of the radiopharmaceutical to the operated forearm. Among the three evaluated time points, osteoblastic activity was highest in the second week and presented a significant decline in the 8th and 12th weeks, denoting regeneration and resolution of the surgical injury; the control forearm was also influenced by the inactivity imposed by the operated forearm. This fact was notably evidenced by the reduction in the metabolic activity of osteoblasts in the left forearm. Our study suggested that bone scintigraphy was sensitive enough to semi-quantitatively differentiate the metabolic activity of osteoblasts in the operated forearm in the three temporal landmarks evaluated in the study.

New insights in thyroid diagnosis and treatment.

The prevalence of thyroid disease continues to rise. As a consequence, the research in the thyroid field has significantly increased over time. Thus, clinicians, and endocrinologists first, have to be aware of the important continuous progress achieved, in particular of thyroid cancer, to better manage their patients. This themed issue, titled "New Insights in Thyroid Diagnosis and Treatment," delves deep into contemporary hot topics in thyroid field. These papers included in the present issue are focused on several aspects in this area, such as imaging, molecular analysis, machine learning and radiomics, nuclear medicine, clinical, and laboratory. Seven papers centers around thyroid cancer. Three papers review imaging modalities for thyroid nodule/cancer assessment. Two papers report a comprehensive review of metabolic issues involving thyroid gland. Finally, a large overview about genetics of Graves' disease is reported in another study. Clinicians will find this issue very interesting.

Comparison between whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and whole-body metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in the evaluation of primary tumor and metastases in neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Whole-body metaiodobenzylguanidine (131 I-MIBG) scintigraphy is the gold standard method to detect neuroblastoma; however, it depends on radioactive material and is expensive. In contrast, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is affordable in developing countries and has been shown to be effective in the evaluation of solid tumors. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of WB-MRI with MIBG in the detection of primary tumors and neuroblastoma metastases. PROCEDURE: This retrospective study enrolled patients with neuroblastoma between 2013 and 2020. All patients underwent WB-MRI and MIBG at intervals of up to 15 days. The results were marked in a table that discriminated anatomical regions for each patient. Two experts evaluated, independently and in anonymity, the WB-MRI images, and two others evaluated MIBG. The results were compared in terms of sensitivity and specificity, for each patient, considering MIBG as the gold standard. This study was approved by the UNIFESP Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Thirty patients with neuroblastoma were enrolled in this study. The age ranged from 1 to 15 years, with a mean of 5.7 years. The interval between exams (WB-MRI and MIBG) ranged from 1 to 13 days, with an average of 6.67 days. Compared to MIBG, WB-MRI presented a sensitivity and specificity greater than or equal to 90% for the detection of primary neuroblastoma in bones and lymph nodes. When we consider the patient without individualizing the anatomical regions, WB-MRI presented sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 73.33%. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, WB-MRI is a sensitive and specific method to detect neuroblastoma in bone and lymph nodes and highly sensible to primary tumor diagnosis, suggesting that this test is a viable alternative in places where MIBG is difficult to access. Studies with a larger number of cases are necessary for definitive conclusions.

Solitary Neuroblastoma in the Scapula.

ABSTRACT: Majority of primary pediatric neuroblastomas occur in the abdomen, followed by posterior mediastinum. A 7-year-old girl presented worsening pain in the left shoulder, and a CT image of the chest revealed osseous destruction in the left scapula, suggestive of bone tumor. A biopsy was performed. Pathological result was consistent with neuroblastoma. A 123I scan with SPECT/CT images was performed, which showed only increased activity in the left scapula without any other foci of abnormal activity elsewhere.

Pancreatitis aguda en el escenario de hipercalcemia por hiperparatiroidismo primario / Acute pancreatitis in the setting of hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism

Introducción: describir el caso de un paciente con pancreatitis aguda secundaria a hipercalcemia por hiperparatiroidismo prImario. Esta es una causa poco frecuente de pancreatitis, asociada a morbimortalidad significativa en caso de no ser diagnosticada oportunamente Caso clínico: un hombre de 44 años, con antecedente de pancreatitis de presunto origen biliar que había requerido previamente colecistectomía, consultó por dolor abdominal y náuseas. Los estudios complementarios fueron compatibles con un nuevo episodio de pancreatitis aguda. Presentaba hipercalcemia y hormona paratiroidea (PTH) elevada, configurando hiperparatiroidismo primario. La gammagrafía informó hallazgos compatibles con adenoma paratiroideo. Se inició tratamiento con reanimación hídrica y analgesia con adecuada disminución de calcio sérico y resolución de dolor abdominal. Después de la paratiroidectomía se logró normalizar los niveles de calcio y PTH. Discusión: la pancreatitis aguda es una condición potencialmente fatal, por lo que la sospecha de causas poco frecuentes como la hipercalcemia debe tenerse en cuenta. El tratamiento de la hipercalcemia por adenoma paratiroideo se basa en reanimación hídrica adecuada y manejo quirúrgico del adenoma, con el fin de evitar recurrencia de pancreatitis y mortalidad. (AU)

Introduction: we describe the case of a patient with acute pancreatitis secondary to hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism. This is a rare cause of pancreatitis associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed in time. Clinical case: a 44-year-old man with a history of pancreatitis of presumed biliary origin, which had previously required cholecystectomy, consulted for abdominal pain and nausea. The laboratory findings were compatible with a new episode of acute pancreatitis. He presented hypercalcemia and an elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH), configuring primary hyperparathyroidism. Scintigraphy was performed, yielding findings compatible with parathyroid adenoma. Treatment with fluid resuscitation and analgesia was started, resulting in an adequate decrease in serum calcium and resolution of abdominal pain. After parathyroidectomy, calcium and PTH levels were normalized. Discussion: acute pancreatitis is a potentially fatal condition; therefore the suspicion of rare causes, such as hypercalcemia, should be considered. The treatment of hypercalcemia due to parathyroid adenoma is based on adequate fluid resuscitation and surgical management of the adenoma, to avoid recurrence of pancreatitis and death. (AU)

Esclerosis bilateral de huesos largos: enfermedad de Erdheim-Chester. Reporte de un caso / Bilateral long bone sclerosis: Erdheim-Chester disease. Case report

La enfermedad de Erdheim-Chester (EEC) es una patología poco frecuente, caracterizada por presentar infiltración xantogranulomatosa sistémica, con afección de diversos sistemas incluido el óseo. La EEC se encuentra descripta dentro de las enfermedades osteocon-densantes (EO), las cuales se reconocen por presentar aumento de la masa ósea y compromiso tanto de huesos largos como planos. La presentación clínica de la EEC es variada: puede presentar desde un curso indolente hasta manifestaciones multisistémicas. Las características radiológicas son de gran importancia para establecer su diagnóstico. Presentamos una paciente con EEC, con esclerosis bilateral de huesos largos, que exhibe algunas características diferenciales con relación a otros casos reportados: a) afectación exclusivamente ósea a 10 años de evolución, b) compromiso bilateral y simétrico de distinta magnitud, c) esclerosis cortical endóstica y perióstica, d) signos radiológicos sugestivos de periostitis, d) ausencia de compromiso metafisario, e) ausencia de actividad metabólica de las lesiones en las imágenes de 18F-FDG PET/CT.Conclusión: la presencia de lesiones osteocondensantes bilaterales exclusivamente en huesos largos deben hacer sospechar EEC. La ausencia de compromiso metafisario y de actividad metabólica en 18F-FDG PET/CT ha sido raramente descripta. (AU)

Erdheim - Chester disease (ECD) is a rare disease, characterized by systemic xanthogranulomatous infiltration, with involvement of various organs including bone. ECD is described within the sclerosing bone disorders, which are recognized for presenting increased bone mass and involvement of both long and flat bones. The clinical presentation of ECD is diverse, ranging from an asymptomatic course to multisystemic manifestations. Radiological features are of great importance to establish the diagnosis. We describe here a patient with ECD, with bilateral sclerosis of long bones that presents some differential characteristics in relation to other reported cases: a) exclusively bone involvement at 10 years of evolution, b) bilateral and symmetric involvement of different magnitude, c) endosteal and periosteal cortical sclerosis d) radiological signs suggestive of periostitis, d) absence of metaphyseal involvement, e) absence of metabolic activity of the lesions in 18F-FDG PET/CT.Conclusion: the presence of bilateral osteosclerosis exclusively in long bones should lead to suspect ECD. The absence of metaphyseal involvement and metabolic activity in 18F-FDG PET/CT have been rarely described. (AU)

Effect of ambulation following 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose injection on standing positron emission tomography of the healthy equine digit.

OBJECTIVE: Measure 18F-FDG uptake in digital tissues of healthy horses subjected to different ambulatory conditions between the time of injection and positron emission tomography (PET) scan acquisition. ANIMALS: 8 healthy adult horses. METHODS: Horses were walked (AMB) or tied in stalls (NONAMB) immediately after injection with ∼1.5 MBq/kg 18F-FDG until scan acquisition using a randomized crossover design. Steps were quantified using accelerometers. Standardized uptake values (SUV; mean and maximum) in digital tissues including the dorsal lamellae (proximal, middle, and distal), quarter lamellae (medial and lateral), and coronary band were analyzed using a mixed-effects linear regression model. RESULTS: Mean (95% CI) step count for AMB (569[484-653]) was higher than NONAMB (88[24-152]) P = <.001. The SUVmax (but not SUVmean) was increased in AMB compared with NONAMB in the proximal (2.74[2.52-2.98] vs 2.42[2.05-2.78]; P = .04) and middle (2.74[2.37-3.11] vs 2.36[2.05-2.68]; P = .03) dorsal lamellae but was not different in the distal lamellae or coronary band. In the medial quarter lamellae, both SUVmax (2.53[1.58-3.48] vs 2.07[0.81-3.33]; P = .01) and SUVmean (1.90[1.55-2.25] vs 1.49[0.91-2.06]; P = .007) were increased in AMB compared with NONAMB. The medial quarter lamellae also had lower SUVmax (P = .002) and SUVmean (P = .04) compared with the lateral quarter and lower SUVmax compared with the mid-dorsal lamellae (P = .01). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lamellar 18F-FDG uptake was affected by ambulatory activity mostly in the medial quarter; however, this effect was relatively small and unlikely to interfere with clinical detection of laminitis.

Comparison of Whole-Body Dosimetry Measurements in 131I Therapy Using Ceiling-Mounted Geiger-Müller Detectors and γ-Camera Scans: An Agreement Analysis.

Background: In 131I therapies internal dosimetry is crucial for determining the mean absorbed dose to organs at risk, particularly the bone marrow, which has a dose constraint of 2 Gy. Traditionally, multicompartmental models have been used for bone marrow dosimetry, necessitating whole-body absorbed-dose assessments. However, noninvasive techniques, such as γ-camera scans or ceiling-mounted Geiger-Müller (GM) counters, can estimate the aforementioned. This study was aimed to evaluate the agreement between whole-body mean absorbed dose using γ-camera scans and ceiling-mounted GM in patients with thyroid carcinoma undergoing 131I therapy. Methods: This study included 31 patients with thyroid cancer who were treated with 131I. The whole-body time-integrated activity (TIA) and mean absorbed dose were estimated using the elimination curves obtained with γ-camera scans and ceiling-mounted GM. In addition, statistical analysis was performed on the data to determine the Coefficient Correlation Coefficient and the Bland-Altman limits of agreement for both parameters, as well as for the elimination curves' effective half-life. Results: The study revealed correlations of 0.562 and 0.586 between whole-body TIA and mean absorbed dose, respectively. The Bland-Altman limits of agreement were found to be below -3.75% and within 12.75% of the bone marrow dose constraint of 2 Gy. The nonparametric evaluation revealed that whole-body TIA and mean absorbed dose medians from GM were lower than those from γ-camera scans (p < 0.001). Effective half-life estimation mean was significantly lower in the GM than in the γ-camera of 13 and 23 h. Conclusions: Although GM calculates the whole-body absorbed dose with margins of error within clinical acceptance, underestimation of the effective half-life makes it an unacceptable substitute method for γ-cameras in clinical practice. Further research should be conducted to evaluate single-point GM measurement substitutions in time-activity curves.

[Primary mediastinal myelolipoma]. / Mielolipoma primario mediastinal.

Myelolipoma is a benign non-functional tumor. Most of them are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, either through imaging studies or at autopsy. While it most commonly occurs in the adrenal gland, it has also been reported at extra-adrenal sites. We present the case of a 65-year-old woman with a primary mediastinal myelolipoma. Computer tomographic scan of the thorax showed an ovoid tumor with well-defined borders of 6.5 × 4.2 cm, located in the posterior mediastinum. A transthoracic biopsy of the lesion was made, and the microscopic observation revealed hematopoietic cells and mature adipose tissue. Although computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are effective in diagnosing mediastinal myelolipoma, histopathological examination is essential for the definitive diagnosis.

El mielolipoma es un tumor benigno no funcional, la mayoría de ellos son asintomáticos y descubiertos de forma incidental a través de estudios de imagen o en estudios de autopsia. Aun cuando la mayoría de los casos se presenta en la glándula suprarrenal, también se han informado en sitios extra-adrenales. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 65 años de edad con un mielolipoma primario mediastinal. La tomografía computarizada de tórax mostró un tumor ovoide de bordes bien definidos de 6.5 × 4.2 cm, localizado en el mediastino posterior. Se realizó biopsia transtorácica de la lesión y el estudio microscópico reveló elementos hematopoyéticos y tejido adiposo maduro. Aun cuando los estudios de imagen como la tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética son efectivos en el diagnóstico del mielolipoma primario mediastinal, la evaluación histopatológica es esencial para el diagnóstico definitivo.

Tc-99m scan for pediatric bleeding Meckel diverticulum:a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Meckel diverticulum (MD) is a common malformation of the digestive tract, often accompanied by serious complications. It is important to find safe and effective diagnostic methods for screening MD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a technetium-99m (Tc-99m) scan for pediatric bleeding MD. METHODS: The authors conducted a systematic review of studies published in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science before 1 January 2023. Studies based on PICOS were included in this systematic review. The flow chart was made by PRISMA software. The quality of included studies was assessed by RevMan5 software (QUADAS-2: Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2). The sensitivity, specificity, and other measurements of accuracy were pooled using Stata/SE 12.0 software. RESULTS: Sixteen studies with 1115 children were included in this systematic review. A randomized-effects model was used for the meta-analysis because of significant heterogeneity. The combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.80 [Confidence Interval (95% CI, 0.73-0.86) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.86-0.98)], respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.85-0.90). Publication bias (Begg's test p = 0.053) was observed. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m scan has high specificity, but moderate sensitivity, which is always influenced by some factors. Hence, the Tc-99m scan has some limitations in the diagnosis of pediatric bleeding MD.

Comparison of serum creatinine, point-of-care symmetric dimethylarginine and renal imaging with glomerular filtration rate measured by renal scintigraphy in healthy and early chronic kidney diseased cats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate routinely used tests to diagnose cats in early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to describe a model for evaluating these variables simultaneously. Apparently healthy cats were screened using serum creatinine (sCr), point-of-care symmetric dimethylarginine (POC SDMA), urinalysis, urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPC) and imaging evaluation. Those parameters were compared to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessed by renal scintigraphy. Forty-four cats were included and consisted of 14 (31.8%) healthy cats (absence of abnormalities in renal morphology and sCr less than 1.6 mg/dL), 20 (45.5%) cats classified as CKD I (presence of abnormalities in renal morphology and sCr less than 1.6 mg/dL) and ten (22.7%) as CKD II (sCr equal to or greater than 1.6 mg/dL, with or without abnormalities in renal morphology). A large number (40.9%) of apparently healthy cats presented reduction in GFR, which included half of CKD I patients. Point-of-care SDMA was not a good predictor for decreased GFR, nor was it correlated with the variables GFR and sCr. Glomerular filtration rate was significantly lower in CKD I and II groups in comparison with healthy cats, but there was no significant difference between the CKD I and II groups. Multivariate logistic regression model identified three variables that affected the odds of a cat having decreased GFR (< 2.5 mL/min/kg): sCr (OR = 18.3; p = 0.019; CI = 1.6-207.2), and the ultrasonographic findings 'reduced corticomedullary definition' (OR = 19.9; p = 0.022; CI = 1.6-254.0) and 'irregular contour' (OR = 65.6; p = 0.003; CI = 4.2-1038.2). Renal ultrasonography evaluation should always be considered for screening early CKD in apparently healthy cats.

Image quality for visualization of cracks and fine endodontic structures using 10 CBCT devices with various scanning protocols and artefact conditions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate CBCT exposure protocols and CBCT devices in terms of image quality for the detection of cracks and fine endodontic structures using 3 conditions of metallic artifacts. An anthropomorphic phantom containing teeth with cracks, isthmus, narrow canal, and apical delta was scanned using ten CBCT devices. A reference industrial CT image was used to detect and measure all structures. Three conditions were created: (1) metal-free, (2) 'endo' and (3) 'implant' with metallic objects placed next to the teeth of interest. For each condition, three protocols were selected: medium field of view (FOV) standard resolution, small FOV standard and high resolution. The results showed that only small FOV high-resolution metal-free images from two devices (A and H) were appropriate to visualize cracks. For fine structure identification, the best result was observed for small FOV high resolution. However, the visualization significantly worsened in the presence of metallic artefacts. The ability of CBCT images for visualizing cracks is restricted to certain CBCT devices. Once metallic artefacts are present, crack detection becomes unlikely. Overall, small FOV high-resolution protocols may allow detection of fine endodontic structures as long as there are no high-dense objects in the region of interest.

A novel labeling modality of intra-abdominal lesions with Magseed magnetic marker and extirpation by Sentimag probe navigation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate our experience with the use of Magseed, the magnetic metallic marker, as a localization technique followed by Sentimag probe detection in patients with solitary intra-abdominal local metastases with subsequent resection of the lesions. METHODS: Five patients underwent resection after the lesion was marked with the Magseed magnetic marker. Prior to the surgery, a computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen and/or positron emission tomography was performed to rule out the dissemination of the disease. The indication for surgery was evaluated in a meeting of a multidisciplinary team, and the placement of the magnetic marker under computed tomography control had been performed the day before the planned procedure. RESULTS: The present preliminary outcomes have revealed that Magseed might be a promising technique that is feasible and safe, particularly when the postsurgical anatomic conditions in the abdominal cavity are altered and the lesions are not visible or palpable. Surgical extirpation of lesions occurred without complications in each case. In all the cases, the resection was complete and curative, and one wound infection in all (20%), without any major complications, had occurred. The mean hospital stay was 6.6 days. CONCLUSION: Magseed utilization, as a localization technique, followed by Sentimag probe detection in intra-abdominal tumors has not been reported before. Improving the visualization and, consequently, the precise marking of the lesion with subsequent radical removal can prevent insufficient or excessive removal of healthy tissue, leading to a faster diagnosis and better overall clinical outcomes.