Simultaneous [18F]FDG-PET/MRI: Correlation of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) and Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) in Primary and Recurrent Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Previous non-simultaneous PET/MR studies have shown heterogeneous results about the correlation between standardized uptake values (SUVs) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). The aim of this study was to investigate correlations in patients with primary and recurrent tumors using a simultaneous PET/MRI system which could lead to a better understanding of tumor biology and might play a role in early response assessment. METHODS: We included 31 patients with histologically confirmed primary (n = 14) or recurrent cervical cancer (n = 17) who underwent simultaneous whole-body 18F-FDG-PET/MRI comprising DWI. Image analysis was performed by a radiologist and a nuclear physician who identified tumor margins and quantified ADC and SUV. Pearson correlations were calculated to investigate the association between ADC and SUV. RESULTS: 92 lesions were detected. We found a significant inverse correlation between SUVmax and ADCmin (r = -0.532, p = 0.05) in primary tumors as well as in primary metastases (r = -0.362, p = 0.05) and between SUVmean and ADCmin (r = -0.403, p = 0.03). In recurrent local tumors we found correlations for SUVmax and ADCmin (r = -0.747, p = 0.002) and SUVmean and ADCmin (r = -0.773, p = 0.001). Associations for recurrent metastases were not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of fast and reliable measurement of SUV and ADC with simultaneous PET/MRI. In patients with cervical cancer we found significant inverse correlations for SUV and ADC which could play a major role for further tumor characterization and therapy decisions.

[The future of bedside chest radiography: Comparative study of mobile flat-panels and needle-image plate storage phosphor systems]. / Die Zukunft der Thoraxbettaufnahme: Vergleichende Untersuchung von mobilen Flachdetektoren und Speicherfoliensystemen mit Nadelkristalldetektoren.

BACKGROUND: Chest radiography is the most common diagnostic modality in intensive care units with new mobile flat-panels gaining more attention and availability in addition to the already used storage phosphor plates. PURPOSE: Comparison of the image quality of mobile flat-panels and needle-image plate storage phosphor system in terms of bedside chest radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 84 bedside chest radiographs of 42 intensive care patients (20 women, 22 men, average age: 65 years). All images were acquired during daily routine. For each patient, two images were analyzed, one from each system mentioned above. Two blinded radiologists evaluated the image quality based on ten criteria (e.g., diaphragm, heart contour, tracheal bifurcation, thoracic spine, lung structure, consolidations, foreign material, and overall impression) using a 5-point visibility scale (1 = excellent, 5 = not usable). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the image quality of the two systems (p < 0.05). Overall some anatomical structures such as the diaphragm, heart, pulmonary consolidations and foreign material were considered of higher diagnostic quality compared to others, e.g., tracheal bifurcation and thoracic spine. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile flat-panels achieve an image quality which is as good as those of needle-image plate storage phosphor systems. In addition, they allow immediate evaluation of the image quality but in return are much more expensive in terms of purchase and maintenance.

[Occupational risk factors for bladder carcinoma. A case control study]. / Berufliche Risikofaktoren des Harnblasenkarzinoms. Eine Fallkontrollstudie.

Aim of this case-control study, performed on 412 male bladder cancer cases and 414 controls with benign prostatic hyperplasia in a former area of coal, iron and steel industries in Germany, was to identify occupations with an increased bladder cancer risk. In bladder cancer cases, smokers were overrepresented (58.3%) compared to controls (35.2%). The percentage of patients who had stopped smoking for at least 10 years did not differ in cases (10.2%) and controls (9.7%). Significantly elevated smoking-adjusted bladder cancer odds ratios (MH) were observed in painters and lacquers (MH 2.24, 95% CI 1.07-5.13), chemistry-related occupations (MH 2.44, 95% CI 1.05-5.67), coke plant workers (MH 2.89, 95% CI 1.16-7.16) and hard coal miners (MH 2.33, 95% CI 1.52-3.58). Significantly decreased smoking-adjusted bladder cancer odds ratios (MH) were observed in businessmen (MH 0.64, 95% CI 0.45-0.92) and office personnel (MH 0.58, 95% CI 0.41-0.81). In these two groups a relevant exposure to occupational bladder carcinogens is not likely.

Urothelial cancer of the bladder in an area of former coal, iron, and steel industries in Germany: a case-control study.

In a case-control study performed in an area of former coal, iron, and steel industries, the professional and lifestyle histories of 412 male urothelial bladder cancer inpatients (cases) and 414 inpatients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (controls) were investigated. Smoking habits were identified as the main confounder for occupational bladder cancer risk. Two hundred and forty (58.3%) of the bladder cancer inpatients and 146 (35.3%) of the inpatients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were smokers. The percentage of ex-smokers in the bladder cancer cases was 10.2%; the percentage of ex-smokers in the controls was 9.7%. Smoking-adjusted Mantel-Haenszel estimates of the odds ratios (OR&infMH;) for bladder cancer were elevated in underground hard-coal miners (OR&infMH; =2. 54, 95% CI =[1.64; 3.93]), chemical workers (OR&infMH; =2.16, 95% CI =[0.87; 5.38]), painters/varnishers (OR&infMH; = 2.42, 95% CI =[1. 05; 5.57]), technicians (OR&infMH; = 1.99, 95% CI =[0.95; 4.16]), and foundry workers (OR&infMH; = 2.22, 95% CI = [0.53; 9.08]). Administrative officers had significantly lower smoking-adjusted odds ratios (OR&infMH; = 0.61, 95% CI = [0.42; 0.88]). Although statistically not significant, the results of the Breslow-Day test of homogeneity of the odds ratios over the strata are compatible with interactions between tobacco smoking and the occupations of underground hard-coal miners (chi(2)&infBD; = 4.91, p=0.07) and chemical workers (chi(2)&infBR; = 3.32, p=0.06).