[Treatment protocols and follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma: results of a questionnaire sent to the Spanish Metabolic Therapy Units]. / Los protocolos de tratamiento y seguimiento del carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides: resultados de un cuestionario enviado a las Unidades de Terapia Metabólica españolas.

OBJECTIVE: To know the treatment and follow-up protocols of differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients in Spanish Metabolic Therapy Units, the clinical variability between them and the adaptation to the consensus guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of the results obtained from the questionnaire submitted by E-mail to the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine (SEMNIM) members on the treatment and follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients. A descriptive study was made of the qualitative variables (frequency, percentage) and quantitative variables (mean, standard deviation). RESULTS: Twenty Radiometabolic Therapy Units responded to the questionnaire. In spite of the varied origin of the patients, the Units receive sufficient clinical information and have specialized surgeons. There is variability in the surgical protocols and indication for ablation in patients with intermediate and low risk of recurrence. The Units agree on the use of (131)I doses for ablation and therapy, but show great variability regarding the preparation protocols (previous (131)I-whole body scan or other imaging techniques, (131)I-whole body scan dose, diet and radioiodine contrast prohibition, total dose per patient). Nuclear Medicine physicians perceive radioiodine adverse effects and prevention methods are used. The post-ablation follow-up protocol differs between Units. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment and follow-up protocols of differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients in the Spanish Radiometabolic Therapy Units show variability in aspects such as surgery and ablation indications, patient preparation for radioiodine therapy and follow-up. Our clinical practice differs in several aspects from the recent consensus guideline recommendations.

[Indication for bone scans in early breast cancer staging]. / Indicación del rastreo óseo en la estadificación del cáncer de mama de inicio.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the indication for bone scanning during staging of early breast cancer in the light of scientific evidence to assess the need to modify practices with scant effectiveness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The bone scans carried out in our Nuclear Medicine Department in 2007 on patients with primary breast cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Results were analyzed in relation to the clinical and histopathologic findings for each tumor. Bone scan results of tumors >2 cm y 3 cm, and pre-treatment clinical stage. RESULTS: Out of 245 bone scans of patients with breast cancer, 237 (97%) were negative for metastatic disease and 8 (3%) were positive. Lesions <2 cm (Tis and T1) were diagnosed in 131 patients (53.5%), none of which had bone metastasis at time of diagnosis. Lesions >2 cm and 3 cm. The bone scan findings did not modify staging in any of the 66 patients with T2 tumors stage IIA, but it did modify staging in 2 of 12 patients with stage IIB tumors. Twenty percent of 15 patients with T3 tumors and 13% of patients with T4 tumors had bone metastasis at time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ineffective practices should be modified and bone scanning should not be indicated in patients with early breast cancer Tis, T1 and T2 with tumor

Indicación del rastreo óseo en la estadificación del cáncer de mama de inicio / Indication of bone scans in early breast cancer staging

ObjetivosRevisar nuestra experiencia y reflexionar a la luz de la evidencia científica sobre la indicación del rastreo óseo (RO) en la estadificación del cáncer de mama de inicio en estadios precoces, con el fin de contribuir en la modificación de rutinas de baja eficacia.Material y métodosRevisión retrospectiva de los RO hechos en nuestro Servicio de Medicina Nuclear durante 2007 en las pacientes con cáncer de mama de inicio, analizando su resultado en función del tamaño clínico o anatomopatológico tumoral. Los RO para tumores T2 se analizaron estratificando las lesiones en dos grupos, <= o > de 3cm y en función de su estadio clínico pretratamiento.ResultadosSe incluyeron 245 rastreos, 237 de éstos (97%) fueron negativos y 8 de éstos (3%) fueron positivos para metástasis óseas. En 131 pacientes (53,5%) se diagnosticaron lesiones<2cm (Tis y T1) y ninguna tenía metástasis óseas. Se hallaron 84 lesiones (34%) que eran >2cm y <=5cm (T2) y entre éstas, el 3,6% de las pacientes presentó metástasis óseas, sin diferencias entre lesiones <=3cm y >3cm. El RO no modificó el estadio en ninguna de las 66 pacientes con tumores T2 en estadio IIA clínico, mientras que sí lo hizo en 2 de las 12 pacientes en estadio clínico IIB. El 20% de las 15 pacientes con lesiones T3 y el 13% de las 15 pacientes con T4 presentaron metástasis óseas en el diagnóstico.ConclusionesEs necesario modificar rutinas poco eficientes excluyendo de las indicaciones del RO la estadificación de las neoplasias de mama de inicio con lesiones <=2cm y lesiones en estadio clínico IIA, siendo necesaria su realización previa al tratamiento en el resto de los casos(AU)

ObjectiveEvaluate the indication for bone scanning during staging of early breast cancer in the light of scientific evidence to assess the need to modify practices with scant effectiveness.Material and methodsThe bone scans carried out in our Nuclear Medicine Department in 2007 on patients with primary breast cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Results were analyzed in relation to the clinical and histopathologic findings for each tumor. Bone scan results of tumors >2cm y <=5cm (T2) were analyzed in two groups stratified by tumor size, <=3cm or >3cm, and pre-treatment clinical stage.ResultsOut of 245 bone scans of patients with breast cancer, 237 (97%) were negative for metastatic disease and 8 (3%) were positive. Lesions<2cm (Tis and T1) were diagnosed in 131 patients (53.5%), none of which had bone metastasis at time of diagnosis. Lesions >2cm and <=5cm (T2) were diagnosed in 84 patients (34%), of which 3.6% had bone metastasis. There were no differences in the rate of bone metastases in patients with stage T2 disease and lesions <=3cm vs. >3cm. The bone scan findings did not modify staging in any of the 66 patients with T2 tumors stage IIA, but it did modify staging in 2 of 12 patients with stage IIB tumors. Twenty percent of 15 patients with T3 tumors and 13% of patients with T4 tumors had bone metastasis at time of diagnosis.ConclusionsIneffective practices should be modified and bone scanning should not be indicated in patients with early breast cancer Tis, T1 and T2 with tumor <=2cm, clinical stage IIA. Pre-treatment bone scanning is still indicated in T2 IIB, T3 and T4 disease(AU)

SPECT-TAC de baja dosis con 67Ga en un caso de espondilodiscitis y hernia de Schmorl / 67Ga SPECT/Low-Dose CT. A case report of spondylodiscitis and Schmorl's node

Varón de 61 años con diagnóstico microbiológico de espondilodiscitis en L3-L4, en tratamiento antibiótico, al que se le realizó un estudio gammagráfico con 67Ga para evaluar la respuesta al tratamiento antibiótico por persistencia de clínica dolorosa.La gammagrafía planar con 67Ga mostró focos con captación patológica en los cuerpos vertebrales de L2 y de L4. Se realizó una SPECT-TAC de baja dosis de la región lumbar, obteniendo una imagen de espondilodiscitis activa en L3-L4 además de identificar un segundo foco en L2, que fue compatible con una hernia intraesponjosa de Schmorl.En este caso, la imagen híbrida de SPECT-TAC ha permitido evitar un falso positivo al localizar y caracterizar una lesión con captación patológica de 67Ga, mejorando la especificidad de la prueba y evitando un error diagnóstico(AU)

A 61-year-old male patient with microbiological diagnosis of L3-L4 spondylodiscitis and persist pain underwent a 67Ga scintigraphic study to assess the antibiotic treatment response.Pathological uptake foci in vertebral bodies of L2 and L4 were observed in the 67Ga planar scintigraphy. A SPECT low-dose CT of the lumbar spine was performed as part of anatomical correlated protocol, detecting an active spondylodiscitis in L3-L4 and a second uptake foci in L2 that was identify as a Schmorl's node.In this case the SPECT-CT hybrid image allowed us to avoid a false positive diagnosis to by locate and characterize an image with abnormal uptake of 67Ga, improving the test specificity and avoiding a wrong diagnosis(AU)

[67Ga SPECT/low-dose CT. A case report of spondylodiscitis and Schmorl's node]. / SPECT-TAC de baja dosis con 67Ga en un caso de espondilodiscitis y hernia de Schmorl.

A 61-year-old male patient with microbiological diagnosis of L3-L4 spondylodiscitis and persist pain underwent a (67)Ga scintigraphic study to assess the antibiotic treatment response. Pathological uptake foci in vertebral bodies of L2 and L4 were observed in the (67)Ga planar scintigraphy. A SPECT low-dose CT of the lumbar spine was performed as part of anatomical correlated protocol, detecting an active spondylodiscitis in L3-L4 and a second uptake foci in L2 that was identify as a Schmorl's node. In this case the SPECT-CT hybrid image allowed us to avoid a false positive diagnosis to by locate and characterize an image with abnormal uptake of (67)Ga, improving the test specificity and avoiding a wrong diagnosis.

Gammagrafía de paratiroides y cirugía radiodirigida en el hiperparatiroidismo primario / No disponible

No disponible

No disponible

Gammagrafía de mama con 99mTc-MIBI en la práctica clínica. Repercusión en el manejo clínico del paciente / Scintimammography with 99mTc-mibi in the clinical practice. Repercussion in the clinical management of the patient

Objetivo. Valorar el papel de la gammagrafía de mama (GM) en la práctica clínica. Material y método. Hemos revisado 308 GM realizadas en nuestro servicio. El diagnóstico se estableció mediante citología y/o biopsia o por seguimiento clínico/mamográfico superior a 18 meses. En todos los casos se valoró el tipo de lesión (palpable o no) y su sospecha de malignidad en mamografía (BIRADS). Se determinó el número de punciones aspiraciones con aguja fina (PAAF) y/o biopsias realizadas en dependencia del resultado de la GM, tipo de lesión y mamografía. Resultados. El diagnóstico final fue de cáncer en el 18% de las pacientes, siendo no palpables el 71 % de las lesiones. El valor predictivo negativo (VPN) de la GM fue del 96 %. Se realizó diagnóstico anatomopatológico en el 100 % de lesionescon GM positiva y en el 16 % de lesiones con GM negativa.Dependiendo del tipo de lesión, se practicó PAAF y/o biopsia en el 62 % de lesiones palpables y en el 20 % de las no palpables; según la mamografía, en el 21 % de lesiones BIRADS I-II, 14 % BIRADS III, 70 % BIRADS IV y 100 % BIRADS V. El número de estudios anatomopatológicos practicados fue significativamente mayor en todos los grupos con GM positiva (p > 0,001), excepto en BIRADS V.Conclusiones. En la práctica clínica, la GM se realiza fundamentalmente en poblaciones con baja prevalencia de cáncer, en lesiones no palpables de baja sospecha de malignidad. La GM tiene un alto VPN, incrementa la seguridad diagnóstica de la mamografía y repercute en el manejo de las pacientes, excepto en lesiones BIRADS V

Objective. Establish the usefulness of scintimammography(SM) in day-to-day clinical practice. Material and methods. We have evaluated 308 SM consecutively performed in our Department. The diagnosis was stablished by way of biopsy or clinical and mammography follow- up (minimum 18 months). In all cases we evaluated the kind of lesions (palpable or non-palpable) and their degree of suspicion of malignancy in the mammography (BIRADS). We determined the number of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsies performed in dependence of kind of lesions, mammography and SM results. Results. Final diagnosis was cancer in 18 % of the patients, and 71 % of the lesions were non palpable. Negative predictive value (NPV) of SM was 96 %. Pathological diagnosis was performed in 100 % of lesions with SM+ and 16 % of lesions with SM–. According to the kind of lesion, FNAC and/or biopsy was performed in 62 % of palpable lesions and in 20 % of non-palpablelesions; and according to the mammography in 21 % oflesions BIRADS I-II, 14 % in BIRADS III, 70 % in BIRADS IV and 100 % in BIRADS V. The number of FNAC and/or biopsies performed is significantly higher in all cases when SM is positive (p > 0,001), excepting in BIRADS V lesions. Conclusions. In day-to-day clinical practice SM is generally performed in low prevalence of breast cancer population, in the evaluation of non-palpable lesions with a low suspicion of malignancy.SM has a high NPV, increase the diagnostic accuracyof the mammography and has repercussion on patientmanagement, except in BIRADS V lesions

[Scintimammography with 99mTC-MIBI in the clinical practice: repercussion on the clinical management of the patient]. / Gammagrafía de mama con 99mTc-MIBI en la práctica clínica. Repercusión en el manejo clínico del paciente.

OBJECTIVE: Establish the usefulness of scintimammography (SM) in day-to-day clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have evaluated 308 SM consecutively performed in our Department. The diagnosis was established by way of biopsy or clinical and mammography follow-up (minimum 18 months). In all cases we evaluated the kind of lesions (palpable or non-palpable) and their degree of suspicion of malignancy in the mammography (BIRADS). We determined the number of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsies performed in dependence of kind of lesions, mammography and SM results. RESULTS: Final diagnosis was cancer in 18 % of the patients, and 71 % of the lesions were non palpable. Negative predictive value (NPV) of SM was 96 %. Pathological diagnosis was performed in 100 % of lesions with SM+ and 16 % of lesions with SM-. According to the kind of lesion, FNAC and/or biopsy was performed in 62 % of palpable lesions and in 20 % of non-palpable lesions; and according to the mammography in 21 % of lesions BIRADS I-II, 14 % in BIRADS III, 70 % in BIRADS IV and 100 % in BIRADS V. The number of FNAC and/or biopsies performed is significantly higher in all cases when SM is positive (p > 0,001), excepting in BIRADS V lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In day-to-day clinical practice SM is generally performed in low prevalence of breast cancer population, in the evaluation of non-palpable lesions with a low suspicion of malignancy. SM has a high NPV, increase the diagnostic accuracy of the mammography and has repercussion on patient management, except in BIRADS V lesions.

Localización preoperatoria y cirugía radiodirigida del adenoma de paratiroides utilizando gammagrafía con 99MTC-MIBI y sonda de detección gammagráfica / No disponible

No disponible

[Treatment of bone metastatic pain with Sm153-EDTMP. Evaluation of the analgesic response and the existence of differences according to the primary tumor and the metastatic pattern]. / Tratamiento del dolor óseo metastásico con Sm153-EDTMP. Valoración de la respuesta analgésica y de la existencia de diferencias según el tipo de tumor y el patrón metastásico.

AIMS: To evaluate the response to Sm153-EDTMP treatment in patients with metastatic bone pain and the existence of differences in the response according to the scintigraphic pattern (99mTc-MDP) and the primary tumor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have evaluated the response to Sm153-EDTMP treatment in 32 patients (17 male and 15 female) who received 38 doses (1 mCi/kg). The primary tumor was prostate cancer in 15 patients, breast in 13, lung in 2, intestinal carcinoid in one and unknown in one. Two types of response were considered: a) effective and b) non-effective. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the metastatic pattern: 1) Superscan (SS), 2) Generalized metastases (GM) and 3) Regional metastases (RM). RESULTS: There was effective response in 24 doses (63.15%) and non-effective in 14 (36.84%). The mean duration of the response was 12.08 weeks. Patients with GM pattern showed 16 effective responses (76.19%) and 5 non-effective (23.8%). In SS pattern there were 6 effective responses (60%) and 4 non-effective (40%) and 2 effective (28.57%) and 5 non-effective (71.53%) in RM pattern. These differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). We did not find differences in the response between prostate cancer (12 effective and 6 non-effective) and breast cancer (10 effective and 6 non-effective) (p = 0.79968). CONCLUSIONS: Sm153-EDTMP treatment is efficacious in patients with metastatic bone pain with effective response in 63.15% of the treatments. The response percentage was lower in patients with RM pattern but the differences did not reach statistical significance. There were no differences in the response between prostate and breast cancer patients.

In-111 DTPA octreotide scintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe detection in the diagnosis and treatment of residual lymph node metastases of a rectal carcinoid tumor.

PURPOSE: We report a case of a rectal carcinoid tumor that was treated using endoscopic resection. This case highlights the usefulness of using somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in the postresection endoscopy of the tumor and the intraoperative use of a gamma probe detector for the surgical resection of metastatic adenopathy that had not been detected using computed tomography (CT) scanning. METHODS: The patient was studied using CT scanning, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), and rectal endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). A gamma probe detector was scheduled for use during the subsequent surgical intervention. RESULTS: The SRS demonstrated a pelvic metastatic lymphatic node that had not been detected on CT scanning. Additional EUS did not show regional metastatic lymph nodes. Histopathology following removal of retroperitoneal and presacral lymphatic nodes confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoid tumor. At follow up at 6 months, SRS and rectoscopy were normal. CONCLUSION: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy is very useful in identifying the presence of lymph node metastases, even with a small rectal carcinoid tumor. This is of considerable importance when scheduling surgery and the CT and EUS are normal. The use of an intraoperative gamma-probe detector assists in the surgical excision of the metastatic lymphatic nodes, especially because they had been detected only using SRS, and when their exact location is uncertain.

[Carcinoid tumor and bone metastases: diagnosis by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy]. / Tumor carcinoide y metástasis óseas: diagnóstico mediante gammagrafía de receptores de somatostatina.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study has been to retrospectively assess the usefulness of 111In-DTPAOC scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases (BM) in patients diagnosed of carcinoid tumour (CaT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1995 and April 2003 78 111In-DTPAOC studies were consecutively performed in 58 patients, 31 females and 27 males, 28 to 73 years old, with a histological diagnosis of CaT. Moreover, whole body bone scans (BS) using 99mTc-MDP were performed in 13 of these patients. The patients were classified into three groups: Group A: Initial CaT staging (n = 23); Group B: CaT staging after surgery (n = 14); and Group C: Post-treatment CaT re-staging (n = 29). In this last group, 6 patients of group A and 2 patients of group B were included. In only 2 patients the diagnoses of bone metastases were established before the 111In-DTPAOC scan. RESULTS: Twenty six (44.8 %9 of the 58 patients with CaT had metastatic disease: 15 patients with hepatic metastases, associated with BM in 4 of them, 10 patients with hepatic and extra-hepatic metastases, abdominal and/or thoracic, associated with BM in 4 and in one patient, the BMs were the only metastases detected. The global incidence of BM in patients diagnosed with CaT was 15.5 % (9/58), whereas the incidence of BM in patients with metastasic disease was 34.6 % (9/26). Significant differences (p = 0.0035) were found on the incidence of BM in patients with or without hepatic metastases. In 4 patients, BMs were detected during the initial staging (group A), whereas in 5 patients, BMs were detected during the post-treatment re-staging (group C). During diagnosis, 4 of the 9 patients with BM had bone pain. BM were multiples in 8 patients, affecting axial skeleton in 4 and axial and appendicular skeleton in 4. One patient had a diffuse infiltration of bone marrow. BS was positive in 8 of the 9 patients with BM. In these 8 patients with abnormal BS, 111In-DTPAOC scintigraphy provides similar information to the BS in one patient, shows a greater number of bone lesions in 3, whereas BS was superior in 5 patients. Four of the patients with BM died between 6 and 47 months after diagnosis (mean: 29.7 months). CONCLUSIONS: BMs are preferably located on axial skeleton, can be asymptomatic and are associated with hepatic metastases. Although the 111In-DTPAOC scintigraphy is able to detect some BM earlier than BS, the information provided by both studies is complementary. In patients with CaT, any invasive therapy on the hepatic metastases make it necessary to exclude extrahepatic metastases, including bone ones, and the somatostatin receptor scintigraphy is the diagnostic method of choice.

[Diabetes mellitus and pancreatic tumor]. / Diabetes mellitus y tumor pancreático.

A 68 year old Ecuadorian man was investigated for polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss of 3 kg during the previous two months. Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus was diagnosed 10 year before admission and treated with appropriate diet and insulin (35 U/d). 18 months before was diagnosed in El Ecuador of "multiple liver nodes non-suggestive of malignancy". Physical examination showed a large multinodular petrous hepatomegaly. There was no evidence of skin lesions. Results of laboratory studies included a basal plasma glucose level that ranged between 275-367 mg/dl (N=60-100), glycosylated haemoglobin of 8.9% (N<5) and a serum albumin of 2.8 gr./dl (N=3.4-4.8). At admission non-other laboratory alterations were detected. Computed tomography showed a mass on the head of the pancreas with loco-regional lymph nodes and liver metastases. Tumor markers were normal. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the liver masses revealed the presence of liver metastases of a non-differentiated malignant tumor. A 111In-DTPAOC scintigraphy revealed the presence of somatostatin receptors in the liver metastases, also detecting the presence of multiple bone metastases in the axial and appendicular skeleton. Plasma glucagon level was 678 pg/ml (N<250). A diagnosis of metastatic glucagonoma was established and therapy with streptozocin, 5-FU, insulin and synthetic somatostatin analogs was initiated. Three months after the therapy initiation the patient was symptom free. Some weeks after the patient suffered from left hip pain, and a control 111In-DTPA scintigraphy showed progression of his bone metastases. In conclusion, glucagonoma must be suspected in all diabetic patients with metastatic liver, even in absence of necrotic migratory erythema. In these circumstances, plasmatic glucagon level and somatostatin receptors scintigraphy will be a useful tool for establishing the final diagnosis.