Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism: 99mTc SestaMibi SPECT/CT results compare with hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism.

CONTEXT: Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (nPHPT) is defined by an inappropriately increased serum PTH with normal serum calcium. Information about the diagnostic yield of parathyroid SPECT/CT scan and ultrasonography in nHPPT is limited and not conclusive. PURPOSE: To evaluate the positivity rate of 99m Tc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT scan in nPHTP compared with classical hypercalcemic PHPT (cPHPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 125 patients with 99m Tc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT scans. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: cPHPT (n = 93) and nPHPT (n = 32). RESULTS: The detection rate of 99m Tc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT in cPHPT was 86,02% (80/93) and 59.37%, in nPHPT (19/32), p = .003. No significant differences were seen between the SPECT/CT scan and ultrasonography (p = .28) and the agreement was higher in cPHPT than in nPHPT, p = .03. Sensitivity of 99m Tc-Sestamibi-SPECT/CT was 98% on a per-patient basis (PPV 96%) and 91% on a per-lesion basis (PPV 88%). Glandular size was smaller in nPHPT (mean value 6.8 mm) and it was related only with PTH value. CONCLUSION: Localization rate of parathyroid hyperfunctioning tissue with 99m Tc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT is lower in nPHPT and it is related to a smaller glandular size. However, our study suggests that the positivity rate and sensitivity are nonnegligible by adding SPECT/CT. The reduction in the detection rate in nPHPT could benefit techniques with higher resolution such as 18 F-Choline PET/CT when the clinical context justifies it.

Utilidad de la 18f-colina pet/tc en hiperparatiroidismo primario persistente o recurrente: experiencia inicial / Usefulness of 18f-choline pet / tc in persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism: initial experience

El hiperparatiroidismo persistente/recurrente representa un desafío en la localización del tejido paratiroideo hiperfuncionante. En esta subpoblación, los métodos convencionales ofrecen un menor rédito diagnóstico. La 18F-colina PET/TC podría ser una buena alternativa dada su mejor resolución espacial, capacidad de detectar glándulas ectópicas y la conjunción de la imagen molecular y anatómica. Sin embargo, la evidencia en este subgrupo de pacientes es escasa. Objetivo: evaluar la utilidad de la 18F-colina PET/TC como método de localización en el hiperparatiroidismo persistente o recurrente. Materiales y métodos: se analizaron los pacientes con 18F-colina PET/TC para hiperparatiroidismo entre diciembre de 2015 y enero de 2018 en un centro terciario de alto volumen. Se analizaron el número de lesiones, su localización, tamaño y el Standard Uptake Value máximo (SUV max) en las imágenes tempranas y tardías. Se compararon los resultados con los métodos convencionales. Resultados: 7 de 15 pacientes habían sido operados previamente (persistentes/recurrentes). La 18F-colina PET/TC detectó 6/7 casos (83,33%), la ecografía cervical 1/4 (25%) y el SPECT de paratiroides y la resonancia nuclear magnética 2/5 (40%). El SUV max obtenido fue variable, en la mitad de los casos a los 10 minutos y en los restantes a la hora; el tamaño promedio de las lesiones fue 8,61 mm (6-12 mm). Conclusiones: la 18F-colina PET/TC muestra una alta tasa de detección en los pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo persistente/recurrente. La combinación del comportamiento biológico del PET con los hallazgos morfológicos aportados por la TC con contraste endovenoso le ofrecería ventajas sobre otros estudios que podrían posicionarlo como método de primera línea en esta subpoblación. (AU)

Persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism represents a challenge regarding the localization of the hyper-functioning parathyroid tissue. In this subpopulation of hyperpharathyroid patients, conventional methods have a low diagnostic yield. The 18F-choline PET /CT could be a good alternative given its better spatial resolution, ability to detect ectopic glands, and the conjunction of the molecular and anatomical image. However, the evidence in this subgroup of patients is limited. Objective: to evaluate the utility of 18F-choline PET/ CT as a localization method in persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism. Materials and methods: patients with 18F-choline PET / CT for hyperparathyroidism between December 2015 and January 2018 in a high-volume tertiary center were included. The number of lesions, and their location, size, and maximum Standard Uptake Value (SUV) in the early and late images were analyzed. The results were compared to conventional methods. Results: 7 of 15 patients had been previously operated (persistent/recurrent). 18F-choline PET / CT detected 6/7 cases (83,33%), cervical ultrasound 1/4 (25%) and parathyroid SPECT and magnetic resonance 2/5 (40%). The maximum SUV was variable, one half at 10 minutes and the other half at 60 minutes; the average size of the lesions was 8.61 mm (6-12 mm). Conclusions: 18F-Choline PET / CT shows a high detection rate in patients with persistent / recurrent hyperparathyroidism. The combination of the biological behavior of PET with the morphological findings provided by CT with intravenous contrast would offer advantages over other studies that could position it as a first line method in this subpopulation. (AU)

Localización radioguiada de lesiones no palpables y ganglio centinela en estadios iniciales de Cáncer de Mama (snoll). Primera experiencia en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires / Radioguided non-palpable lesion localization and sentinel lymph node mapping (snoll) at early breast carcinoma. First experience at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

Introducción Actualmente, entre un 25 y un 35% de los cánceres de mama se diagnostican como lesiones no palpables. La detección de lesiones cada vez más pequeñas exige el desarrollo de nuevas técnicas prequirúrgicas de marcación y localización. Presentamos la experiencia del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires con la técnica de localización radioguiada de lesiones no palpables y ganglio centinela (snoll). Objetivos El objetivo de este trabajo es describir las características clínico-patológicas de las pacientes sometidas a dicha técnica y las ventajas, desventajas, complicaciones y resultados en términos de márgenes libres, tasa de retumorectomías, volumen tumoral resecado y tiempo quirúrgico. Material y método Se trata de un estudio observacional, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron todas las pacientes con carcinomas no palpables en quienes se llevó a cabo la técnica de snoll entre el 1 de agosto de 2016 y el 4 de mayo de 2017. Resultados Se incluyó un total de 25 pacientes, todas con diagnóstico previo de carcinoma de mama invasor a través de una punción histológica. Utilizando la técnica snoll, se logró identificar la lesión de mama en el 96% de las pacientes. En el 100% de las pacientes, los márgenes quirúrgicos estaban libres de lesión, por lo que no se realizaron retumorectomías. Se identificó el 100% de los ganglios centinelas, 76% mediante la técnica snoll y 24% mediante la inyección previa del colorante Azul Patente. Conclusiones La técnica snoll demostró ser una técnica sencilla, que mejora el confort de la paciente y que presenta resultados comparables con las técnicas tradicionales. Si bien se trata de una primera experiencia, son alentadores los resultados en términos de márgenes libres, tiempo quirúrgico y volumen resecados.

Introduction Currently, about 25 to 35% of all breast tumors are diagnosed at a nonpalpable stage. The increasing ability to detect small lesions consequently demands the development of novel technology for preoperative lesion identification and intraoperative localization. In this study, we present our initial experience using Sentinel Node Occult Lesion Localization (snoll) at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Objectives The objective of this study is to describe clinical and pathological characteristics of patients who were submitted to snoll technique and the advantages and disadvantages, complications and results in terms of tumor-free margins, subsequent surgery rate, total specimen volume and surgical time. Materials and method This is a retrospective, observational study. We included all patients with non-palpable breast cancer who were submitted to surgery and snoll technique between August 1st, 2016 and March 14th, 2017. Results A total of 25 patients were included in this study. All patients had previous diagnosis of invasive breast cancer by core needle biopsy. The breast lesion was correctly identified in 96% of patients through snoll. Surgical margins were tumor-free in all patients. No patients required subsequent surgery. All sentinel nodes were correctly identified. In 76% of cases, snoll was sufficient and in 24% additional injection of patent blue was required. Conclusions In our experience, snoll has proven to be a simple technique that improves patient comfort and shows comparable results when compared to traditional identification methods. Although these are our initial results, we believe our findings to be promising in terms of adequacy of margins, surgical time and total specimen volume.

Trasplante de médula ósea alogénico en un paciente con fusariosis diseminada y leucemia mieloide aguda / Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in a patient with disseminated fusariosis and acute myeloid leukemia

La infección diseminada por Fusarium se ha convertido en un problema creciente en las personas con neoplasias hematológicas malignas, principalmente en pacientes con leucemias agudas; se describen cada vez más casos en aquellos sometidos a un trasplante de médula ósea. No existe un tratamiento óptimo establecido para la fusariosis diseminada. La mortalidad global comunicada de esta infección oscila entre el 50 y el 80%. Se presenta a continuación el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino de 29 años, con diagnóstico de leucemia mieloide aguda, que presenta como complicación una fusariosis diseminada, y logra sobrellevar un trasplante alogénico de médula ósea en el Hospital Italiano de San Justo (Argentina) de forma exitosa. (AU)

Disseminated fusariosis has become an increasing problem in people with hematopoietic neoplasms, mainly in patients affected by acute leukemias, and even more in those who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation. There is not an optimal treatment for disseminated fusariosis. The global mortality described in the literature is between 50% and 80%. We introduce a case of a 29 year old patient with diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia complicated with disseminated fusariosis, who copes with an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with a successful outcome in the "Hospital Italiano de San Justo" (Argentina). (AU)