Imagen de PET/TC con 18F-FDG en "casco de minero" de una metástasis solitaria del hueso frontal secundaria a adenocarcinoma rectal / "Miner's cap-like" solitary frontal bone metastasis from rectal adenocarcinoma on 18F-FDG PET/CT

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New insight of functional molecular imaging into the atheroma biology: 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG in symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid plaques after recent CVA. Preliminary results.

AIM: The identification of the vulnerable atheroma plaque could allow a more effective treatment of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Active calcification and inflammation of the carotid atheroma were assessed and compared in symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques by 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG PET/CT. METHODS: Nine patients investigated for recent CVA and no preventive treatment with statins were enrolled. In each patient, at least one atheroma plaque was detected by CT angiogram. In total, 18 plaques were available: 9 symptomatic and 9 asymptomatic. 18F-NaF uptake and 18F-FDG uptake by each plaque were assessed visually and semiquantitatively by calculating target/background ratios (TBRs) and TBR indexes (TBR symptomatic/TBR asymptomatic and 18F-NaF TBR/18F-FDG TBR within each of the 2 clinical groups of plaques). RESULTS: All plaques showed 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG uptake, and semiquantitation showed higher 18F-NaF uptake by 11 of the 18 plaques, 6 symptomatic and 5 asymptomatic. In the symptomatic group, the mean 18F-NaF TBR was 2·12 ± 0·44, and in the asymptomatic group, it was 1·85 ± 0·46. The 18F-NaF/18F-FDG showed that, overall, 18F-NaF uptake is higher than 18F-FDG. In the symptomatic plaques, the 18F-NaF was higher for the low calcium content and the lowest for the high. CONCLUSION: Active calcification and inflammation are simultaneous processes in the symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atheroma. However, active calcification seems predominant over inflammation in both groups. In the symptomatic plaques, the highest 18F-NaF uptake does not correspond with the largest calcium content. These patterns open new insights on the role of 18F-NaF in the study of calcification and in the identification of the vulnerable carotid atheroma.

Patterns of 11C-PIB cerebral retention in mild cognitive impairment patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patterns of cerebral cortical distribution of (11)C-PIB in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 69 patients (37 male, age range 42-79 years) with MCI, sub-classified as 53 with amnestic-MCI (A-MCI), and 16 with non-amnestic-MCI (NA-MCI). Patients underwent (11)C-PIB PET/CT scan 60min after intravenous injection of the radiotracer. A visual analysis of the images was performed by 2 experienced physicians. (11)C-PIB-positive studies were considered when gray matter uptake was equal to or greater than white matter. According to the regions involved, (11)C-PIB-positive studies were classified into A-pattern (predominant retention in frontal, anterior cingulate, lateral temporal, and basal ganglia) and B-pattern (generalized retention). RESULTS: Thirty-nine of the 69 (56%) patients with MCI showed (11)C-PIB retention. Of the 53 A-MCI patients, 36 (68%) showed (11)C-PIB retention. Eleven out of 36 (30%) positive scans in A-MCI patients showed A-pattern, and 25 out of 36 (70%) patients had a B-pattern. Positive (11)C-PIB was observed in 3 out of 16 (19%) patients with NA-MCI. Regional distribution in these 3 patients showed A-pattern in 1, and B-pattern in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Cortical retention of (11)C-PIB was more frequent in A-MCI than in NA-MCI patients, and also B-pattern than A-pattern in the (11)C-PIB positive group. The recognition of (11)C-PIB distribution patterns allows MCI patients to be classified, and the A-pattern may offer a therapeutic window for potential future treatments.

18F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of large vessel vasculitis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica / 18F-FDG PET/TAC en pacientes con polimialgia reumática y sospecha de vasculitis de grandes vasos asociada

Purpose: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) may present together with large vessel vasculitis (LVV), and frequently requires a more intensive therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and management of LVV associated to PMR. Material and methods: This prospective study included 40 consecutive patients (27 women/13 men, 68.10±10.27 years) with PMR and suspicion of associated LVV submitted for 18F-FDG PET/CT. A PET/CT scan was obtained 180min after 18F-FDG intravenous injection. A visual analysis was performed on the images. Five vascular regions were evaluated: supra-aortic trunks (SAT), thoracic aorta (TA), abdominal aorta (AA), iliac arteries (IA), and femoral/tibioperoneal arteries (FTA). The intensity of uptake was graded from 0 to 3. A final diagnosis of LVV was established in 26/40 patients (65%). Results: In the 26 patients with a diagnosis of LVV, the highest intensity of 18F-FDG uptake was observed in the TA, SAT, and FTA. All of these patients showed uptake at the TA, with grade 2 and 3 in most cases. In 4 of the 14 patients without LVV, no uptake was observed in any vascular region, and in the other 10 patients only a grade 1 uptake was observed in 1 or to 2 territories. Out of the 20 treated LVV patients, 18F-FDG PET/CT led to a therapeutic change in 17 (85%). Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT was useful in identifying patients with LVV associated to PMR. The detection of vascular inflammation had an important impact, and led to a change of treatment in a high percentage of patients with LVV

Objetivo: La polimialgia reumática (PMR) puede presentarse asociada a vasculitis de grandes vasos (VGV), necesitando frecuentemente una intensificación del tratamiento. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar el impacto de la 18F-FDG PET/TAC en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de VGV asociada a PMR. Material y métodos: Este estudio prospectivo incluyó 40 pacientes consecutivos (27 mujeres/13 hombres, 68,10±10,27 años) con PMR y sospecha de VGV asociada evaluados con 18F-FDG PET/TAC. Los estudios PET/TAC fueron obtenidos 180 minutos después de la inyección intravenosa de 18F-FDG. Se realizó un análisis visual de la intensidad de captación (0-3) en troncos supraaórticos (TSA), aorta torácica (AT), aorta abdominal (AA), arterias ilíacas (AI) y arterias femoro/tibioperoneales (AFT). Se estableció un diagnóstico final de VGV en 26/40 pacientes (65%). Resultados: En los 26 pacientes con diagnóstico de VGV la mayor intensidad de captación de 18F-FDG se objetivó en AT, TSA y AFT. En todos ellos se observó captación en la AT, principalmente grado 2 y 3. En 4 de los 14 sin VGV no se visualizó captación en ninguna región vascular y en los otros 10 solo se observó captación grado 1 en uno o 2 territorios. De los 20 pacientes con VGV previamente tratados, la 18F-FDG PET/TC motivó un cambio terapéutico en 17 (85%). Conclusiones: La 18F-FDG PET/TAC fue una herramienta útil para identificar pacientes con VGV asociada a PMR. La detección de inflamación vascular tuvo un importante impacto, motivando un cambio de tratamiento en un alto porcentaje de los pacientes con VGV

(18)F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of large vessel vasculitis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

PURPOSE: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) may present together with large vessel vasculitis (LVV), and frequently requires a more intensive therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and management of LVV associated to PMR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 40 consecutive patients (27 women/13 men, 68.10±10.27 years) with PMR and suspicion of associated LVV submitted for (18)F-FDG PET/CT. A PET/CT scan was obtained 180 min after (18)F-FDG intravenous injection. A visual analysis was performed on the images. Five vascular regions were evaluated: supra-aortic trunks (SAT), thoracic aorta (TA), abdominal aorta (AA), iliac arteries (IA), and femoral/tibioperoneal arteries (FTA). The intensity of uptake was graded from 0 to 3. A final diagnosis of LVV was established in 26/40 patients (65%). RESULTS: In the 26 patients with a diagnosis of LVV, the highest intensity of (18)F-FDG uptake was observed in the TA, SAT, and FTA. All of these patients showed uptake at the TA, with grade 2 and 3 in most cases. In 4 of the 14 patients without LVV, no uptake was observed in any vascular region, and in the other 10 patients only a grade 1 uptake was observed in 1 or to 2 territories. Out of the 20 treated LVV patients, (18)F-FDG PET/CT led to a therapeutic change in 17 (85%). CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET/CT was useful in identifying patients with LVV associated to PMR. The detection of vascular inflammation had an important impact, and led to a change of treatment in a high percentage of patients with LVV.

Bile ascites after T-tube removal in liver transplantation: a hepatobiliary scintigraphy finding / Ascitis biliar tras retirada de tubo de Kehr en transplante hepático: un hallazgo de la gammagrafía hepatobiliar

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[The epidemiology of Q fever in the northern area of Huelva, Spain]. / Epidemiología de la fiebre Q en la zona norte de Huelva.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to know the prevalence, incidence and clinical presentation of the acute Q fever in the north of the Huelva district. METHODOLOGY: a) Prevalence: 1,654 serum were randomly collected from the health district and distributed by their origin, age and sex. The methodology used was the indirect immunofluorescence, Coxiella burnetii phase II as antigen. Were regarded as positives those serum whose titles were equal or higher to 80; b) Incidence: prospective study of every case treated in hospital during 1996-1997 plus every referred patient from the different "Health Centers". An acute case of Q fever was established as a feverish syndrome of more than 2 days plus a title equal or higher to 320 against C. burnetti phase II antigen, and c) Clinical data: all the patients were clerked and similar form was filled up including the following items: pneumonia, hepatitis, headache, persistent fever, etc. RESULTS: a) Prevalence: it was 5.08%, more frequent in men than in women; b) Incidence: 21 new cases over two years, an incidence of 12.70 cases per 100,000 population, and c) CLINICAL PRESENTATION: feverish syndrome plus hepatitis in 100% of the cases, just two pneumonia were recorded and in 4 cases the clinical picture was associated to immunological symptoms with persistent fever. CONCLUSION: A discrepancy between incidence and prevalence has been pointed out which makes us think that the majority of the Q fever cases in this area debut as a self restricted feverish syndrome which does not require specialized treatment.