Semiquantitative 2-[F]FDG PET/CT-based parameters role in lymphoma.

2-deoxy-2-[F]-fluoro-D-glucose (2-[F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) plays a crucial role in the management of lymphoma in different settings, such as staging disease, assessing response to therapy, predicting prognosis, and planning RT. Beside visual analysis, several semiquantitative parameters were introduced to study lymphoma with promising results. These parameters can represent different disease characteristics, like body composition (such as sarcopenic index), dissemination of disease (Dmax), tumor burden (including metabolic tumor volume) and texture features.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Staging, and Treatment: A Population-Based Study in Northern Italy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in cancer diagnoses and reductions in treatments. The aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on prostate cancer by evaluating whether there has been a shift towards more aggressive (Gleason) and more advanced tumors (stage IV) and a decline in treatments. The study was conducted on 1123 cases of prostate cancer incident in the Province of Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy, in the period of 2018-2021.

Lutetium [Lu]-DOTA-TATE in gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumours: rationale, design and baseline characteristics of the Italian prospective observational (REAL-LU) study.

Purpose: Gastroenteropancreatic -neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) are commonly treated with surgical resection or long-term therapies for tumour growth control. Lutetium [Lu]-DOTA-TATE was approved for the treatment of GEP-NETs after the phase III NETTER 1trial demonstrated improved progression free survival, objective response rates and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to high-dose somatostatin analogues. No real-world data exist on prescribing habits and clinically significant endpoints for [Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE treatment in Italy.

The Influence of COVID-19 on New Lung Cancer Diagnoses, by Stage and Treatment, in Northern Italy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on new cancer diagnoses. This study aims to evaluate the implications of the lockdown period on new lung cancer diagnoses in northern Italy. We compared 2020 with 2019 cancer registry data, reporting the variations by age, stage, and treatments.

The diagnostic and prognostic role of combined [F]FDG and [Ga]-DOTA-peptides PET/CT in primary pulmonary carcinoids: a multicentric experience.

Objectives: In the present retrospective multicentric study, we combined [Ga]-DOTA-peptides and [F]FDG-PET/CT findings aiming to investigate their capability to differentiate typical (TC) and atypical pulmonary carcinoids (AC) and their prognostic role.

Methods: From three centers, 61 patients were retrospectively included. Based on a dual tracer combination we classified PET scans as score 1, [F]FDG- and [Ga]-DOTA-peptides negative; score 2, [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides positive and [F]FDG-negative; score 3, [Ga]-DOTA-peptides negative and [F]FDG-positive; score 4, both tracers positive.

Nuclear Medicine and Radiological Imaging of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Multidisciplinary Update.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNENs) are part of a large family of tumors arising from the neuroendocrine system. PanNENs show low-intermediate tumor grade and generally high somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression. Therefore, panNENs benefit from functional imaging with Ga-somatostatin analogues (SSA) for diagnosis, staging, and treatment choice in parallel with morphological imaging.

Radiolabeled Somatostatin Analogues for Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare and heterogeneous tumors that require multidisciplinary discussion for optimal care. The theranostic approach (DOTA peptides labelled with Ga for diagnosis and with Y or Lu for therapy) plays a crucial role in the management of NENs to assess disease extension and as a criteria for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) eligibility based on somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression. On the diagnostic side, [Ga]Ga-DOTA peptides PET/CT (SSTR PET/CT) is the gold standard for imaging well-differentiated SSTR-expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Association of Upfront Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy With Progression-Free Survival Among Patients With Enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Importance: Data about the optimal timing for the initiation of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for advanced, well-differentiated enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the association of upfront PRRT vs upfront chemotherapy or targeted therapy with progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with advanced enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who experienced disease progression after treatment with somatostatin analogues (SSAs).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective, multicenter cohort study analyzed the clinical records from 25 Italian oncology centers for patients aged 18 years or older who had unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, well-differentiated, grades 1 to 3 enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and received either PRRT or chemotherapy or targeted therapy after experiencing disease progression after treatment with SSAs between January 24, 2000, and July 1, 2020.

Predictive and Prognostic Role of Pre-Therapy and Interim 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT Parameters in Metastatic Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Treated with PRRT.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an effective therapeutic option in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). However, PRRT fails in about 15-30% of cases. Identification of biomarkers predicting the response to PRRT is essential for treatment tailoring.

68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in Pleural Solitary Fibrous Tumors.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm. Preoperative diagnosis is usually difficult and based on radiological findings only. We report the imaging results observed in 5 patients with SFTP (2 malignant) obtained by 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT.

Sequencing radium 223 and other life-prolonging agents in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.

Radium 223 (RA223) is currently administered as part of a therapeutic sequence with the other life-prolonging agents (LPAs) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who had received at least three LPAs including RA223. Median overall survival (OS) from the start of first-line treatment was 39.

Fracture risk and survival outcomes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients sequentially treated with abiraterone acetate and RADIUM-223.

Purpose: To evaluate the fracture risk and survival outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who received sequentially abiraterone acetate (AA) and radium 223 [223Ra]RaCl in the daily clinical practice.

Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the records of mCRPC patients who received [223Ra]RaCl immediately after progressing during an AA treatment line in everyday clinical practice.

Results: We reviewed data of a consecutive series of 94 mCRPC patients.

Radiotherapy Planning and Molecular Imaging in Lung Cancer.

Introduction: In patients suitable for radical chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer, 18F-FDGPET/ CT is a proposed management to improve the accuracy of high dose radiotherapy. However, there is a high rate of locoregional failure in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), probably due to the fact that standard dosing may not be effective in all patients. The aim of the present review was to address some criticisms associated with the radiotherapy image-guided in NSCLC.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in malignant pleural mesothelioma: diagnostic and prognostic performance and its correlation to pathological results.

Although 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan has been generally validated in the staging of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), its diagnostic and prognostic performances are not clearly established. Aiming to identify possible factors causing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT false-negative results and influencing prognosis in MPM patients, we analysed clinical, radiometabolic and pathological features in 141 MPM patients who underwent diagnostic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scan (January 2009-July 2018) at 2 high-volume institutions. The Fisher's exact test and the Cox model were used in statistical analysis.

Treatment With 90Y/177Lu-DOTATOC in Patients With Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma Expressing Somatostatin Receptors.

Context: We investigated the role of Gallium 68 dodecanetetraacetic acid Tyr3-octreotide (68Ga-DOTATOC) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in detecting somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) in 19 patients with metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and explored the activity of yttrium-90/lutetium-177 (90Y/177Lu-DOTATOC) peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Case Description And Methods: 68Ga uptake in metastatic sites was scored in terms of intensity and anatomical uptake distribution of standard uptake value (SUV). Tissue expression of SSTR2A and SSTR5 was also evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on primary tumors.

Diagnostic performances of 68Ga-DOTATOC versus 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in pulmonary carcinoid tumours and interrelationship with histological features.

Few data are available about radio-receptorial positron emission tomography (PET) results by the use of 68Ga-DOTA-peptides in pulmonary carcinoid tumours. In this study, we retrospectively analysed 68Ga-DOTATOC/PET and 18Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET diagnostic performances in 62 pulmonary carcinoids (occurring in 57 patients) and interrelationship with histological features. All patients underwent at least 1 PET/computed tomography: 26 patients received 68Ga-DOTATOC, 52 patients had 18F-FDG and 20 patients received both techniques.

F-FDG and Ga-somatostatin analogs PET/CT in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma: a comparison study.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. Currently, F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (F-FDG) PET/CT is the functional imaging modality of choice. Few data are available on the use of Ga-somatostatin analogs.

Effect of image registration on 3D absorbed dose calculations in Lu-DOTATOC peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an effective MRT (molecular radiotherapy) treatment, which consists of multiple administrations of a radiopharmaceutical labelled with Lu or Y. Through sequential functional imaging a patient specific 3D dosimetry can be derived. Multiple scans should be previously co-registered to allow accurate absorbed dose calculations.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic scan in solid-type p-stage-I pulmonary adenocarcinomas: what can produce false-negative results?

Objective: False-negative (FN) uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) can be divided into those cases related to technological limitations of positron emission tomography (PET) and those related to inherent properties of neoplasms. Our goal was to clarify possible factors causing FN PET results in patients with solid-type pulmonary adenocarcinomas (PAs).

Methods: From January 2007 to December 2014, of the 255 patients with p-stage-1 non-small-cell lung cancer observed and treated (surgically) in our institution, we retrospectively reviewed the PET/computed tomography (CT) records, the clinical information, the preoperative thin-section CT images, and the pathological features [classified by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS) subtyping criteria] of 94 consecutive solid-type p-stage-1 PAs.

Primary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Lung: Radiometabolic ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) Findings and Correlation with Clinico-Pathological and Survival Results.

Introduction: Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a very rare and uninvestigated subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The aims of this study were to define the radiometabolic features (by (18)F-FDG PET/CT) in a bi-centric cohort of 49 PSC patients and to explore their relation with clinico-pathological characteristics and long-term survival results after surgical treatment.

Results: There were 40 males and 9 females aged 65.

Skin dose saving of the staff in 90Y/177Lu peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with the automatic dose dispenser.

Objective: When handling Y-labelled and Lu-labelled radiopharmaceuticals, skin exposure is mainly due to β-particles. This study aimed to investigate the equivalent dose saving of the staff when changing from an essentially manual radiolabelling procedure to an automatic dose dispenser (ADD).

Materials And Methods: The chemist and physician were asked to wear thermoluminescence dosimeters on their fingertips to evaluate the quantity of Hp(0.

Diagnostic performances of [18F]fluorocholine positron emission tomography in brain tumors.

Background: Brain tumors characterization by molecular imaging that allows the depiction of brain lesions metabolic pattern is crucial. Our study aimed to: 1) to evaluate the diagnostic performances of [18F]fluoroethylcholine positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FECH PET/CT), and 2) correlate PET imaging derived parameters of [18F]FECH to survival in brain tumors.

Methods: From 2009 to 2012, we enrolled 30 patients who underwent [18F]FECH PET/CT.

Severe Cushing's syndrome related to a small pulmonary carcinoid with widespread dissemination.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is characterized by the overproduction of cortisol that may result in significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. CS is very rarely caused by ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone production from several tumors, although pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are the most common etiology. It is controversial whether such tumors are more clinically aggressive than other pNETs.