Analysis of the utility of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of vascular graft infection.

Background: As a result of constantly improving surgical methods, an increasing number of patients have medical devices implanted in the cardiovascular system (including vascular grafts and endografts). Such patients are characterised by their high risk of infectious complications due to the possibility of biofilm formation on implanted material. This work aims to analyse the utility of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in diagnosing vascular graft and endograft infections.

68 Ga-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT in Imaging of Hemangiopericytoma.

Hemangiopericytoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm that derives from pericytes surrounding the capillaries presenting overexpression of PSMA, which can be a source of pitfall in 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. We reported 2 cases with recurrent hemangiopericytoma grade III with high expression of 68 Ga-PSMA-11 in PET/CT. Based on the performed examination, one of them received targeted α-therapy with the IV injection of 225 Ac-PSMA-617.

Detection of a second primary cancer in a 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT - multicentre retrospective analysis on a group of 1345 prostate cancer patients.

Background: Aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of incidental detection of second primary cancer (SPC) at 18F-fluorocholine ([18F]FCH) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) performed in prostate cancer patients.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a group of 1345 prostate cancer patients, who underwent [18F]FCH PET/CT study because of suspicion of recurrence (n = 937) or for initial staging (n = 408). Images were acquired after intravenous injection [18F]FCH with a mean activity of 200 ± 75 MBq (5.

Patterns of vascular graft infection in 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Background: 18F-FDG PET/CT has become an important tool in diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infections (PVGI). The aim of the study was to identify the patterns of vascular graft infection in 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Material And Methods: The study was performed in 24 patients with vascular graft infection, in 17 patients implanted in an open surgery mode and in 7 patients by endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).

Normal ranges of renal function parameters for 99mTc-EC renal scintigraphy.

Background: Dynamic renal scintigraphy remains the recognized method for evaluation of kidney function and perfusion. Although there is an extensive body of knowledge about the use of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3), much less has been written about renal technetium-99m-ethylenedicysteine (99mTc-EC) scintigraphy. The aim of this study was to determine the normal value of renal function parameters in 99mTc-EC dynamic renal scintigraphy: Tmax and T1/2.

Nuclear cardiology: an overview of radioisotope techniques used in the diagnostic workup of cardiovascular disorders.

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in patients over 60 years old. Pivotal imaging modalities in cardiac diagnostic workup are echocardiography, magnetic resonance, multi‑row detector computed tomography, coronary angiography, and radioisotope tests. In this study, we summarize the techniques of nuclear medicine (positron emission tomography, single‑photon emission computed tomography, radionuclide ventriculography) that could be implemented in the cardiovascular diagnostic algorithms.

The importance of FDG PET/CT in the diagnostic process of the middle aortic syndrome in a 15-year-old boy patient with suspected systemic vasculitis and final diagnosis of Williams-Beuren syndrome.

The differential diagnosis in children with the systemic vasculopathy is still a challenge for clinicians. The progress in vascular imaging and the latest recommendations improve the diagnostic process, but only single reports describe the use of new imaging tests in children. The publication aims to demonstrate the important role of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography combined with anatomical computed tomography angiography (PET/CTA) imaging in the case of a 15-year-old boy with chest pain, intermittent claudication, hypertension and features of middle aortic syndrome in computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Replacement of infected aortoiliac vascular grafts with bifurcated BioIntegral Surgical No-React bovine pericardial xenografts.

The infection of a vascular prosthesis is potentially fatal, and its effective treatment still remains the greatest challenge for vascular surgeons. We present our initial experience using bovine pericardial vascular prostheses to replace infected aortoiliac vascular grafts. Six consecutive patients with infection of the graft were prospectively included in this study.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism in the course of autonomous nodules - clinical evaluation.

Introduction: Subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH), also known as mildly symptomatic hyperthyroidism, has recently been diagnosed more frequently. One of the main endogenous causes of this disorder is autonomously functioning thyroid nodule (AFTN). Despite the fact that it is usually asymptomatic, SCH entails repercussions on the cardiovascular system and bone, and it carries a risk of progression to overt hyperthyroidism with a typical clinical picture.

TeleNEN as a telemedicine model for neuroendocrine neoplasm management in case of Meckel's diverticulum NET.

A case of 25- years-old female with NET deriving from Meckel's diverticulum is described. The patient had one year history of dermatological skin problems. Ultrasound examination of abdomen performed because of arterial hypertension, revealed multiple hepatic lesions, which was confirmed in contrast enhanced CT.

Therapeutic use of carbohydrate-restricted diets in an autistic child; a case report of clinical and 18FDG PET findings.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that has been used successfully in the treatment of refractory epilepsies for almost 100 years. There has been accumulating evidence to show that the KD may provide a therapeutic benefit in autism spectrum disorders, albeit by a yet-unknown mechanism. We report a case of a 6-year-old patient with high-functioning autism and subclinical epileptic discharges who responded poorly to several behavioural and psychopharmacological treatments.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of inflammatory and infectious vascular disease.

This review article discusses the utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis and management of vascular disease. We stress usefulness of this method in large vessel inflammation and infection. In our work we based on the literature analysis and clinical cases diagnosed in our institution by use of 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Parathyroid cancer - difficult diagnosis - a case report.

Parathyroid cancer is a rare disorder of unclear etiology that is difficult to diagnose and treat. It is most often diagnosed incidentally based on multi-organ non-specific symptoms of hypercalcemia as a consequence of parathyroid hormone oversecretion. We present a case of a male with primary hyperparathyroidism who was diagnosed with parathyroid cancer ectopically located in the mediastinum only after the third surgery.

Early brain perfusion improvement after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus evaluated by 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT - preliminary report.

Background: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a clinical syndrome that consists of the triad: gait disturbance, mental deterioration and urinary incontinence associated with normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSF), without pre-existing abnormalities. The most popular treatment option is surgical implantation of a shunt. Brain perfusion increase occurring months or years after successful shunt surgery is well described in the literature.

Multiple and solitary skeletal muscle metastases on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the features and patterns of skeletal muscle metastases (SMM) detected with F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Participants And Methods: Our database was analyzed for patients with pathologically proven malignancy, who underwent F-FDG PET/CT in our institution. The patients with SMM were included in the study group on the basis of the final diagnosis confirmed by follow-up or histopathology.

[Difficulty in diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism as the cause of resistant hypertension and severe hypokalemia--case report].

The most common endocrinological cause of secondary hypertension is primary hyperaldosteronism. Despite great progress in laboratory and imaging techniques, its identification is often difficult. We report the case of the 52-year-old man with resistant hypertension and severe hypokalemia.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type I with atypical scintigraphic pattern--diagnosis and evaluation of the entity with three phase bone scintigraphy. A case report.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a neurological disorder of unknown etiology which may lead to severe disability. Its diagnosis is very difficult and based on diagnostic criteria which have been changing over last years. Still, there is no golden standard in diagnosis of this entity.

Cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity in chronic kidney disease--a comparison between haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: The effect of renal replacement therapy on cardiac sympathetic function in patients with chronic kidney disease has not yet been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of renal replacement therapy on the activity of cardiac sympathetic nervous system.

Material And Methods: Thirty-four patients with chronic kidney disease were studied: 14 patients (6 men, mean age 48 ± 11 years) were receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 20 patients (20 men, mean age 52 ± 10 years) were receiving haemodialysis (HD).

The usefulness of SPECT/CT in characterization of skeletal and soft tissue lesions--report of two cases.

SPECT/CT imaging provides detailed information on the radiotracer distribution and enables simultaneous lesion morphology evaluation. This hybrid imaging delivers complementary information about patient's disease. We present two cases in which SPECT/CT imaging and cooperation between the nuclear medicine physician and radiologist quickly clarified the diagnosis, sparing patient unnecessary diagnostic procedures or treatment.

Quantitative evaluation of crossed cerebellar diaschisis, using voxel-based analysis of Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT.

Background: In the recent literature there is no consensus regarding the relationships between crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) with the primary lesion size, severity or location. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate relationship between the size and severity of cerebral lesions and CCD in patients with chronic stroke, using voxel-based analysis of Tc-99m ECD single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of 57 patients with chronic ischemic lesions localized unilaterally in the cerebral hemisphere.

Cardiac sympathetic dysfunction in haemodialysed patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac sympathetic nervous system function in haemodialysed(HD), non-diabetic patients by iodine-123 meta-iodo-benzylguanidine(123I-mIBG).

Materials And Methods: Planar scintigraphy of the chest was performed in 36 HD, male patients; 15 minutes and 4 hours post injection of 370 MBq of 123I-mIBG. The semi quantitative analysis of myocardial tracer uptake was expressed as routine heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratio: 15 minutes (early H/M) and 4 hour (late H/M) post administration as well as washout of the tracer from myocardium (WR).