Long Axial Field of View PET/CT: Technical Aspects in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) plays a pivotal role in the assessment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly in the context of ischemic heart disease. Nevertheless, its application in other forms of CVD, such as infiltrative, infectious, or inflammatory conditions, remains limited. Recently, PET/CT systems with an extended axial field of view (LAFOV) have been developed, offering greater anatomical coverage and significantly enhanced PET sensitivity.

SARS-CoV-2 Affects Thyroid and Adrenal Glands: An F-FDG PET/CT Study.

Background: Since most endocrine glands express ACE-2 receptors and can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus, this retrospective multicentre observational study aims to assess the metabolic activity of thyroid and adrenal glands of COVID-19 patients by F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the F-FDG PET/CT scans of COVID-19 patients admitted by three different centres, either in a low-intensity department or in the intensive care unit (ICU). A visual assessment and a semi-quantitative evaluation of areas of interest in thyroid and adrenal glands were performed by recording SUVmax and SUVmean.

[F]FDG-PET/CT in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients with COVID-19 ARDS and persistent inflammation.

Purpose: We report the findings of four critically ill patients who underwent an [F]FDG-PET/CT because of persistent inflammation during the late phase of their COVID-19.

Methods: Four mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 were retrospectively discussed in a research group to evaluate the added value of [F]FDG-PET/CT.

Results: Although pulmonary PET/CT findings differed, bilateral lung anomalies could explain the increased CRP and leukocytes in all patients.

Practice of F-FDG-PET/CT in ICU Patients: A Systematic Review.

F-FDG-PET/CT imaging has become a key tool to evaluate infectious and inflammatory diseases. However, application of F-FDG-PET/CT in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is limited, which is remarkable since the development of critical illness is closely linked to infection and inflammation. This limited use is caused by perceived complexity and risk of planning and executing F-FDG-PET/CT in such patients.

The Effect of Tumor Characteristics and Location on the Extent of Lymph Node Metastases of Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The extent of a neck dissection for patients with metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNcSCC) is still subject to debate and clear guidelines are lacking. Tumor characteristics like size, differentiation and tumor location are known risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM). There is some evidence that, depending on tumor location, LNM follows a specific pattern.