PET digitization chain for Monte Carlo simulation in GATE.

. We introduce a versatile methodology for the accurate modelling of PET imaging systems via Monte Carlo simulations, using the Geant4 application for tomographic emission (GATE) platform. Accurate Monte Carlo modelling involves the incorporation of a complete analytical signal processing chain, called the digitizer in GATE, to emulate the different count rates encountered in actual positron emission tomography (PET) systems.

Respective contribution of baseline clinical data, tumour metabolism and tumour blood-flow in predicting pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2 and Triple Negative breast cancer.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the added value of combining tumour blood flow (BF) and metabolism parameters, including texture features, with clinical parameters to predict, at baseline, the pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC).

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight BC patients underwent a F-FDG PET/CT before any treatment. Tumour BF and metabolism parameters were extracted from first-pass dynamic and delayed PET images, respectively.

Prognostic value of 18 FDG-PET at diagnosis and follow-up in giant cell arteritis: An observational restrospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of FDG PET/CT, at diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and during follow-up, to predict occurrence of relapse in large-vessel GCA (LV-GCA).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the French Study Group for Large-Vessel Vasculitis (GEFA) network. Data from patients with LV-GCA diagnosed by PET/CT and who had PET/CT in the following year were collected.

Validation of a discovery MI 4-ring model according to the NEMA NU 2-2018 standards: from Monte Carlo simulations to clinical-like reconstructions.

Background: We propose a comprehensive evaluation of a Discovery MI 4-ring (DMI) model, using a Monte Carlo simulator (GATE) and a clinical reconstruction software package (PET toolbox). The following performance characteristics were compared with actual measurements according to NEMA NU 2-2018 guidelines: system sensitivity, count losses and scatter fraction (SF), coincidence time resolution (CTR), spatial resolution (SR), and image quality (IQ). For SR and IQ tests, reconstruction of time-of-flight (TOF) simulated data was performed using the manufacturer's reconstruction software.

Plasma-based analysis of ERBB2 mutational status by multiplex digital PCR in a large series of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2)-activating mutations are therapeutically actionable alterations found in various cancers, including metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We developed multiplex digital PCR assays to detect and quantify ERBB2 mutations in circulating tumor DNA from liquid biopsies. We studied the plasma from 272 patients with hormone-receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) MBC to detect 17 ERBB2 mutations using a screening assay.

Automatic classification of patients with myocardial infarction or myocarditis based only on clinical data: A quick response.

Background: In acute cardiovascular disease management, the delay between the admission in a hospital emergency department and the assessment of the disease from a Delayed Enhancement cardiac MRI (DE-MRI) scan is one of the barriers for an immediate management of patients with suspected myocardial infarction or myocarditis.

Objectives: This work targets patients who arrive at the hospital with chest pain and are suspected of having a myocardial infarction or a myocarditis. The main objective is to classify these patients based solely on clinical data in order to provide an early accurate diagnosis.

Performance of [18F]FDG-PET/CT Imaging in First Recurrence of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.

Background: Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 10 to 15% of all breast cancers. The first objective of this retrospective study was to assess the diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT scanning in women previously treated for invasive lobular carcinoma with suspected first recurrence. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the impact of PET/CT in a change in treatment and its prognostic value on specific survival.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative prediction of early biochemical failure in localized prostate cancer.

Background: The purpose of our study was to assess preoperative clinical biological and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) predictive factors of early biochemical failure (BF), defined as persistence of significant post-operative plasmatic prostate specific antigen (PSA) level after radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study we included 142 patients from our university hospital with newly diagnosed PCa, who underwent 3T multiparametric MRI prior to RP. Only the MRI target lesions [Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) ≥3] with histological correspondence were considered significant.

Segmentation of the aorta in systolic phase from 4D flow MRI: multi-atlas vs. deep learning.

Objective: In the management of the aortic aneurysm, 4D flow magnetic resonance Imaging provides valuable information for the computation of new biomarkers using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). However, accurate segmentation of the aorta is required. Thus, our objective is to evaluate the performance of two automatic segmentation methods on the calculation of aortic wall pressure.

Dealing with dry waste disposal issues associated with Lu impurities: a long-term challenge for nuclear medicine departments.

Purpose: A strategy for management of radioactive waste associated with Lu-dotatate (Lutathera®) treatments was established in our institution, based on predicted storage times of 3-5 years extrapolated from the results of a 2-year measurement study. The aim of this work was to validate this strategy by identifying contaminants and confirming disposal based on the clearance level twice-the-background was within expected time frames.

Methods: We conducted a prospective series of measurements of radioactive waste associated with the first 65 treatments administered.

4D segmentation of the thoracic aorta from 4D flow MRI using deep learning.

Background: 4D flow MRI allows the analysis of hemodynamic changes in the aorta caused by pathologies such as thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA). For personalized management of TAA, new biomarkers are required to analyze the effect of fluid structure iteration which can be obtained from 4D flow MRI. However, the generation of these biomarkers requires prior 4D segmentation of the aorta.

Salvage Involved-Field and Extended-Field Radiation Therapy in Positron Emission Tomography-Positive Nodal Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Outcomes and Patterns of Failure.

Purpose: The optimal salvage pelvic treatment for nodal recurrences in prostate cancer is not yet clearly defined. We aimed to compare outcomes of salvage involved-field radiation therapy (s-IFRT) and salvage extended-field radiation therapy (s-EFRT) for positron emission tomography/computed tomography-positive nodal-recurrent prostate cancer and to analyze patterns of progressions after salvage nodal radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Patients with F-fluorocholine or Ga prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand positron emission tomography/computed tomography-positive nodal-recurrent prostate cancer and treated with s-IFRT or s-EFRT were retrospectively selected.

A Practical Quality Assurance Procedure for Data Acquisitions in Preclinical Simultaneous PET/MR Systems.

The availability of preclinical simultaneous PET/MR imaging systems has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, this technique is progressively moving from the hands of pure physicists towards those of scientists more involved in pharmacology and biology. Unfortunately, these combined scanners can be prone to artefacts and deviation of their characteristics under the influence of external factors or mutual interference between subsystems.

Prediction of prostate cancer recurrence after radiation therapy using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy: assessment of prognostic factors on pretreatment imaging.

Background: To assess whether data from pre-therapeutic multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) combined with three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (3D MRS) provide prognostic factors of biochemical relapse in patients with localized prostate cancer treated by external radiotherapy or brachytherapy.

Methods: In our single institution observational retrospective study we included a cohort of 230 patients treated by external radiotherapy or brachytherapy who had an initial mpMRI with 3D MRS from January 2008 to December 2015 for newly diagnosed localized prostatic cancer, proven histologically. Three trained radiologists recorded tumor characteristics, MRI T-stage and metabolic abnormalities from 3D MRS data.

Autochthonous dengue in mainland France, 2022: geographical extension and incidence increase.

France faced an unusual situation of dengue transmission in 2022, with 65 autochthonous cases spread over nine transmission events by 21 October. This exceeded the number of cases observed during the entire period 2010 to 2021. Six of these events occurred in departments that had never experienced autochthonous dengue transmission.

Critical analysis of the effect of various methodologies to compute breast cancer tumour blood flow-based texture features using first-pass F-FDG PET.

Purpose: Assessment of tumour blood flow (BF) heterogeneity using first-pass FDG PET/CT and textural feature (TF) analysis is an innovative concept. We aim to explore the relationship between BF heterogeneity measured with different TFs calculation methods and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC).

Methods: One hundred and twenty-five patients were enrolled.

Acute myocardial infarction related to coronary artery embolism: A systematic cardiac and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Coronary artery embolism (CAE) is a rare, non-atherosclerotic cause of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cause of CAE, and can be associated with multiple embolisms, particularly in the brain.

Aims: To characterize CAE-related myocardial injury, assess the proportion of cardiocerebral infarction and characterize brain injuries associated with dual embolism.

Coronary artery embolism and acute coronary syndrome: A critical appraisal of existing data.

The occurrence of coronary artery embolism (CE) has been associated with various clinical conditions, including aortic and mitral prosthetic heart valve implantation, atrial fibrillation (AF), dilated cardiomyopathy, neoplasia, infective endocarditis, atrial septal defect, cardiac tumors, and hypercoagulable states. CE is also a rare cause of myocardial infarction (MI), with a prevalence of about 5%, a figure probably underestimated. The purpose of this article was to determine the current state of knowledge on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related to CE.

PET/CT of cranial arteries for a sensitive diagnosis of giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: To investigate the performance of cranial PET/CT for the diagnosis of GCA.

Methods: All patients with a suspected diagnosis of GCA were prospectively enrolled in this study and had a digital PET/CT with evaluation of cranial arteries if they had not started glucocorticoids >72 h previously. The diagnosis of GCA was retained after at least 6 months of follow-up if no other diagnosis was considered by the clinician and the patient went into remission after at least 6 consecutive months of treatment.

Safety, Efficacy, and Cost-Effectiveness of Same-Day Discharge for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) with the Watchman device is FDA approved for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who have an appropriate indication. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a same-day discharge protocol (SDDP) was employed to improve resource utilization, relieve hospital occupation, and reduce the possible risk of in-hospital virus transmission.

Objectives: We sought to analyze the safety, feasibility, and cost effectiveness for SDDP in patients receiving LAAO.

Measurement of hypoxia in the lung in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a matter of control.

https://bit.ly/30Ku2AV

Hyperacute simultaneous cardiocerebral infarction related to floating thrombus in the ascending aorta: a case report.

Background: Ascending aortic thrombus has been reported in several case reports, often revealed by peripheral embolization, but very few revealed by cardiocerebral infarction. Moreover, there is no defined treatment strategy.

Case Summary: An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our intensive care unit for concurrent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute stroke, both with the presence of an embolism.