Establishing Diagnostic Reference Levels for Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Imaging: A Preliminary Study in Indian Healthcare Settings.

Introduction In nuclear medicine, there is a critical need to balance the control and optimization of radiation doses to ensure patient safety while achieving high-quality diagnostic outcomes. However, diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for nuclear medicine imaging studies have not been established in India. This study aims to fill this gap by establishing institutional DRLs and assessing radiation dose data specifically for Nuclear Medicine SPECT examinations.

Real-world safety and effectiveness of Pistacia lentiscus (mastic gum) in patients with diabetic gastroparesis: 24-week interim analysis postintervention.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal neuropathies are frequently found in diabetic patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the safety, adverse reactions, and long-term effectiveness of Pistacia lentiscus plant extract (mastic gum) in diabetic gastroparesis (DG) with respect to sustainable improvement in gastroparesis symptoms (Gastrointestinal Cardinal Symptom Index [GCSI] score) by observational follow-up study of a single-centric double-blind noninferiority randomized control trial.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-eight individuals were recruited and equally randomized in two study groups based on GCSI score and TC99 radionuclide gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES), i.

Percutaneous Fluoroscopy-guided Retrieval of a Fractured Pelvic Drain after Caesarean Section: A Case Report.

Unlabelled: Iatrogenic retention of surgical drains following drain entrapment and breakage is a never event and a preventable complication. The traditional approach for removing a fractured drain from the intra-peritoneal cavity involves exploratory laparotomy. However, over the last few decades, minimal access surgery has been a more popular retrieval method for retained surgical items from peritoneal and extraperitoneal cavities.

Efficacy of prokinetic agents in diabetic gastroparesis comparing symptomatology and scintigraphy - An open-label trial.

Background: It is pertinent to objectively assess the severity of diabetic gastroparesis and tailor treatment accordingly. The current study was planned to document gastroparesis by gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) objectively and see the effect of medications and diet control on clinical and GES after four weeks.

Methods: A prospective, open-label randomized trial was conducted in the Department of Internal Medicine at a tertiary care teaching hospital over twelve months.

Radiation Safety and External Radiation Exposure Rate of Patients Receiving I-131 Therapy for Hyperthyroidism and Remnant Ablation as Outpatient: An Institutional Experience.

 Our objective was to study the radiation exposure rate as function of time in the administration of radioiodine iodine-131 (I-131) for the treatment of thyrotoxicosis or Graves' disease and remnant ablation on an outpatient basis at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, and also, to study the impact of revised discharge criteria for radioiodine therapy enforced by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India.  This study included patients who underwent low-dose radioiodine therapy using I-131. Patients were classified into two different groups, that is, group A and group B.

Preclinical and Clinical Use of Indigenously Developed Tc-Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid-Bis-Methionine: l-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1-Targeted Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Radiotracer for Glioma Management.

A new era in tumor classification, diagnosis, and prognostic evaluation has begun as a consequence of recent developments in the molecular and genetic characterization of central nervous system tumors. In this newly emerging era, molecular imaging modalities are essential for preoperative diagnosis, surgical planning, targeted treatment, and post-therapy evaluation of gliomas. The radiotracers are able to identify brain tumors, distinguish between low- and high-grade lesions, confirm a patient's eligibility for theranostics, and assess post-radiation alterations.

Scope of PET imaging in the evaluation of cardiac tumors.

Cardiac and pericardial masses can be categorized as neoplastic (either benign or malignant), non-neoplastic (such as thrombus or pericardial cysts), or normal variants of the cardiac structure. Diagnosing these masses can be challenging, and various imaging modalities are available, with each of them having advantages and pitfalls. Echocardiography is typically the first test used for the evaluation and detection of cardiac masses, as it is widely accessible, portable, and provides a comprehensive assessment of cardiac function and valves without the use of ionizing radiation.

An overview of radiolabeled amino acid tracers in oncologic imaging.

Molecular imaging has witnessed a great progress in the field of oncology over the past few decades. Radiolabeled amino acid (AA) tracers are particularly helpful in the areas where the utility of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography with computed tomography imaging has been limited such as in evaluating brain tumors, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and prostate cancer. Radiolabeled AA tracers such as 6-[18F]-L-fluoro-L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-FDOPA), 18F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine (18F-FET), and 11C-methionine have found wide applications in brain tumors, which, unlike 18F-FDG, concentrate in the tumor tissue to a greater extent than that in normal brain tissue by providing accurate information about tumor volume and boundaries.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and raised interleukin-6.

Background: Cardiac injury is associated with high mortality in patients with COVID-19 infection. Electrocardiographic changes can give clues to the underlying cardiovascular abnormalities. Raised inflammatory markers like raised interleukin-6 (IL-6) are associated with arrhythmia, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.

Evaluation of Tetrofosmin Cold Kit Fractionation Using Alternative New Method of Quality Control for Testing Radiochemical Purity.

 The aim of this study is to establish a method for the fractionation of tetrofosmin cold kit under different storage conditions and to optimize an alternate chromatography method from the reference method to test radiochemical purity (RCP).  Tetrofosmin cold kit vial was fractionated aseptically in six equal fractions and stored in vials and syringes. To test the stability of the reconstituted solution for a longer duration, the mother vials and syringes were stored at two different temperatures, that is, at 4°C and at -20°C till further used.

Comprehensive structured training on occupational health hazards and vaccination: A novel initiative toward employee safety.

Introduction: Healthcare providers are vulnerable to occupational health hazards. However, they do not appropriately apprehend the serious health consequences of occupational exposures. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of "Occupational health hazards and vaccination" workshop organized periodically in institute.

A Case of Extracranial Metastasis of Glioblastoma Multiforme Seen on Bone Scintigraphy.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system in adults. It is known for its devastating intracranial progress thus attributing to its very short survival. Here, we report a case of 37-year-old female with GBM post surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy who presented with pain in right hip region.

COVID myocardial involvement presenting as left ventricular aneurysm and clot associated with normal coronary anatomy, deep vein thrombosis, and abnormal brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation.

A 40-year-old non-diabetic, non-hypertensive male patient presented with complaints of dyspnea of a few days duration and coronavirus -19 disease (COVID) pneumonia. The electrocardiography (ECG) revealed sinus tachycardia with T inversion in V1 only. The ECG revealed a left ventricular aneurysm with a clot and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Nonmalignant Thoracic Disorders: An Appraisal of Fluorodeoxyglucose and Non-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/Computed Tomography Applications.

PET/computed tomography (CT) with fluorodeoxyglucose and nonfluorodeoxyglucose PET tracers has established itself in the management of malignant disorders. Its role in the assessment of nonmalignant conditions, such as infectious and noninfectious inflammatory diseases and other benign conditions, has emerged independently and alongside its role being evaluated in malignancy and continues to evolve. It is evident that PET/CT has the potential to play a significant role in various nonmalignant disorders of the thorax.

Role of 99mTc-Methylene Diphosphonate Bone Scintigraphy in the Evaluation of the Viability and the Incorporation of the Bone Allograft Used in Orthopedic Reconstruction.

Allogenic bone is the most commonly grafted tissue which provides only osteoconductive property, in which it acts as a scaffold to facilitate the ingrowth of the vessels and migration of host cells capable of osteogenesis. It can be used as a substitute for autografts as the latter is associated with morbidity and limited donor site availability. Its applications are expanding in all aspects of orthopedic surgery, notably in revision hip replacement or surgical treatment for bone tumors or benign conditions.

Unexpected Metastasis to Breast, Lymph Node, Subcutaneous, Abdominal Wall, Intraabdominal, and Bone in Osteogenic Osteosarcoma: An Unusual Presentation on Bone Scintigraphy.

Osteogenic osteosarcoma is an aggressive malignant bone tumor with the tendency for local invasion and early metastases. Radionuclide bone scans play an important role in disease management by identifying other areas of skeletal involvement as well as extraosseous metastases. Osteogenic sarcoma metastasis is known to accumulate bone-avid agents due to their osteogenic potential.

Comparison of gastric motility in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with various degrees of glycemic control.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of glycemic control as estimated by glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) on gastric emptying in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES). This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary health care center in Northern India. The study included 44 patients who underwent GES using a radiolabeled solid meal containing 1 mCi of Tc-99 m Sulfur Colloid.

Evaluation of pedicled flaps for type IIIB open fractures of the tibia at a tertiary care center.

Background: Soft tissue coverage plays a vital role in replacing the vascularity of the underlying bone in Gustilo type IIIB fractures. The aim of this article was to evaluate the feasibility of local pedicled flaps in type IIIB fractures at a tertiary care center.

Methods: We included all cases of open Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB fractures of the tibia treated with local flap coverage from January 2017 to February 2019.

Initial experience with use of infrared assistance for intravenous injection of radiopharmaceuticals.

Radiopharmaceutical injection is challenging as it poses radiation exposure to staff as well as patient. Infrared light-assisted devices have been available since many years and have garnered mixed reviews in the pediatric age group. However, there are no data on outcome of infrared assistance for radiopharmaceutical injection.

Cutaneous Metastases as Initial Presentation of Lung Carcinoma.

Breast cancer, in women, and lung cancer, in men, are the most common origins of cutaneous metastasis. Lung cancer can metastasize to any organ but mostly to the contralateral lung, liver, adrenal gland, bones, and brain. Over 1-12% of patients with lung cancer can develop skin metastasis.

Evaluation of Sensitization Program on Occupational Health Hazards for Nursing and Allied Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Health Care Setting.

Occupational health hazard pertaining to health care providers is one of the neglected areas that need serious attention. Any compromise in their safety would result in reduction in workforce, which may affect patient care, keeping in mind the wide gap between the required number and actual health care workers (HCWs) available in the world over. This study was undertaken to evaluate the change in knowledge through a sensitization training program on occupational health hazards and vaccination for HCWs.