[F]FDG-PET/CT-based risk stratification in women with locally advanced uterine cervical cancer.

Background: [F]FDG-PET/CT is used for staging and treatment planning in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). We studied if a PET-based prediction model could provide additional risk stratification beyond International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging in our population with LACC to aid treatment decision making.

Methods: In total, 183 patients with LACC treated with chemoradiation between 2013 and 2018 were included.

Lymphatic mapping for image-guided radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced uterine cervical cancer: a feasibility study.

Background: Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). No imaging method can successfully detect all (micro)metastases. This may result in (lymph node) recurrence after chemoradiation.

[F]FDG-PET or PET/CT in the evaluation of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: A systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: Imaging is essential in detecting lymph node metastases for radiotherapy treatment planning in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). There are not many data on the performance of [F]FDG-PET(CT) in showing lymph node metastases in LACC. We pooled sensitivity and specificity of [F]FDG-PET(CT) for detecting pelvic and/or para-aortic lymph node metastases in patients with LACC.

18F-FDG-PET/CT guided external beam radiotherapy volumes in inoperable uterine cervical cancer.

Background: In patients with advanced stage cancer of the uterine cervix who undergo irradiation with curative intent, there is the necessity to treat all suspicious nodes on imaging. Our hypothesis was that adding fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computer tomography/computer tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to the imaging workup would alter the external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) treatment plan, either resulting in an extended external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) field to the para-aortal region or an additional boost to suspicious nodes. Since extended field radiotherapy or additional boost can cause toxicity, our secondary aim was to assess the incidence of severe late bowel toxicity in patients treated with extended para-aortal EBRT-field and boost compared to elective pelvic radiotherapy.

Correction: Long-Term Changes of Subcutaneous Fat Mass in HIV-Infected Children on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis of Longitudinal Data from Two Pediatric HIV-Cohorts.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Novel molecular imaging ligands targeting matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 for imaging of unstable atherosclerotic plaques.

Molecular imaging of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may allow detection of atherosclerotic lesions vulnerable to rupture. In this study, we develop a novel radiolabelled compound that can target gelatinase MMP subtypes (MMP2/9) with high selectivity and inhibitory potency. Inhibitory potencies of several halogenated analogues of MMP subtype-selective inhibitors (N-benzenesulfonyliminodiacetyl monohydroxamates and N-halophenoxy-benzenesulfonyl iminodiacetyl monohydroxamates) were in the nanomolar range for MMP2/9.

FDG-PET/CT for differentiating between aseptic and septic delayed union in the lower extremity.

Background: F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has proven to have a high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of bone infections. In patients with delayed union it may be clinically important to differentiate between aseptic and septic delayed union. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and to assess the optimal diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT in differentiating between aseptic and septic delayed union in the lower extremity.

Cardiac I-mIBG scintigraphy is associated with freedom of appropriate ICD therapy in stable chronic heart failure patients.

Aim: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a life-threatening clinical syndrome, partly due to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) for primary prevention of SCD have improved overall survival of CHF patients. However, a high percentage of patients never receives appropriate ICD therapy.

Iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy for patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma.

Background: Patients with newly diagnosed high-risk (HR) neuroblastoma (NBL) still have a poor outcome, despite multi-modality intensive therapy. This poor outcome necessitates the search for new therapies, such as treatment with I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG).

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and adverse effects of I-MIBG therapy in patients with newly diagnosed HR NBL.

Feasibility, toxicity and response of upfront metaiodobenzylguanidine therapy therapy followed by German Pediatric Oncology Group Neuroblastoma 2004 protocol in newly diagnosed stage 4 neuroblastoma patients.

Aim Of The Study: Radiolabelled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is an effective option in treatment of neuroblastoma (NBL) tumours. We studied feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of upfront I-MIBG and induction treatment in stage 4 NBL patients.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective, multi-centre (AMC and EMC) pilot regimen (1/1/2005-2011).

A European myocardial I-mIBG cross-calibration phantom study.

Aim: Planar myocardial I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (I-mIBG) scintigraphy is a highly reproducible technique. However, differences in collimator use are one of the most important factors that cause variation among institutions and studies in heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio. Therefore, standardization among various gamma camera-collimator combinations is needed.

Myocardial I-mIBG scintigraphy in relation to markers of inflammation and long-term clinical outcome in patients with stable chronic heart failure.

Aim: Chronic heart failure (CHF) results in both increased cardiac sympathetic activity and myocardial inflammation. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between severity of heart failure (i.e.

Polymorphism of SLC6A2 gene does not influence outcome of myocardial I-mIBG scintigraphy in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aim: The NET, encoded by SLC6A2, is responsible for presynaptic NE-reuptake. I-mIBG is clinically used to evaluate cardiac sympathetic function. However, it is unknown if polymorphism of SLC6A2 influences cardiac sympathetic activity as assessed with I-mIBG.

Cardiac sympathetic activity in chronic heart failure: cardiac I-mIBG scintigraphy to improve patient selection for ICD implantation.

Heart failure is a life-threatening disease with a growing incidence in the Netherlands. This growing incidence is related to increased life expectancy, improvement of survival after myocardial infarction and better treatment options for heart failure. As a consequence, the costs related to heart failure care will increase.

Cardiac sympathetic activity in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Aim: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) affects catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), which involves the degradation of norepinephrine (NE).

Physiological uptake values of 18F-FDG in long bones of the lower extremity on PET/CT imaging.

Introduction: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) has proven to be a valuable imaging modality with high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of bone infections. However, the physiological uptake values for F-FDG in the long bones of the lower extremity have not been established yet. This hampers correct interpretation of a F-FDG-PET/CT scan.

Assessment of I-mIBG and Tc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomographic images for the prediction of arrhythmic events in patients with ischemic heart failure: Intermediate severity innervation defects are associated with higher arrhythmic risk.

Rationale: I-mIBG planar image heart-to-mediastinum ratios effectively risk-stratify heart failure (HF) patients. The value of single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging for identifying increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias is less clear. This study sought to determine if findings from simultaneous interpretation of I-mIBG and Tc-tetrofosmin SPECT are predictive of arrhythmic events (ArEs).

Cardiac sympathetic activity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.

I--iodobenzylguanidine (I-IBG) scintigraphy has been established as an important technique to evaluate cardiac sympathetic function and it has been shown to be of clinical value, especially for the assessment of prognosis, in many cardiac diseases. The majority of I-IBG scintigraphy studies have focused on patients with cardiac dysfunction due to hypertension, ischemic heart disease, or valvular disease. However less is known about the role of I-IBG scintigraphy in primary cardiomyopathies.

Intermediate and long-term adverse effects of radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma--a systematic review.

Background: Treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) often involves administration of radioactive iodine (I-131) for remnant ablation or adjuvant therapy. As DTC has favorable outcome and the incidence is increasing, concerns have been raised about the possible adverse effects of I-131 therapy. We systematically reviewed the literature to examine the risk of intermediate and long-term adverse effects of I-131 therapy in DTC patients.

EANM procedural guidelines for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging with SPECT and SPECT/CT: 2015 revision.

Since the publication of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) procedural guidelines for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in 2005, many small and some larger steps of progress have been made, improving MPI procedures. In this paper, the major changes from the updated 2015 procedural guidelines are highlighted, focusing on the important changes related to new instrumentation with improved image information and the possibility to reduce radiation exposure, which is further discussed in relation to the recent developments of new International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) models. Introduction of the selective coronary vasodilator regadenoson and the use of coronary CT-contrast agents for hybrid imaging with SPECT/CT angiography are other important areas for nuclear cardiology that were not included in the previous guidelines.

Long-Term Changes of Subcutaneous Fat Mass in HIV-Infected Children on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis of Longitudinal Data from Two Pediatric HIV-Cohorts.

Objective: Longitudinal studies objectively evaluating changes in regional fat distribution of HIV-infected children assessed by whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) are scarce, whilst this long-term effect of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (cART) is an important issue in infected children in need for lifelong treatment.

Methods: We assessed regional fat distribution over time, measured with sequential DEXA-scans in HIV-infected children on cART in cohorts from South Africa (SA) and the Netherlands (NL), and in healthy controls (SA). Limb and trunk fat Z-scores were calculated with the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method.

Accuracy of X-ray with perfusion scan in young patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Background: Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) has become the standard test in the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). However, young patients may have an increased risk of cancer with CTPA. Perfusion scanning combined with chest X-ray (X/Q) may offer an adequate alternative, but has never been prospectively validated.

Upfront treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma with a combination of 131I-MIBG and topotecan.

Background: (131)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((131) I-MIBG) has a significant anti-tumor effect against neuroblastoma (NBL). Topotecan (TPT) can act as a radio-sensitizer and can up-regulate (131) I-MIBG uptake in vitro in NBL.

Aim: Determine the efficacy of the combination of (131) I-MIBG with topotecan in newly diagnosed high-risk (HR) NBL patients.

The predictive value of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate for 18F-FDG PET/CT outcome in patients with fever and inflammation of unknown origin.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to a positive fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) result in patients with inflammation of unknown origin and fever of unknown origin.

Patients And Methods: Individual data of 498 patients were retrieved from three retrospective studies. Receiver operating characteristic derived areas under the curve were used to assess (18)F-FDG PET/CT versus age, CRP, and ESR.