Production of carbon-11 for PET preclinical imaging using a high-repetition rate laser-driven proton source.

Most advanced medical imaging techniques, such as positron-emission tomography (PET), require tracers that are produced in conventional particle accelerators. This paper focuses on the evaluation of a potential alternative technology based on laser-driven ion acceleration for the production of radioisotopes for PET imaging. We report for the first time the use of a high-repetition rate, ultra-intense laser system for the production of carbon-11 in multi-shot operation.

HE4, Ca125 and ROMA algorithm for differential diagnosis between benign gynaecological diseases and ovarian cancer.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), cancer antigen 125 (Ca125) and the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) in discriminating ovarian cancer from other benign gynaecological diseases. Serum levels of HE4 and Ca125 were measured in 119 women with benign gynaecological diseases, 29 patients with primary ovarian cancer, 32 patients with ovarian cancer on chemotherapy treatment (18 of them with progressive disease), 6 patients treated and free of disease and 32 healthy women. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR ±) were calculated.