Pain Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated with Ra: PARABO, a Prospective, Noninterventional Study.

Ra, a targeted α-therapy, is approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have bone metastases. In the phase 3 ALSYMPCA study, Ra prolonged survival and improved quality of life versus placebo. Our real-world study, PARABO, investigated pain and bone pain-related quality of life in patients with mCRPC and symptomatic bone metastases receiving Ra in clinical practice.

Multidisciplinary Postoperative Validation of F-FDG PET/CT Scan in Nodal Staging of Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the validity of PET/CT scans in the preoperative identification of lymph node metastases (LNM) and compare them with postoperative outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 87 patients with a solitary lung nodule or biopsy-proven non-small cell lung cancer treated in our institution from 2009 to 2015. Patients were divided into two groups and four subgroups, depending on pre- and postoperative findings.

Diagnostic accuracy of [Tc]Tc-Sestamibi in the assessment of thyroid nodules.

[Tc]Tc-Sestamibi (MIBI) is an increasingly used tool for evaluation of thyroid nodules. However, there is a lack of evidence about the accuracy of this method in the European population. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of MIBI for the differentiation of thyroid nodules in a large cohort.

[F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Reveals a Complete Remission of Refractory Metastatic Melanoma after Therapy with Ipilimumab.

Ipilimumab (YERVOY) is a monoclonal CTLA-4-antibody with anti-tumor-immunogenic effect and is used to treat malignant melanoma. In this case study, we present [F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) images of a 37-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma, who was previously treated with interferon-alpha therapy and dacarbazine and still progressed. After four cycles of ipilimumab, there was a complete remission of the disease with no evidence of vital, FDG-positive tumor tissue.

Palliation and survival after repeated (188)Re-HEDP therapy of hormone-refractory bone metastases of prostate cancer: a retrospective analysis.

Unlabelled: This retrospective study compared the effects of single and multiple administrations of (186)Re-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate ((186)Re-HEDP) on palliation and survival of prostate cancer patients presenting with more than 5 skeletal metastases.

Methods: A total of 60 patients were divided into 3 groups. Group A (n = 19) consisted of patients who had received a single injection; group B (n = 19), patients who had 2 injections; and group C (n = 22), patients who had 3 or more successive injections.

Creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate estimation in patients with liver disease: the new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation is not better.

Objectives: Limitations of serum creatinine in patients with an impaired liver function are well known. The commonly used modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation has a low diagnostic performance to approximate kidney function in patients after liver transplantation (LT) and patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula has been shown to provide a more accurate estimation of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease, but studies in patients with liver disease are lacking.

Is beta-trace protein an alternative marker of glomerular filtration rate in liver transplant recipients?

Background: Renal insufficiency is common after liver transplantation (LT). The use of creatinine (Crea) as a marker of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is limited in patients after LT. Beta-trace protein (BTP), an alternative marker of GFR, is independent of muscle mass and has not been evaluated in LT recipients.

Pathological 99mTc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is independently associated with emerging cardiac events in elderly patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Background: Only few data are available regarding the prognostic impact of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-sestamibi (MPS) regarding emerging cardiac events in elderly patients

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of MPS regarding emerging cardiac events in patients aged ≥70 years with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Material And Methods: One hundred and thirty-three patients (74.6 ± 3.

Significant association of female gender with lower degree of pathological 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy results as well as higher cardiac-related deaths free survival in elderly patients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of female gender on the extent of myocardial perfusion defects as revealed by (99m)Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and on emerging cardiac events (CE) in patients aged ≥ 70 years.

Patients And Methods: 86 patients aged ≥ 70 years with known or suspected CAD undergoing MPS (74.4 ± 3.

Avoidance of invasive diagnostic and harmful therapeutic measures in a patient with malignant fibrous histiocytoma and extensive clinically occult metastases.

Malignant fibrous histiocytomas are rare soft-tissue sarcomas of uncertain histogenesis but represent the most common soft-tissue sarcomas in adults. In this report of a 70-year-old male patient suffering from this rare malignant disease, we describe the diagnostic benefits of combined functional and morphological imaging as realized in positron emission tomography and computed tomography, helping to avoid invasive diagnostic methods and, most importantly, harmful and quality-of-life-reducing, oncologically ineffective therapies.

Hemodynamic variables during stress testing can predict referral to early catheterization but failed to show a prognostic impact on emerging cardiac events in patients aged 70 years and older undergoing exercise (99m)Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of hemodynamic variables during ergometric stress testing for (99m)Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) as compared to several patient-related variables and MPS results with regard to referral to early coronary angiography (<3 months after MPS; CA) as well as cardiac event (CE) free survival in a study population aged > or =70 years. About 90 patients aged > or =70 years (74.5 +/- 3.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism seems not to have a significant impact on systemic anticoagulation in patients with coumarin therapy.

There is little data regarding the impact of subclinical hyperthyroidism on coagulation metabolism in patients undergoing systemic anticoagulation therapy with coumarin derivates. In this retrospective analysis we studied 233 patients with benign thyroid disorders receiving therapeutic iodine-131, as well as concomitant systemic anticoagulation therapy (subclinical hyperthyroidism: n = 178; overt hyperthyroidism: n = 15; euthyroidism: n = 40). Multivariate regression analyses were performed in the total study population as well as in the subgroup of patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism to identify the possible impact of several variables on anticoagulation therapy, large enough to push the International Normalized Ratio (INR) level out of the therapeutic range (INR <2.

Preoperative 18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging and sentinel node biopsy in the detection of regional lymph node metastases in malignant melanoma.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanning, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LS), and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with malignant melanoma. Fifty-two patients (36 men: 16 women; mean age 55.0+/-13.

Radioembolization for unresectable neuroendocrine hepatic metastases using resin 90Y-microspheres: early results in 148 patients.

Purpose: The use of 90Y-microspheres to treat unresectable liver metastases originating from a variety of neuroendocrine tumors was reviewed.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective review from 10 institutions of patients given 90Y-microsphere therapy for neuroendocrine hepatic metastases. Physical, radiographic, biochemical, and clinical factors associated with treatment and response were examined.

Feasibility of 18F-fluoromethylcholine PET/CT for imaging of vessel wall alterations in humans--first results.

Purpose: Recently published data indicated (18)F-fluorocholine to be feasible for imaging vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in an animal model.

Methods: Five patients undergoing whole-body (18)F-fluoromethylcholine-((18)F-FMCH-) PET/CT for imaging of prostate cancer disease were retrospectively evaluated. Whole-body PET scans were started immediately after i.

Sentinel node in breast cancer procedural guidelines.

Procedure guidelines for scintigraphic detection of sentinel node in breast cancer are presented.

Can modifications of the MDRD formula improve the estimation of glomerular filtration rate in renal allograft recipients?

Background: Two modifications of the MDRD equation [the Mayo Clinic (MC) equation and Rule's refitted (RR) MDRD formula] were proposed to overcome disadvantages of the original MDRD formula to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Additionally, a correction factor for the original MDRD formula has been introduced to adapt this formula to creatinine values measured by the isotope-dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) method. Although precise determination of GFR is of central importance in renal transplant recipients, these equations have not been tested in these patients so far.

Rhenium-186 hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate (186Re HEDP) for the treatment of hemophilic arthropathy: first results.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a systemic application of rhenium-186 hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate (Re HEDP) for pain treatment in patients with hemophilic arthropathies.

Methods: Twelve patients with hemophilic arthropathy with at least 3 involved joints with persistent pain were included in this prospective study. A single dose of 15 mCi (555 MBq) Re HEDP was administered intravenously.

False positive 18F-FDG-PET/CT in a patient after talc pleurodesis.

A 61-year-old man presented with spontaneous pneumothorax. After diagnosis of emphysemic bullae, the patient underwent talc pleurodesis and had no further complaints. Five years later a routine chest X-ray showed suspicious pleural lesions in addition to the emphysema, which was deemed compatible with the known history of talc pleurodesis.

Single- vs. dual-head SPECT for detection of myocardial ischemia and viability in a large study population.

Background: As single-head data acquisition for thallium-201 myocardial SPECT is a frequently used method mainly in the outpatient medical care as well as in smaller hospitals, comparison to dual-head data collection is a still discussed issue mainly with regard to quality control and -assurance.

Methods: A total of 1334 patients undergoing thallium-201 myocardial SPECT for diagnosis of myocardial ischemia and/or viability have been retrospectively analyzed. In 554 patients, a single-head gamma camera (360 degrees rotation) has been applied, whereas a dual-head gamma camera (180 degrees rotation) has been used in 780 patients.

Myocardial uptake characteristics of three 99mTc-labeled tracers for myocardial perfusion imaging one hour after rest injection.

Objective: 99mTc-tetrofosmin and 99mTc-sestamibi are approved tracers for myocardial perfusion studies. Recently, a 99mTc-MIBI preparation from a different manufacturer (99mTc-cardiospect-MIBI) has been introduced to the market. Therefore, the aim of this study was the evaluation of 99mTc-tetrofosmin as well as of two different 99mTc-labeled MIBI tracers with regard to differences in imaging quality under resting conditions.

Estimation of glomerular filtration rates after orthotopic liver transplantation: Evaluation of cystatin C-based equations.

Early detection of renal dysfunction in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation is important. Creatinine-based equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were found to be less accurate in liver transplant recipients than in their original populations. Since cystatin C (CysC) is independent from muscle mass and hepatic biosynthesis, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 3 CysC-based equations (Larson, Hoek, and Filler formulae) that are based on the same CysC method as that of our center in comparison to the abbreviated creatinine-based modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula in 59 liver transplant recipients.

Response-dependent differences in regional cerebral blood flow changes with citalopram in treatment of major depression.

Unlabelled: Major depression (MD) is the most frequent psychiatric disorder with a predicted increase within the next decade. The understanding of the neurobiologic basis of its cause, antidepressive treatment effects, and identification of treatment outcome predictors is of crucial importance to warrant efficient medical care. The aim of our study was to investigate differences of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in MD between responders and nonresponders in the beginning and differences during the course of treatment.