Prognostic Impact of Preoperative Thrombocytosis on Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients with Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the prognostic potential of preoperative thrombocytosis for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) among patients subjected to radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) due to UTUC.

Patients And Methods: Analytical cohort was composed of a single-center series of 405 patients treated between January 1999 and December 2020. Thrombocytosis was defined as a platelet count exceeding the threshold value of 400 × 10 per L.

Diagnostic and prognostic impact of preoperative thrombocytosis in muscle invasive bladder cancer: Any role in clinical practice?

Background: Since earlier research suggested a link between preoperative thrombocytosis and poor oncological outcomes in several cancers, the significance of platelet count abnormalities in bladder carcinoma (BC) demands for further investigation.

Objective: To assess the prognostic value of preoperative thrombocytosis (PTC) on survival in patients with bladder carcinoma treated by radical cystectomy (RC).

Patients And Methods: Analytical cohort comprised a single-center series of 299 patients who underwent RC for bladder carcinoma was evaluated.

F-FDG PET/CT in evaluation of squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) are a number of different types of cancer that result from squamous cells. These cells form on the surface of the skin, on the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts etc. To evaluate SCC and frequencies of their localizations based on the findings of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Novel nuclear medical procedures in the detection of microvascular dysfunction.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction is present in two-thirds of patients showing symptoms and signs of myocardial ischemia. Their microcirculation has abnormalities due to endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Impairment of this mechanism causes a high risk of adverse cardiovascular event.

F-FDG PET/CT value in the detection of seminoma and correlation with CT and tumor marker levels - up to 8 years of follow-up.

Objective: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography using fluorine-18 fluoro-deoxyglucose (F-FDG PET/CT) is not routinely used for diagnosis of testicular carcinoma. Unlike CT which cannot confirm with certainty the nature of the lesions, especially in post-therapy setting, F-FDG PET/CT detects active disease by showing increased glucose metabolism within the lesions.

Aim: Determination of F-FDG PET/CT usefulness in detection of seminoma, therapy response evaluation and comparison to CT findings and tumor marker levels.

Muscular sarcoidosis in the eyes of F-FDG PET/CT.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency, symptoms, activity and pattern of muscle sarcoidosis, correlation with laboratory parameters, and to assess its therapy response with F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods: Study included 90 patients with biopsy confirmed sarcoidosis and symptoms/biochemical/imaging findings suggestive of active disease. The exclusion criteria were: presence of cancer or other diseases that resemble sarcoidosis on PET/CT (Wegener syndrome, tuberculosis, aspergillosis), and the glucose level being greater than 11 mmol/L.

Prognostic value of Balkan endemic nephropathy and gender on upper tract urothelial carcinoma outcomes after radical nephroureterectomy: A cohort study.

Background: To identify the prognostic impact of residence in a BEN-endemic area and gender on upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) outcomes in Serbian patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Methods: The study included 334 consecutive patients with UTUC. Patients with permanent residence in Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) or non-endemic areas from their birth to the end of follow-up were included in the analysis.

The role of cardiac magnetic resonance in diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease with a high prevalence of cardiac involvement in autopsic studies. Cardiac sarcoidosis is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Endomyocardial biopsy is a specific technique, but unfortunately not sensitive enough.

Post-treatment FDG PET/CT predicts progression-free survival in young patients with small round blue cell tumors: Ewing sarcoma and PNET.

Purpose: To determine if post-treatment F-18 FDG PET/CT results (overall positive findings, specific localizations) are independent predictors of disease progression in young patients with Ewing sarcoma and Primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

Method: A consecutive sample of 48 patients (age 14 ± 5 years, 32 male) was referred to F-18 FDG PET/CT for the suspected progression of Ewing sarcoma (39 patients) and Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) (9 patients) and followed-up clinically for 4.3 ± 2.

Hybrid Imaging in Evaluation of Abdominal Sarcoidosis.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of abdominal involvement, distribution pattern and evaluate role of hybrid molecular imaging in patients with abdominal sarcoidosis.

Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2011, 98 patients with chronic sarcoidosis and presence of prolonged symptoms or other findings suggestive of active disease were referred to FDG PET/CT examination. Active disease was found in 82 patients, and they all were screened for the presence of abdominal sarcoidosis on FDG PET/CT.

Myocardial perfusion stress test: is it worth?

To test the utility of the Tc-sestaMIBI myocardial perfusion stress test (MPS) over stress echo test (SEHO) in dyslipidemic patients with intermediate pre-test probability score. 56 dyslipidemic patients (42 males and 14 females) with a suspected/known ischaemic heart disease and intermediate pre-test probability score underwent MPS and SEHO. They were followed for 25.

Hybrid Imaging in Head and Neck Sarcoidosis.

: To determine the prevalence of head and neck sarcoidosis (HNS) and evaluate the role of hybrid molecular imaging in HNS. Between 2010 and 2018, 222 patients with chronic sarcoidosis and presence of prolonged symptoms of active disease were referred to FDG PET/CT. Active disease was found in 169 patients, and they were all screened for the presence of HNS.

Urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract: preoperative pyuria is not correlated with bladder cancer recurrence and survival.

Objective: To identify the impact of preoperative pyuria on the bladder cancer recurrence and survival of patients who were treated surgically for UTUC.

Patients And Methods: Study included 319 consecutive patients who were treated with RNU for UTUC. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the association of preoperative pyuria with outcome.

The detection of endocarditis, post implantation grafts, arteritis and other related disorders by F-FDG PET/CT.

Introduction: Positron emission tomography with computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) is a nuclear medicine diagnostic method which, unlike other technological modalities that asses anatomical features, detects increased glucose metabolism inside the cells, thus is very helpful in diagnosing cardiovascular infection and inflammation and also in therapy planning.

Aim: Aim of this study was to assess the significance of F-FDG PET/CT in detection of an active disease in patients with infection and inflammation of cardiovascular system.

Material And Methods: In this cohort retrospective study 73 cardiovascular patients (56.

Impact of hybrid molecular imaging in retroperitoneal fibrosis: a systematic review.

The aim of this article was to critically assess the usefulness of hybrid molecular imaging (FDG PET/CT and FDG PET/MR) procedures in the evaluation of inflammatory activity in retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF). A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed without timeline restriction and using the following keywords: retroperitoneal fibrosis, disease activity, diagnostic techniques, PET/CT, PET/MR. We evaluated full text articles written in the English language.

Radiotherapy-induced right ventricular remodelling: The missing piece of the puzzle.

The number of studies demonstrating that right ventricular structure, function and mechanics are valuable predictors of cardiovascular and total morbidity and mortality in patients with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions is constantly increasing. Most studies that evaluated the influence of radiotherapy on the heart focused on left ventricular remodelling, which is why current guidelines only recommend detailed assessment of the left ventricle. Data regarding right ventricular changes in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy are scarce.

FDG PET/CT in bone sarcoidosis.

Background: Bone sarcoidosis is rare manifestation of disease usually accompanied with pulmonary involvement. Until today, exact prevalence of bone sarcoidosis is not known, since reported prevalence varies widely depending on the studied population and the used diagnostic techniques.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bone involvement and distribution pattern in active chronic sarcoidosis by using FDG PET/CT.

The diagnostic performance and added value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of liver metastases in recurrent colorectal carcinoma patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT in detection of liver metastases in patients with suspected recurrent colorectal carcinoma, as well as to compare diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT with conventional imaging methods (MDCT).

Subjects And Methods: This study included 73 patients with resected primary colorectal adenocarcinoma referred for (18)F-FDG PET/CT to the National PET Center, at the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, from January 2010 to May 2013, with suspicion of recurrence. The patients underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination on a 64-slice hybrid PET/CT scanner (Biograph, TruePoint64, Siemens Medical Solutions, Inc.

Can (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan change treatment planning and be prognostic in recurrent colorectal carcinoma? A prospective and follow-up study.

Objective: To prospectively study whether in patients with resected primary colorectal cancer fluorine- 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) examination could diagnose the stage, specify treatment procedure and be prognostic.

Subjects And Methods: This prospective study included 75 patients with resected primary colorectal adenocarcinoma referred for (18)F-FDG PET/CT to the National PET Center, at the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, from January 2010 to May 2013. Findings of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were compared to findings of subsequent histopathological examinations or with results of clinical and imaging follow-up.

Extraurothelial recurrence after radical nephroureterectomy: preoperative predictors and survival.

Objective: To identify the preoperative predictors of extraurothelial recurrence (EUR) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: A single-center series of 238 consecutive patients who were treated with RNU for UTUC was evaluated. Recurrence-free probabilities and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of gated SPECT MIBI early post-stress imaging in patients with intermediate Duke Treadmill Score.

Purpose Of The Report: The aims of this study were to compare perfusion and functional parameters between early (ES) and standard (SS) post-stress gated SPECT MIBI, to validate ES against coronary angiography, and to determine whether ES parameters can predict future cardiac events.

Patients And Methods: The sample included 63 patients with normal or mildly impaired left ventricular function and intermediate Duke Treadmill Score. They underwent a 2-day stress-rest gated SPECT MIBI with the post-stress data acquired at 15 minutes (ES) and 60 minutes (SS) after i.

The impact of tumor size on outcomes in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Purpose: To investigate the association between tumor size and clinicopathologic factors and outcomes of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in patients treated surgically for UTUC.

Methods: A single-center series of 235 consecutive patients who were treated surgically for UTUC between January 1999 and December 2011 was evaluated. Patients with a history of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder, those who received neoadjuvant therapies, and those with previous contralateral UTUC were excluded.

Prognostic significance of non-muscle-invasive bladder tumor history in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factors for survival and disease recurrence in patients treated surgically for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), focusing especially on the impact of history of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Patients And Methods: A single-center series of 221 consecutive patients who were treated surgically for UTUC between January 1999 and December 2010 was evaluated. Patients who had a history of bladder tumor at a higher stage than the upper tract disease, preoperative chemotherapy, or previous contralateral UTUC were excluded.