Polymorphisms in toll-like receptor 3 and 4 genes as prognostic and outcome biomarkers in melanoma patients.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive tumors, and in the setting of rising incidence and mortality, there is an urgent need to identify new prognostic markers. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), are aberrantly expressed in numerous cancers, including melanoma. TLR signaling provides a microenvironment that is involved in antitumor immune response, chronic inflammation, cancer cell proliferation and evasion of immune destruction.

Regional lymph node metastases in cutaneous melanoma: a single-center analysis from southeast europe.

Objective: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the standard of care for nodal staging in clinically node-negative melanoma patients. Our goal was to present 10-year results of sentinel lymph node biopsy at our institution and to evaluate the clinicopathologic factors as potential predictors of sentinel lymph node and non-sentinel lymph node metastatic involvement in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Methods: We have analyzed clinicopathologic and lymphoscintigraphic characteristics in 420 patients with cutaneous melanoma who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy between 2010 and 2019.

Time to Procedure, Nuclear Imaging and Clinicopathological Characteristics as Predictive Factors for Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Cutaneous Melanoma: A Single-Center Analysis.

Objective: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a widely accepted staging procedure for cutaneous melanoma patients who are at risk of clinically occult nodal metastases. Numerous predictive factors for regional lymph node metastases have been identified; however, few have been found to be reproducibly significant. Also, the role of blue dye in identification was questioned in recent trials.

Technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy can guide clinical management in congenital hydronephrosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate damage of the kidney with technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-DMSA) scintigraphy in children with congenital hydronephrosis (CH) and the influence of other postnatal associated diagnoses on abnormal Tc-DMSA findings.

Subjects And Methods: Tc-DMSA scintigraphy in 54 children (17 girls and 37 boys), aged from 2 months to 5 years (median 11 months) with 66 congenital hydronephrotic renal units (RU) (42 unilateral hydronephrosis-29 boys and 13 girls; 12 bilateral hydronephrosis-8 boys and 4 girls) was performed. Male/female ratio was 2,2:1, unilateral/bilateral hydronephrosis ratio was 4:1.

Correlation of local and systemic expression of survivin with histopathological parameters of cutaneous melanoma.

Background/aim: Survivin is a multifunctional protein abundantly expressed in tumors of various types, including melanoma. There are still sparse data regarding relationship of melanoma cell survivin expression with accepted histopathological characteristics as well as serum concentration. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of local tumor survivin expression (primary tumor and metastatic lesions) and serum concentration with clinical and histopathological parameters in melanoma patients.

Validity of ultrasound-guided aspiration needle biopsy in the diagnosis of micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Background/aim: Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most aggressive solid cancers, that develops local, regional and distant metastases. The presence of metastases in lymph nodes is in correlation with Breslow tumor thickness. According to various researches, in melanoma with more than 4 mm Breslow thickness, lymph node micrometastases can be found in 60-70% of cases.

Diuretic 99mTc DTPA renography in assessment of renal function and drainage in infants with antenatally detected hydronephrosis.

Background/aim: The controversy over the postnatal management of infants with antenataly detected hydronephrosis (ANH) still exists. We presented the results of diuretic 99mTc diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) renography in 30 infants with the antenatal diagnosis of unilateral renal pelvic dilatation. The aim of this study was to assess the renal function determined by the pattern of drainage and split renal function (SRF) on diuretic renography and to correlate these findings with anteroposterior pelvic diameter (APD) estimated by ultrasonography.

Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node biopsy, in cutaneous melanoma staging and treatment decisions.

Objective: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a widely accepted method in the management of clinically localized cutaneous melanomas. The aim of this study was to report the results on patients scheduled for preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and SLNB for staging and further treatment planning.

Subjects And Methods: Two hundred and one patients (115 male and 86 female, median age 57 years, range 9-81) with cutaneous melanoma having undergone SLB at Military Medical Academy between November 2010 and October 2014, were recruited for retrospective study.

Interferon alpha-induced reduction in the values of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in melanoma patients.

Background/aim: Interaction between tumor cells and host's immunoregulatory cells in creation of microenvironment that supports tumor progression is the focus of numerous investigations in recent years. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MIDSCs) are heterogeneous population of immature dendritic cells, macrophages and granulocytes. In cancer patients, these cells accumulate in tumor microenvironment, tumor-draining lymph nodes, peripheral blood and the liver and their numbers correlate with the stage of the disease and the metastatic disease.

Five benign myoskeletal diseases in paediatrics and the role of nuclear medicine. Do they differ from those in adults?

In this paper we discuss trauma, osteomyelitis, fibrous dysplasia, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and osteopetrosis in children. Pathophysiology, incidence, clinical signs, diagnosis and specific trteatment of these diseases are described. We have focused on diagnostic imaging techniques which can be applied in children: X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging bone scintigraphy with technetium- 99m-methylene diphosphonate ((99m)Tc-MDP) and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluorodesoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) and fluorine-18 fluoro sodium fluoride ((18)F-NaF).

Clinical value of immunoscintigraphy in the rectal carcinomas: immunoscintigraphy of rectal carcinomas.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability of the immunoscintigraphy with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for the detection of metastases and recurrences of rectal carcinomas.

Methodology: A total of 65 patients underwent immunoscintigraphy with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. Indication for that examination was suspicious rectal cancer or suspicious rectal cancer recurrence and/or metastases.

Scintigraphic detection of colon carcinomas with iodinated monoclonal antibodies.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability of the immunoscintigraphy with iodinated monoclonal antibodies for the detection of metastases and recurrences of colon carcinomas.

Methods: A total of 45 patients with colon carcinoma was investigated with gamma camera, after intravenous application of iodinated monoclonal antibodies.

Results: The sensitivity of the method was 90%, specificity 86%, positive predictive value 93%, negative predictive value 80% and accuracy 87%.

123I-FP-CIT brain SPECT (DaTSCAN) imaging in the diagnosis of patients with movement disorders--first results.

Background/aim: 123I-FP-CIT brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), DaTSCAN imaging, offers a possibility to study structural and biochemical integrity of presinaptic dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 123I-FP-CIT brain SPECT scintigraphy in patients with extrapyramidal diseases.

Methods: Fifteen patients (8 males and 7 females), aged 26-81 years, presenting with extrapyramidal symptoms entered the study.

90Y-labeled tin fluoride colloid as a promising therapeutic agent: preparation, characterization, and biological study in rats.

In this study, tin fluoride colloid (SnF-c) was prepared, labeled with yttrium-90 ((90)Y), and characterized with respect to its physicochemical properties and biological behavior in an animal model. Particle size of SnF-c, at constant concentration of SnF(2), was dependent on pH, concentration of sodium fluoride (NaF), temperature, and time. The particle size of SnF-c decreased with an increase in NaF concentration and a decrease in reaction mixture pH.

Is bone scintigraphy necessary in initial staging of prostate cancer patients?

Our aim was to determine whether serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and total Gleason score (GS) on biopsy in newly diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) can predict osseous metastases and eliminate the need for a bone scan as a routine procedure in initial staging. We studied retrospectively 155 patients with previously untreated PCa who underwent bone scintigraphy. Relationship between PSA, GS and bone metastases was examined.

Renal scintigraphy in children with vesicoureteral reflux.

Objective: To determine the incidence and pattern of abnormal scintigraphy findings in children with UTI and VUR.

Methods: Data of 118 children who underwent micturating cystourethrography (MCU) and late Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan were evaluated. Findings were categorized under the image appearance and relative kidney uptake (RKU) and related to the grade of VUR, sex and child's age.

[Influence of the background activity region selection on the measurement of glomerular filtration rate using the Gates method].

Background/aim: The most frequent method for the assessment of glomerular filtration rate GFR) in clinical practice is clearance of creatinine, clearance of chromium-51 radiolabelled ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA) and clearance of technetium-99m radiolabelled diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA). The Gates method for glomerular filtration rate assessment is based on distribution of 99mTc-DTPA in the kidney 2-3 minute after its applying. Calculation of GFR is corrected for the background and depth of the kidney and finally expressed as a percentage of the net injected counts.

Impact of micturating cystourethrography and DMSA renal scintigraphy on the investigation scheme in children with urinary tract infection.

Objective: The relationships among urinary tract infection (UTI), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and permanent renal damage in children are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of renal scarring in children with a history of UTI and to determine the change in the probability of permanent renal damage owing to the presence of VUR documented on micturating cystourethrography (MCU).

Methods: We analyzed 201 children (400 renal units, two children with solitary kidney).

99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of stress fracture of the metatarsal bones mimicking oligoarthritis.

Background: Stress fractures are the injuries of soft tissues and bones caused by intensive and repeated stress on a bone. Repeated submaximal stress disturbs the balance between the processes of bone production and resorption that results in fracture.

Case Report: We presented a case of a patient with stress fracture of metatarsal bone.

Renal scintigraphy in infants with antenatally diagnosed renal pelvis dilatation.

Background/aim: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction and vesicoureteral reflux are the most frequent entities identified on the basis of antenatal hydronephrosis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and pattern of abnormal renal scintigraphy findings in postnatal investigation of children with antenatal hydronephrosis.

Methods: Twenty-four infants (19 boys and five girls) presented with antenatal hydronephrosis and mild to moderate hydronephrosis on ultrasound in newborn period were referred for renal scintigraphy.

[Diagnostic validity of dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy with ascorbic acid stimulation in patients with Sjögren's syndrome: comparation with unstimulated whole sialometry].

Background/aim: Beside many actual groups of classification criteria, uniform classification criteria for Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are still missing. The ophtalmic component of SS is well defined. Criteria for classifying its oral component remain controversial.

Diagnostic value of ocular melanoma immunoscintigraphy.

Purpose: To estimate the diagnostic value of ocular immunoscintigraphy (ISG) in the differentiation of melanoma from other ocular tumors or lesions.

Patients And Methods: ISG was performed in 27 patients. Twenty-four patients were suspected of having ocular melanoma and 3 patients had previous eye enucleation for melanoma and were without recurrent disease.

[Incidence and imaging characteristics of skeletal metastases detected by bone scintigraphy in lung cancer patients].

Background/aim: Detection of metastatic bone disease by skeletal scintigraphy is a classical application of nuclear medicine in cancer patients. Detection of bone metastases in patients with lung cancer is necessary for an appropriate treatment modality. The aim of this study was to report the frequency and imaging characteristics of bone metastases detected by bone scintigraphy (BS) using technetium-99m phosphonates in patients with lung cancer.

Technetium-99m-tetrofosmin in diagnosis of breast cancer and axillary lymph node involvement.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of breast cancer seeking agent Tc-99m-Tetrofosmin in the detection of breast malignancy and axillary lymph node metastases.

Material And Methods: Twenty-eight female patients (mean age 52.4) with 30 breast lesions suspected of malignancy were enrolled in the study.

Technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy in children with urinary tract infections.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of abnormal dimercaptosuccinic acid-Tc-99m ((99m)Tc-DMSA) renal scintigraphy findings in children with culture proved urinary tract infection (UTI) with or without vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scintigraphy was performed in 343 children with culture documented UTI (247 girls and 96 boys) aged from three months to 14 years (middle age of 4.82 years).