Examination of pattern of RI accumulation in thyroid cartilage on bone scintigraphy.

Objective: In bone scintigraphy, abnormal RI accumulation in ossified thyroid cartilage is often noted. However, because similar accumulation is also seen in tumor-involved cartilage, distinction between these two lesions is sometimes difficult. We examined the differences in RI accumulation by ossification of the thyroid cartilage and cartilage invasion with anterior, posterior, and oblique views of bone scintigraphy in this study.

A case of cavernous hemangioma in which malignancy was preoperatively excluded by FDG-PET.

A contrast-enhanced mass was revealed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the left pelvic cavity of a 71-year-old man. Although the mass appeared to be a cavernous hemangioma, malignancy could not be ruled out. Abdominal angiography was performed but failed to rule out malignancy because it revealed vascular dislocation and encasement.

Evaluation of diagnostic abilities of Ga-SPECT for head and neck lesions.

Objective: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using gallium (Ga) has been frequently used for diagnosing head and neck tumors in patients. Although the usefulness of Ga-SPECT is well known, the degree of the increase in diagnostic ability with Ga-SPECT for head and neck tumors has not been reported. We compared the ability of the planar images of Ga scintigraphy, SPECT images of Ga scintigraphy, and CT images to diagnose head and neck primary tumors and neck metastases.

Gallium scintigraphy in a case of tuberculous trochanteric bursitis.

We report a 67-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic disseminated tuberculosis affecting the femoral trochanteric bursae, a site rarely affected by tuberculosis. For quantification of the inflammation with gallium-67 scintigraphy, we calculated the radioisotope count ratio in the most inflamed areas, the right lateral thorax and bursa of the right greater trochanter. Systemic scanning with this modality allowed evaluation of the extent of lesions and simple quantitative determination of the severity of inflammation, yielding information useful for the follow-up of the patient during the course of tuberculosis treatment.

Distinguishing benign from malignant gallbladder wall thickening using FDG-PET.

Objective: Because thickening of the gallbladder wall is observed not only in patients with gallbladder cancer but also in those with benign diseases such as chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder adenomyosis, it is difficult to distinguish between benign and malignant gallbladder wall thickening by conventional techniques of diagnostic imaging such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and abdominal ultrasonography (US). In the present study, we attempted to distinguish between benign and malignant gallbladder wall thickening by means of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-Positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: FDG-PET was performed in 12 patients with gallbladder wall thickening detected by CT or US, to determine whether it was benign or malignant.

Detection of local residual tumor after laryngeal cancer treatment using FDG-PET.

Objective: Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is sometimes used as a means of follow-up after diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the head and neck region. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of FDG-PET to detect local residual tumor after treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with laryngeal cancer underwent FDG-PET before and after initial treatment.

A case of diffuse hepatic angiosarcoma diagnosed by FDG-PET.

A 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 2-month history of increasing abdominal distension, leg edema, and dyspnea. The serum transaminase level was about twice the upper limit of normal. The CT showed no tumor.

Natural history of major complications in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis evaluated by per-rectal portal scintigraphy.

Aim: To examine the correlation between the porto-systemic hypertension evaluated by portal shunt index (PSI) and life-threatening complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver failure (Child-Pugh stage progression), and esophagogastric varices.

Methods: Two hundred and twelve consecutive subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis (LC-C) underwent per-rectal portal scintigraphy. They were allocated into three groups according to their PSI: group I, PSI< or =10%; group II, 10% View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Splenic accumulation of Tc-99m HMDP in a patient with severe alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

The authors report unusual splenic accumulation of Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) on bone scintigraphy of a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Laboratory studies showed hemolytic anemia and hemochromatosis resulting from alcohol abuse, both of which are thought to be related to the diffuse splenic uptake observed. When diffuse splenic accumulation by Tc-99m HMDP is seen, the existence of alcoholic hepatopathy might be considered.

A case of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus detected incidentally by FDG-PET.

Small cell carcinoma (SmC) of the esophagus is rare, and is sometimes impossible to detect by macroscopic inspection using an endoscope or histological examination of biopsied specimens. A 73-year-old man received F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to evaluate the response to radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy for lung cancer. FDG-PET showed abnormal accumulation in the posterior mediastinum.

Poor labeling of Tc-99m red blood cells in vivo in a radionuclide intestinal bleeding study of a patient who had recently undergone frequent blood transfusions.

The authors report poor labeling of Tc-99m red blood cells (RBCs) in vivo in a radionuclide intestinal bleeding study of a patient who had recently undergone frequent blood transfusions. The existence of RBC antibodies, as a result of the recent blood transfusions in this patient, was one of the causes of the poor labeling. In radionuclide bleeding studies with patients with recent blood transfusion, Tc-99m HSA-D must be chosen instead of Tc-99m RBCs in vivo.