High-Dose Intravenous Steroid Treatment Seems to Have No Long-Term Negative Effect on Bone Mineral Density of Young and Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study.

High-dose intravenous steroid treatment (HDIST) represents the first choice of treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses. Chronic oral glucocorticoid (GC) administration correlates with bone loss whereas data regarding HDIST in MS are still conflicting. Twenty-five newly diagnosed MS patients (NDMSP) (median age: 37 years) were prospectively studied for the effects of HDIST on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism.

Human white-fat thermogenesis: Experimental and meta-analytic findings.

White adipose tissue (WAT) thermogenic activity may play a role in whole-body energy balance and two of its main regulators are thought to be environmental temperature (T) and exercise. Low T may increase uncoupling protein one (UCP1; the main biomarker of thermogenic activity) in WAT to regulate body temperature. On the other hand, exercise may stimulate UCP1 in WAT, which is thought to alter body weight regulation.

Challenges and priorities in skeletal, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, genitourinary and lung scintigraphy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On December 29, 2019, a hospital in the City of Wuhan, Hubei Province, in Central China, admitted four individuals with pneumonia. The hospital reported this occurrence to the local center for disease control (CDC), which lead Wuhan CDC staff to initiate a field investigation with a retrospective search for pneumonia patients. On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted by the Chinese authorities for several cases of pneumonia of unknown origin in the City of Wuhan.

I-131 Postablation SPECT/CT Predicts Relapse of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma more Accurately than Whole Body Scan.

Background/aim: The aim of the study was to prospectively compare I-131 postablation Whole Body scan (WBS) and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography/Computerized Tomography (SPECT/CT) scan on thyroid cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 58 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were submitted to total thyroidectomy and I-131 remnant ablation. Post-ablation WBS and SPECT/CT scans performed on the same day were compared.

Impact of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system polymorphisms on myocardial perfusion: Correlations with myocardial single photon emission computed tomography-derived parameters.

Background: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has an important role in atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of six RAAS gene polymorphisms on myocardial perfusion.

Methods And Results: We examined 810 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) using stress-rest myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography.

Performance and safety profile of regadenoson myocardial perfusion imaging: first experience in Greece.

Objective: MPI can provide valuable information in the investigation of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. The stress component of the studies can be conducted with regadenoson, which was approved for clinical use in Greece in 2016. We investigated the performance and safety profile of regadenoson MPI based on our 7 months institutional experience.

Bone Single Photon Emission/Computed Tomography in the Detection of Sacroiliitis in Seronegative Spondyloarthritis: A Comparison with Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: Seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) is characterized by chronic inflammation affecting the axial skeleton, entheses and occasionally peripheral joints. The involvement of the sacroiliac joints, sacroiliitis, is considered as a pathognomonic radiographic finding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method of choice for its early detection.

The potential role of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in breast carcinogenesis and its correlation with 99mTc-(V)DMSA scintimammography.

Objectives: Experimental data suggest a role for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in normal breast development and angiogenesis. This pilot study correlated CGRP with neoangiogenesis and the uptake of the tumor-seeking, proliferation-imaging radiotracer pentavalent technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinate (99mTc-(V)DMSA) in invasive and preinvesive breast lesions.

Methods: Among women evaluated preoperatively by 99mTc-(V)DMSA scintimammography, 29 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) were retrospectively studied: 15 isolated (Group I); 14 mixed with preinvasive pathologies (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] and/or epithelial hyperplasia [EH]; Group M).

Clinical usefulness of attenuation and scatter correction in Tl-201 SPECT studies using coronary angiography as a reference.

Introduction: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of both attenuation and scatter correction in 201Tl SPECT studies.

Methods: We studied 102 patients (76 males, 26 females, mean age 54 years) who underwent coronary angiography prior to or after a scintigraphic examination. A 201Tl one-day protocol was used.

Scintigraphy with technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile in multiple myeloma patients: correlation with the International Staging System.

(99m)Tc-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) scintigraphy has been suggested in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. According to the International Staging System (ISS), serum b2-microglobulin (Sbeta(2)M) and serum albumin (SA) are dominant predictive factors and different cut-off values of these factors can separate patients into various stages of the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between ISS staging, by Sbeta(2)M and SA, and the (99m)Tc-MIBI scan findings.

Tc-99m pentavalent DMSA scintigraphy in myelofibrosis detection.

In a 62-year-old man with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, a postoperative Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid [(V) DMSA] study was requested. In the Tc-99m (V) DMSA scan. no abnormalities, indicating local recurrence or metastatic disease, were observed.

Scintimammographic detection of usual ductal breast hyperplasia with increased proliferation rate at risk for malignancy.

Objectives: To estimate whether breast uptake of (99m)Tc-(V)DMSA and (99m)Tc-sestamibi in usual ductal epithelial breast hyperplasia (UDH) and apocrine metaplasia is related to cell proliferation rate (Ki-67) and oestrogen receptor (ER) expression, both of which are associated with the potential risk of evolving to malignancy.

Methods: Among patients referred for suspicious breast findings on palpation and/or mammography and evaluated preoperatively with both radiopharmaceuticals, we retrospectively studied 17 (10 with UDH: group I; and seven with apocrine metaplasia: group II). Lesion-to-background (L/B) ratios in early and late acquisitions were calculated for both radiotracers in both groups, as well as their retention ratios.

Increased serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in relapsed ductal breast carcinoma.

Increased serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 is a quite uncommon manifestation of breast cancer both on early disease and on relapse. A 53-year-old woman with invasive ductal breast carcinoma underwent left-sided mastectomy. Two years later she palpated a subcutaneous mass at the mastectomy scar, arousing suspicion of local relapse.

Combined use of 99mTc-sestamibi and 99mTc-V-DMSA in the assessment of chemotherapy effectiveness in patients with multiple myeloma.

Unlabelled: This study determined the role of the combined use of (99m)Tc-sestamibi and (99m)Tc-pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid (V-DMSA) scintigraphy in evaluating the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma.

Methods: In 20 patients with multiple myeloma who had received or were receiving chemotherapy, (99m)Tc-sestamibi and (99m)Tc-V-DMSA scanning was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Results: In group A (11 patients with active disease), 42 (99m)Tc-sestamibi-positive lesions were found.

Recurrent bilateral mammary fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) imaged with technetium-99m pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid [99mTc-(V)DMSA] scintimammography.

Background: Breast fibromatosis is a rare, benign, recurring, locally destructive entity.

Case: A 35-year-old woman underwent right-sided lumpectomy, revealing fibromatosis with epithelial hyperplasia. Two years later, she was re-evaluated due to a three times as large mass recurrence on X-ray mammography.

Interpretation of the post-surgical Somatostatin Receptor Scintigram of a Primary Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Thymus: a case report and literature review.

A case of a thymic neuroendocrine tumor and the interpretation problems in a post-surgical Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy are presented. In a 53-year-old man with superior vena cava obstruction syndrome an atypical carcinoid of the thymus (neuroendocrine carcinoma of intermediate grade 2), was found at surgery.During his first year of follow-up a Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy was recommended.

Imaging in situ breast carcinoma (with or without an invasive component) with technetium-99m pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid and technetium-99m 2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile scintimammography.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to retrospectively define specific features of the technetium-99m pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-(V)DMSA) and technetium-99m 2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (99mTc-Sestamibi [99mTc-MIBI]) distribution in ductal breast carcinoma in situ and lobular breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS/LCIS), in relation to mammographic, histological and immunohistochemical parameters.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and two patients with suspicious palpation or mammographic findings were submitted preoperatively to scintimammography (a total of 72 patients with 99mTc-(V)DMSA and a total of 75 patients with 99mTc-Sestamibi, 45 patients receiving both radiotracers). Images were acquired at 10 min and 60 min, and were evaluated for a pattern of diffuse radiotracer accumulation.

Scintimammographic findings of phyllodes tumor of the breast in a double-phase study with Tc-99m (V)DMSA and Tc-99m MIBI: a case report.

We present a case of phyllodes tumor of the breast in a 78-year-old woman evaluated with Tc-99m (V)DMSA and Tc-99m MIBI scintimammography, acquired in separate sessions (10 and 60 min post-injection). Tc-99m (V)DMSA was accumulated intensely within the mass [tumor to background ratio (T/B) >3], whereas Tc-99m MIBI had significantly lower uptake (T/B 1.9).