Is fluorine-18-fluorocholine PET/CT suitable for the detection of skeletal involvement of multiple myeloma?

Our limited experience suggests that fluorine-18-fluorocholine (F-FCH) may perform better in the detection of skeletal involvement by multiple myeloma compared to fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) and that standard uptake ratio (SUR) might be considered in the semi-quantitative comparison of tracer uptake.

Alternating R-CHOP and R-cytarabine is a safe and effective regimen for transplant-ineligible patients with a newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma.

Implementation of cytarabine into induction therapy became standard of care for younger patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). On the basis of its beneficial impact, many centers incorporated cytarabine at lower doses also into first-line treatments of elderly patients. We conducted a multicenter observational study that prospectively analyzed safety and efficacy of alternating 3 + 3 cycles of R-CHOP and R-cytarabine for newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible MCL patients.

[Hypercalcemia, symptoms, differential diagnostics and treatment, or importance of calcium investigation].

Unlabelled: The concentration of calcium is carefully maintained under physiological conditions with parathormone, calcitonin and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D at appropriate levels. There are multiple causes that may bring about increased concentrations of calcium which exceed physiological values. Increased production of parathormone in parathyroid glands is only one of the possible causes.

Comparison of planar DMSA scan with an evaluation based on SPECT imaging in the split renal function assessment.

Background: Validation of the 99mTc-DMSA planar scintigraphy accuracy for split renal function assessment and comparison with evaluation based on SPECT imaging both with and without CT attenuation correction.

Materials And Methods: For split renal function assessment two methods were used: A) planar scintigraphy based on anterior and posterior projections using correction for kidney depth calculated by the geometric mean; B) semi-quantitative evaluation based on SPECT (B1) and attenuation-corrected SPECT/CT (B2) images using locally developed software for kidney segmentation and voxel-based analysis. All three methods were performed with a phantom simulating body including pair of kidneys.

Changes in the Pattern of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Czech Republic.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is currently the most common endocrine disorder in Czech Republic after diabetes and thyroid diseases particularly in postmenopausal women. Over the past 40 years PHPT has changed from a rare severe disease of the bones and kidneys to common disease with hypertension, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, easy fatigue and proximal muscle weakness. During 43 years we have examined one of the greatest groups of patients with PHPT.

V/P scan in diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary embolism in 15-25-year-old females in relation to hormonal contraception use.

Background: An analysis of medical records of young females who were examined in our department during a five-year period (2005-2009) on suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE) in relation to hormonal contraception (HC).

Material And Methods: The patient sample included 86 young females aged 15-25 (mean 21) years who underwent a ventilation/ perfusion scintigraphy (V/P scan). Seventeen of them were examined repeatedly.