Radionuclide tumor necrosis factor-alpha activity in herniated lumbar disc correlates with severe leg pain.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation is often associated with an inflammatory process. In this context, inflammation has been considered a key factor in the modulation of pain. Here, we present a case of inflammatory activity directly documented in a patient with a lumbar disc herniation.

Absence of F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake using Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Madelung's disease: A case report.

Madelung's disease is characterized by the manifestation of multiple ectopic lipomas, usually found in the cervical-thoracic region, however, clinical manifestation may vary among patients. It has been postulated that lipomas associated with Madelung's disease are linked to brown adipose tissue (BAT) due to the presence of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Therefore, we here investigated whether BAT activity is present in a patient with Madelung's disease.

Evaluation of the most commonly used (semi-)quantitative parameters of 18F-FDG PET/CT to detect malignant transformation of neurofibromas in neurofibromatosis type 1.

In patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, transformation of neurofibromas into a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a severe complication of the disease. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a viable option for detecting malignant tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1 patients. The aim of this review was to assess the diagnostic performance of the most frequently used parameters of PET/CT in detecting MPNST.

Thyroid Gland F-FDG Uptake in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Purpose: To investigate thyroid gland characteristics on F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Subjects And Methods: Thyroid gland characteristics of patients with a clinical diagnosis of NF1 who underwent F-FDG PET/CT imaging for the first time to distinguish benign neurofibroma from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) at our institution ( = 69) were compared to PET/CT imaging of sarcoidosis ( = 25) and early stage lung cancer (TNM tumors, = 15) patients.

Results: Two NF1 patients (3%) showed a diffuse F-FDG uptake in the thyroid gland, 2 patients (3%) had an irregular uptake, and 7 patients (10%) had a focal uptake.

Bone Mineral Density as a Marker of Cumulative Estrogen Exposure in Psychotic Disorder: A 3 Year Follow-Up Study.

Altered estrogen-induced neuroprotection has been implicated in the etiology of psychotic disorders. Using bone mineral density as a marker of lifetime estrogen exposure, a longitudinal family study was conducted to discriminate between etiological mechanisms and secondary effects of disease and treatment. Dual X-ray absorptiometry scans were acquired twice, with an interval of 3 years, in 30 patients with psychotic disorder (male (M)/female (F): 24/6, mean age of 32 years at second measurement), 44 non-psychotic siblings of patients with a psychotic disorder (M/F: 26/18, mean age 32) and 27 controls (M/F: 7/20, mean age 35).

Positron emission tomography scanning in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis.

Tools for evaluation of disease activity in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) include scoring clinical manifestations, determination of biochemical parameters of inflammation, and obtaining tissue biopsies. These tools, however, are sometimes inconclusive. 2-deoxy-2-[F]-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scans are commonly used to detect inflammatory or malignant lesions.

Aortic ¹⁸F-FDG uptake in patients suffering from granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to systematically assess aortic inflammation in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) using (18)F-2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT.

Methods: Aortic inflammation was studied in PET/CT scans obtained from 21 patients with GPA; 14 patients with sarcoidosis were included as disease controls, 7 patients with stage I or II head and neck carcinoma ascertained during routine clinical practice were used as healthy controls (HC) and 5 patients with large vessel vasculitis (LVV) were used as positive controls. Aortic (18)F-FDG uptake was expressed as the blood-normalized maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), known as the target to background ratio (mean TBRmax).

A possible link between increased metabolic activity of fat tissue and aortic wall inflammation in subjects with COPD. A retrospective 18F-FDG-PET/CT pilot study.

Background: Fat tissue, and particularly visceral fat, is known to play a role in low grade systemic inflammation in COPD, and is likely to contribute to the excess cardiovascular comorbidity in COPD. Therefore, we aimed to study (18)FDG-PET-assessed inflammation of the aorta and the (visceral) fat, and evaluate its interrelations and differences in subjects with and without COPD.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 42 patients (71% male, 48% current smokers, mean age 66.

Extent of disease activity assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT in a Dutch sarcoidosis population.

Background: Sarcoidosis is characterized by a wide range of disease manifestations. In the management and follow-up of sarcoidosis patients, knowledge of extent of disease, activity and severity is crucial. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the extent, distribution and consistency of inflammatory organ involvement using 18F-FDG PET/CT (PET) in sarcoidosis patients with persistent disabling symptoms.

Retention of 99mTc-DMSA(III) and 99mTc-nanocolloid in different syringes affects imaging quality.

(99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid [DMSA(III)] and colloidal human serum albumin ((99m)Tc-nanocolloid) are widely used radiopharmaceuticals. Recently, in our institution we encountered image quality problems in DMSA scans after changing the brand of syringes we were using, which triggered us to look into the adsorption properties of syringes from different brands for (99m)Tc-DMSA(III) and (99m)Tc-nanocolloid. We also describe a clinical case in which adsorption of (99m)Tc-DMSA(III) caused inferior imaging quality.

Changes in 5-HT2A receptor expression in untreated, de novo patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Serotonin (5-HT) has long been implied in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, the 5-HT2A receptor is associated with the regulation of motor function and mood.

Objective: To assess regional 5-HT2A receptor expression in unmedicated patients with de novo PD.

Testing the estrogen hypothesis of schizophrenia: associations between cumulative estrogen exposure and cerebral structural measures.

Background: Bone mineral density (BMD), as an indicator of cumulative estrogen exposure, may be reduced in female patients with psychotic disorder (van der Leeuw et al., 2013), possibly reflecting reduced cerebral exposure to estrogen and alterations in neuroprotective effects. To the degree that BMD is a marker of cumulative (endogenous) estrogen exposure, we hypothesized that BMD would be positively associated with cerebral gray and white matter indices.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced dopamine release as a function of psychosis risk: 18F-fallypride positron emission tomography study.

Cannabis use is associated with psychosis, particularly in those with expression of, or vulnerability for, psychotic illness. The biological underpinnings of these differential associations, however, remain largely unknown. We used Positron Emission Tomography and (18)F-fallypride to test the hypothesis that genetic risk for psychosis is expressed by differential induction of dopamine release by Δ(9)-THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis).

The role of the PET scan in the management of sarcoidosis.

Purpose Of Review: It is important to gain knowledge and understanding about the appropriate use of PET scan in the management of sarcoidosis patients. This means that, in view of the radiation dose and costs, defining appropriate indications for PET scanning in sarcoidosis patients is vital.

Recent Findings: PET has been shown to be a very sensitive technique for the assessment of inflammatory activity in sarcoidosis by detecting and quantifying the degree of inflammatory and granulomatous reactions that occur in the lungs and elsewhere in the body.

Severity of pulmonary involvement and (18)F-FDG PET activity in sarcoidosis.

Background: Assessing inflammatory activity is useful in the management of persistent symptomatic sarcoidosis patients. (18)F-FDG PET (PET) has been shown to be a sensitive technique to assess inflammatory activity in sarcoidosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the severity of pulmonary involvement is associated with PET activity in persistent symptomatic sarcoidosis patients.

Bone mineral density as a marker of cumulative endogenous estrogen exposure: relationship to background genetic risk of psychotic disorder.

Background: Alterations in bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with psychotic disorder may reflect the effect of treatment (disease effect observed in patients but not their siblings) or, as an intermediate marker of cumulative endogenous estrogen exposure, alterations in the neuroprotective effect of estrogen in the brain (vulnerability effect observed in patients and siblings).

Methods: Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were acquired in 62 patients with a psychotic disorder, 67 non-psychotic siblings of patients with a psychotic disorder, and 48 controls. BMD (g/cm(2)), Z-scores and T-scores were measured in the lumbar spine and proximal femur.

Development and characterization of [123I]iodotiagabine for in-vivo GABA-transporter imaging.

The increased knowledge of molecular changes associated with different neurological disorders calls for the development of novel radioligands. Tiagabine (Gabitril) is an anticonvulsive drug that binds selectively to GABA transporter-1 and thereby inhibits GABA uptake. As radioligands for in-vivo imaging of the GABA transporter are not yet available, we radiolabelled tiagabine and assessed its efficacy for in-vivo imaging of these transporters.

A predictive tool for an effective use of (18)F-FDG PET in assessing activity of sarcoidosis.

Background: (18)F-FDG PET/CT (PET) is useful in assessing inflammatory activity in sarcoidosis. However, no appropriate indications are available. The aim of this study was to develop a prediction rule that can be used to identify symptomatic sarcoidosis patients who have a high probability of PET-positivity.

F-18 FDG PET/CT for detecting bone and bone marrow involvement in sarcoidosis patients.

Background: The prevalence of bone involvement in sarcoidosis has been estimated to be 3% to 5%, mostly affecting the phalanges. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution pattern of bone and bone marrow involvement as detected by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in sarcoidosis patients.

Methods: Between June 2006 and September 2010, 122 patients suffering from severe sarcoidosis who underwent a PET/CT and met the inclusion criteria were studied.

Inflammatory activity assessment by F18 FDG-PET/CT in persistent symptomatic sarcoidosis.

Background: Establishing inflammatory activity in sarcoidosis patients with persistent disabling symptoms is important. Whole body F(18)-FDG PET/CT (PET) appeared to be a sensitive method to detect inflammatory activity in newly diagnosed symptomatic sarcoidosis. The aim was to assess the presence of inflammatory activity using PET in sarcoidosis patients with unexplained persistent disabling symptoms and the association between PET findings and serological inflammatory markers.

F-18 FDG PET/CT scanning in Charcot disease: a brief report.

Purpose: because of the increasing prevalence of diabetes, complications of diabetes will also become more prevalent. The pathophysiology of Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy (Charcot disease) as a complication of diabetes is still enigmatic. As a consequence, the optimal diagnostic, follow-up, and therapeutic strategies are unclear.

Metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in pulmonary and cardiac disease.

Purpose Of Review: Nuclear medicine techniques have the capacity to investigate neuronal dysfunction at the synapse level. For instance, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) shows a similar uptake, storage and release as norepinephrine. Intravenously injected radiolabeled MIBG is able to reflect neuronal damage induced by inflammation and tumors.

FDG-PET-CT for staging of high-risk breast cancer patients reduces the number of further examinations: A pilot study.

Aim: To determine the additional value of FDG-PET-CT as compared to conventional staging (CS) in high-risk breast cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-one high-risk breast cancer patients, 14 of whom had recurrent breast cancer, were included in this study, which took place between June 2005 and March 2008. None of the patients had clinical signs of distant metastases.

Improvement of cardiac sympathetic nerve function in sarcoidosis.

Some patients with sarcoidosis can have cardiac involvement. Impairment of the cardiac sympathetic nerve activity is seen in about 50% of the sarcoidosis patients with small fiber neuropathy. In this case we present a sarcoidosis patient with small fiber neuropathy and cardiac symptoms with a cardiac sympathetic dysfunction, assessed with I-123 MIBG SPECT.