Impact of preoperative chemoradiation with higher dose intensity modulated radiotherapy on pathological complete response for locally advanced rectal cancer: a systematic review.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the current standard-of-care for locally advanced UICC II-III stage rectal cancer (LARC). A pathological complete response (pCR) correlates with survival. Improvements of pCR, including dose escalation, should be explored.

Usefulness of FDG-PET/CT and MRI in an immunocompetent patient with fever of unknown origin and following diagnosis of skeletal tuberculosis: A case report.

Introduction: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is one of the most difficult diagnostic dilemmas in current medicine. The main causes of FUO in developed countries are non-infectious inflammatory diseases, while infections are predominant in developing countries. Among infections, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) is the most frequent cause and it can involve multiple tissues and organs.

Richter Syndrome Presenting With Colon Localization.

A 75-year-old man, who had been diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma with cervical localization, underwent F-FDG PET/CT with iodinated contrast medium due to the appearance of cervical swelling suspected of illness relapse. PET/CT revealed intense F-FDG uptake in multiple cervical and subdiaphragmatic lymph nodes and in the left parotid. Moreover, diffuse uptake and wall thickening of the colon were evident; endoscopy with biopsy revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Clinical relevance of PET myocardial blood flow quantification.

Until a few years ago, myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using positron-emission tomography (PET) and the absolute quantification of myocardial blood flow (MBF) was limited to research institutions. Following an increase in the number of PET scanner installations and in the availability of perfusion tracers that do not have to be produced by an on-site cyclotron and commercial software for MBF quantification, a more widespread clinical use of MBF quantification with PET can be expected. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages of MBF quantification with PET highlighting the potential applications in several clinical settings, from patients with cardiovascular risk factors and early coronary artery disease (CAD) to patients with multi-vessel or myocardial disease.

Regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose evaluation and clinical assessment in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus before and after ventricular shunt placement: a prospective analysis.

Purpose: We prospectively evaluated the regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglu) before and after ventricular shunt placement in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients, to investigate whether some brain regions are more involved than others; we also correlated the individual variations of CMRglu with the clinical scale score assessment after shunting.

Methods: Twenty iNPH patients (12 men; mean age 73 ± 9 years) underwent clinical scale score assessment and F-FDG PET-CT before and 1 week after shunting.

Results: Before shunting, CMRglu values were similar in right and left brain regions, as well as after shunting.

Early evaluation of cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglu) with 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical assessment in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) patients before and after ventricular shunt placement: preliminary experience.

Purpose: We evaluated the relationships between the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglu) measured by dynamic (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and the clinical and neuropsychological assessment before and after the surgical procedure in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) patients.

Methods: Eleven selected INPH patients underwent clinical assessment (modified Rankin scale, Krauss scale, Larsson categorization system and Stein-Langfitt scale), cognitive evaluation (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) and dynamic (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan 3 days before and 1 week after ventricular shunt placement.

Results: After shunting, the global CMRglu significantly increased (2.