Positron emission tomography assessment of large vessel inflammation in patients with newly diagnosed, biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis: a prospective, case-control study.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is emerging as a promising imaging technique to detect large-vessel inflammation in giant cell arteritis (GCA). However, the lack of a standardised definition of arteritis based on (18)fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake is an important limitation to the use of PET scan for diagnostic purposes.

Objective: To prospectively assess the intensity and distribution of FDG uptake at different vascular territories in patients with newly diagnosed GCA compared with controls.

Advantages of pinhole collimator double-phase scintigraphy with 99mTc-MIBI in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine if pinhole collimator-acquired images can improve the detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: Forty-two patients being treated with cinacalcet for secondary hyperparathyroidism were studied prospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), the hormone that defines response to treatment: "responders" (PTH <300 pg/mL) and "nonresponders" (PTH ≥ 300 pg/mL).