Single-center analysis of cardiac amyloidosis using 99m Tc-HMDP imaging for diagnosis and evaluation after tafamidis treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 99m Tc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate ( 99m Tc-HMDP) imaging for cardiac amyloidosis and to demonstrate changes in cardiac uptake of 99m Tc-HMDP after tafamidis treatment.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis who underwent 99m Tc-HMDP imaging were included. We compared visual Perugini grades and semiquantitative heart-to-contralateral (H/CL) area ratios, myocardial maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), and peak of SUV (SUVpeak) between cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) and amyloid light-chain amyloidosis (AL).

Quantification of bone metabolic activity in the natural course of fractural lesions measured by quantitative SPECT/CT.

Objectives: While increased uptake at the bone fractural site gradually decreases over time on bone scans, the rate of change has not been quantitatively evaluated. The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent of bone metabolic changes in fractural lesions on bone SPECT/CT.

Methods: We reviewed bone scans acquired by dedicated SPECT/CT and chose those scans in which quantitative SPECT/CT of the same range was acquired twice or more.

Atlas of non-pathological solitary or asymmetrical skeletal muscle uptake in [F]FDG-PET.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose ([F]FDG) is widely used in oncology and other fields. In [F]FDG PET images, increased muscle uptake is observed owing exercise load or muscle tension, in addition to malignant tumors and inflammation. Moreover, we occasionally observe non-pathological solitary or unilateral skeletal muscle uptake, which is difficult to explain the strict reason.

Satisfied quantitative value can be acquired by short-time bone SPECT/CT using a whole-body cadmium-zinc-telluride gamma camera.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative values of short-time scan (STS) of metastatic lesions compared with a standard scan (SS) when acquired by whole-body bone SPECT/CT with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) detectors. We retrospectively reviewed 13 patients with bone metastases from prostate cancer, who underwent SPECT/CT performed on whole-body CZT gamma cameras. STSs were obtained using 75, 50, 25, 10, and 5% of the list-mode data for SS, respectively.

Can the function of the tubarial glands be evaluated using [Tc]pertechnetate SPECT/CT, [F]FDG PET/CT, and [C]methionine PET/CT?

Background: The tubarial glands (TGs) are recently reported as newly found salivary gland structures that can be organs at risk predominantly localized in the tori tubarius in the nasopharynx using prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT). The aims of this study were to analyze uptake in the TGs compared with that in the other salivary glands and palatine tonsils using [Tc]pertechnetate SPECT/CT, [F]FDG PET/CT, and [C]methionine PET/CT and to confirm whether these three imaging modalities are useful in evaluating the physiological function of the TGs. Twelve and 130 patients, who underwent [Tc]pertechnetate SPECT/CT and [F]FDG/[C]methionine PET/CT, respectively, were retrospectively included.

A new computerized assessment battery for cognition (C-ABC) to detect mild cognitive impairment and dementia around 5 min.

This study aimed to develop a new computerized assessment battery for cognition (C-ABC) to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. We performed C-ABC in subjects with dementia (n = 422), MCI (n = 145), and normal cognition (NC; n = 574), and analyzed by age stratum (50s, 60s, and 70-85 years). To distinguish MCI from NC, the C-ABC total combined score, which were calculated by dividing the C-ABC total score by the C-ABC required time, revealed the best area under the curves (AUC) at 0.

Microvascular function measurement in mice: From large to small.

There is a growing body of interest in cardiac microvascular function because it plays an important role in various cardiac disease conditions. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop non-invasive techniques to measure microvascular function. In this issue of the journal, Guerraty et al developed a micro-SPECT-based approach to assess microvascular function in in vivo mice.

Cardiac Amyloidosis: Current Diagnostic Strategies Using Multimodality Imaging.

Amyloidosis is a systemic disorder in which abnormal amyloid proteins deposit in body organs, leading to organ dysfunction and death. Cardiac amyloid deposition, causing a sort of restrictive cardiomyopathy and associated with increased risk of mortality. Most cases of cardiac amyloidosis are of either light chain or transthyretin type.

Postconditioning Accelerates Myocardial Inflammatory Resolution Demonstrated by C-Methionine Imaging and Attenuates Ventricular Remodeling After Ischemia and Reperfusion.

Background: Methionine uptake after myocardial infarction has been proven to reflect myocardial inflammation. The effect of postconditioning on the post-infarction inflammatory process, however, remains to be elucidated.

Methods and results: In control (n=22) and postconditioning rats (n=23), the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 1, 3, 7, and 14 days.

Shortened acquisition time in simultaneous 99mTc-tetrofosmin and 123I-β-methyl-p-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid dual-tracer imaging with cadmium-zinc-telluride detectors in patients undergoing primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: The use of cadmium-zinc-telluride-based scanners may increase the clinical feasibility of simultaneous dual-isotope imaging. In the current study, we sought to investigate a potential acquisition time in simultaneous Tc-tetrofosmin/I-β-methyl-p-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid dual-isotope imaging using a Discovery NM/CT 670 cadmium-zinc-telluride.

Methods: Simultaneous Tc-tetrofosmin/I-β-methyl-p-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid dual-isotope imaging was performed in 29 patients who had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Ultrafast bone scintigraphy scan for detecting bone metastasis using a CZT whole-body gamma camera.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of short whole-body bone scan acquisition times using a novel gamma camera with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) semiconductor detectors.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 78 consecutive patients with prostate cancer who underwent bone scintigraphy using a whole-body gamma camera with CZT detectors. After acquisition of list-mode data with 180 s per bed position, anterior and posterior whole-body images were reconstructed using the first 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the list-mode data.

Feasibility of simultaneous Tc-tetrofosmin and I-BMIPP dual-tracer imaging with cadmium-zinc-telluride detectors in patients undergoing primary coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Simultaneous dual-tracer imaging using isotopes with close photo-peaks may benefit from improved properties of cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT)-based scanners.

Methods: Thirty patients having undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction underwent single-(Tc-tetrofosmin (TF) or I-BMIPP first) followed by simultaneous Tc-TF /I-BMIPP dual-tracer imaging using a Discovery NM/CT 670 CZT. The values for the quantitative gated-SPECT (QGS) and the quantitative perfusion SPECT (QPS) were assessed.

Optimization of DARTEL Settings for the Detection of Alzheimer Disease.

Background And Purpose: Although Diffeomorphic Anatomical Registration Through Exponentiated Lie Algebra (DARTEL) has been introduced as an alternative to conventional voxel-based morphometry, there are scant data available regarding the optimal image-processing settings. The aim of this study was to optimize image-processing and ROI settings for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease using DARTEL.

Materials And Methods: Between May 2002 and August 2014, we selected 158 patients with Alzheimer disease and 198 age-matched healthy subjects; 158 healthy subjects served as the control group against the patients with Alzheimer disease, and the remaining 40 served as the healthy data base.

Quantification of osteoblastic activity in epiphyseal growth plates by quantitative bone SPECT/CT.

Objective: Quantifying the function of the epiphyseal plate is worthwhile for the management of children with growth disorders. The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify the osteoblastic activity at the epiphyseal plate using the quantitative bone SPECT/CT.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled patients under the age of 20 years who received Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy acquired by a quantitative SPECT/CT scanner.

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Microbleeds and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) commonly accompanies cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

Objective: We aimed to reveal associations between CAA-related brain microbleeds and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers in AD patients.

Methods: Patients with probable AD (n = 88) from consecutive patients in our memory clinic were evaluated for patient demographics, vascular risk factors, neuropsychological tests, apolipoprotein E phenotype, MRI including T2*-weighted image and fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequence, and CSF amyloid and tau markers.

Comparison of Dopamine Transporter SPECT and 123I-MIBG Myocardial Scintigraphy to Assess Clinical Severity in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of dopamine transporter (DAT) SPECT and I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy to determine the clinical severity of Parkinson disease (PD), with a focus on motor impairments affecting activities of daily living (ADLs).

Methods: Data for 65 consecutive PD patients who underwent both DAT and MIBG imaging were reviewed. Associations between imaging variables and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) staging or self-supportive care ratings were investigated.

Prediction of all-cause death using (11)C-hydroxyephedrine positron emission tomography in Japanese patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether (11)C-hydroxyephedrine ((11)C-HED) can predict adverse events including all-cause death in Japanese patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.

Background: Although (11)C-HED PET has been used to assess cardiac sympathetic innervation in various disease conditions, data on their prognostic value are limited.

Methods: Sixty patients (mean LVEF, 42 ± 14 %) with LV dysfunction (42 ischemic and 18 non-ischemic heart disease) underwent (11)C-HED PET.

Simultaneous acquisition of (99m)Tc- and (123)I-labeled radiotracers using a preclinical SPECT scanner with CZT detectors.

Objective: Simultaneous acquisition of (99m)Tc and (123)I was evaluated using a preclinical SPECT scanner with cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-based detectors.

Methods: 10-ml cylindrical syringes contained about 37 MBq (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin ((99m)Tc-TF) or 37 MBq (123)I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3R,S-methyl pentadecanoic acid ((123)I-BMIPP) were used to assess the relationship between these SPECT radioactive counts and radioactivity. Two 10-ml syringes contained 100 or 300 MBq (99m)Tc-TF and 100 MBq (123)I-BMIPP to assess the influence of (99m)Tc upscatter and (123)I downscatter, respectively.

Correlation between apoptosis and left ventricular remodeling in subacute phase of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Background: To investigate whether an apoptotic process demonstrated by (99m)Tc-annexin-V ((99m)Tc-AV) uptake correlates with left ventricular remodeling (LVR) after myocardial infarction, we assessed (99m)Tc-AV uptake in rat model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods: The left coronary artery (LCA) of 15 rats was occluded for 20 to 30 min, followed by reperfusion. After 2 weeks, (99m)Tc-AV was injected, and then 1 h later, (201)Tl was injected after reocclusion of the LCA.