Impact of a dedicated cardiac protocol on diagnosis of infective endocarditis in patients undergoing [F]-FDG-thoracic digital-PET/CT - Effects of expertise level.

Background: This study aimed to assess the impact of dedicated cardiac protocol (DCP) on diagnostic accuracy of state-of-the-art digital [F]-FDG-PET/CT in infective endocarditis (IE) and the intra-individual comparison of the performance with that of conventional whole-body approach (WBA) and to analyze the effects of the expertise level of the investigators.

Methods: 44 patients suspected for IE underwent digital-FDG-PET/CT after overnight fasting. Each three consultants and trainees reread PET images blinded to the examination approach and clinical information.

Cardiac PET/MRI: Recent Developments and Future Aspects.

Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MRI) hybrid imaging is now available for over a decade and although the quantity of installed systems is rather low, the number of emerging applications for cardiovascular diseases is still growing. PET/MRI provides integrated images of high quality anatomical and functional assessment obtained by MRI with the possibilities of PET for quantification of molecular parameters such as metabolism, inflammation, and perfusion. In recent years, sequential co-registration of myocardial tissue characterization with its molecular data had become an increasingly helpful tool in clinical practice and an integrated device simplifies this task.

Preclinical comparison of [Lu]Lu-rhPSMA-10.1 and [Lu]Lu-rhPSMA-10.2 for endoradiotherapy of prostate cancer: biodistribution and dosimetry studies.

Background: Radiohybrid PSMA-targeted ligands (rhPSMA) have been introduced as a novel platform for theranostic applications. Among a variety of rhPSMA-ligands developed for radioligand therapy, two stereoisomers [Lu]Lu-rhPSMA-10.1 and -10.

Simultaneous 18-FDG PET and MR imaging in lower extremity arterial disease.

Background: Simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a novel hybrid imaging method integrating the advances of morphological tissue characterization of MRI with the pathophysiological insights of PET applications.

Aim: This study evaluated the use of simultaneous 18-FDG PET/MR imaging for characterizing atherosclerotic lesions in lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD).

Methods: Eight patients with symptomatic stenoses of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) under simultaneous acquisition of 18-FDG PET and contrast-enhanced MRI using an integrated whole-body PET/MRI scanner.

Validating a minipig model of reversible cerebral demyelination using human diagnostic modalities and electron microscopy.

Background: Inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, are significant sources of morbidity in young adults despite therapeutic advances. Current murine models of remyelination have limited applicability due to the low white matter content of their brains, which restricts the spatial resolution of diagnostic imaging. Large animal models might be more suitable but pose significant technological, ethical and logistical challenges.

EFOMP policy statement NO. 19: Dosimetry in nuclear medicine therapy - Molecular radiotherapy.

The European Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (BSS Directive) includes optimisation of treatment with radiotherapeutic procedures based on patient dosimetry and verification of the absorbed doses delivered. The present policy statement summarises aspects of three directives relating to the therapeutic use of radiopharmaceuticals and medical devices, and outlines the steps needed for implementation of patient dosimetry for radioactive drugs. To support the transition from administrations of fixed activities to personalised treatments based on patient-specific dosimetry, EFOMP presents a number of recommendations including: increased networking between centres and disciplines to support data collection and development of codes-of-practice; resourcing to support an infrastructure that permits routine patient dosimetry; research funding to support investigation into individualised treatments; inter-disciplinary training and education programmes; and support for investigator led clinical trials.

A Clinical Role of PET-MRI in Prostate Cancer?

PET/MRI is a relevant application field for prostate cancer management, offering advantages in early diagnosis, staging, and therapy planning. Despite drawbacks such as higher costs, longer acquisition time, and the need for skilled personnel, the technical integration of PET and MRI provides valuable information for detecting primary tumors, identifying metastases, and characterizing the disease, leading to more accurate staging and personalized treatment strategies. However, PET/MRI adoption has been slow, but ongoing technological advancements and AI integration might overcome challenges and improve clinical utility.

The Impact of PSMA PET-Based Eligibility Criteria Used in the Prospective Phase II TheraP Trial in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-Targeted Radioligand Therapy.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand therapy (RLT) has shown encouraging results for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in the prospective, multicenter, randomized phase II TheraP study. The inclusion criteria for that study comprised a pretherapeutic Ga-PSMA-11 PET scan showing sufficient tumor uptake using a predefined threshold and the absence of F-FDG-positive, PSMA ligand-negative tumor lesions. However, the prognostic value of these PET-based inclusion criteria remains unclear.

Preclinical Imaging of Cardiovascular Disesase.

Noninvasive imaging techniques, such as SPECT, PET, CT, echocardiography, or MRI, have become essential in cardiovascular research. They allow for the evaluation of biological processes in vivo without the need for invasive procedures. Nuclear imaging methods, such as SPECT and PET, offer numerous advantages, including high sensitivity, reliable quantification, and the potential for serial imaging.

Pentoxifylline reduces inflammation and prevents myocardial perfusion derangements in experimental chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

Background: Myocardial perfusion defect (MPD) is common in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) and is associated with inflammation and development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that pentoxifylline (PTX) could reduce inflammation and prevent the development of MPD in a model of CCC in hamsters.

Methods And Results: We investigated with echocardiogram and rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy at baseline (6-months after T.

Performance evaluation of a novel multi-pinhole collimator on triple-NaI-detector SPECT/CT for dedicated myocardial imaging.

Background: In this study we evaluated the imaging capabilities of a novel Multi-pinhole collimator (MPH-Cardiac) specially designed for nuclear cardiology imaging on a Triple-NaI-detector based SPECT/CT system.

Methods: Tc point source measurements covering the field of view (FOV) were used to determine tomographic sensitivity (TS) and spatial resolution. Organ-size tomographic sensitivity (TS) was measured with a left ventricle (LV) phantom filled with typical myocardial activity of a patient scan.

Development of PSMA-PET-guided CT-based radiomic signature to predict biochemical recurrence after salvage radiotherapy.

Purpose: To develop a CT-based radiomic signature to predict biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer patients after sRT guided by positron-emission tomography targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA-PET).

Material And Methods: Consecutive patients, who underwent Ga-PSMA11-PET/CT-guided sRT from three high-volume centers in Germany, were included in this retrospective multicenter study. Patients had PET-positive local recurrences and were treated with intensity-modulated sRT.

The impact of specific pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy on cardiac fluorodeoxyglucose distribution in PET/MRI hybrid imaging-follow-up study.

Background: PET/MRI hybrid imaging in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) provides important prognostic information identifying patients who might benefit from early therapy escalation, as right ventricle (RV) metabolic alterations are linked with hemodynamics and might precede clinical deterioration. Now, we hypothesize that adequate PAH therapy escalation may result in reversal of unfavourable increased glucose uptake of RV, which is associated with improved prognosis.

Methods: Out of twenty-six initially clinically stable PAH patients who had baseline PET/MRI scans, twenty (49.

The influence of metastatic patterns and tumor load on therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma as determined by quantitative PET-parameters using [ 18 F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography.

The introduction of immunotherapy was a revolution in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Nevertheless, there are only few clinical parameters to predict response to immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to identify metastatic patterns that can predict response by using noninvasive 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

PET scatter estimation using deep learning U-Net architecture.

Positron emission tomography (PET) image reconstruction needs to be corrected for scatter in order to produce quantitatively accurate images. Scatter correction is traditionally achieved by incorporating an estimated scatter sinogram into the forward model during image reconstruction. Existing scatter estimated methods compromise between accuracy and computing time.

Value of PET ECG gating in a cross-validation study of cardiac function assessment by PET/MR imaging.

Background: This work investigated the impact of different cardiac gating methods on the assessment of cardiac function by FDG-PET in a cross-validation PET/MR study.

Methods And Results: MR- and PET-based left ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic volumes, and ejection fraction (EDV, ESV, and EF) were delineated in 30 patients with a PET/MR examination. Cardiac PET imaging was performed using three ECG gating methods: fixed number of gates per beat (STD), STD with a beat acceptance window (STD-BR), and fixed gate duration (FW).

The maximum standardized uptake value in patients with recurrent or persistent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and PSMA-PET-guided salvage radiotherapy-a multicenter retrospective analysis.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the association of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in positron-emission tomography targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA-PET) prior to salvage radiotherapy (sRT) on biochemical recurrence free survival (BRFS) in a large multicenter cohort.

Methods: Patients who underwent  Ga-PSMA11-PET prior to sRT were enrolled in four high-volume centers in this retrospective multicenter study. Only patients with PET-positive local recurrence (LR) and/or nodal recurrence (NR) within the pelvis were included.

Platelet sTWEAK and plasma IL-6 are associated with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in right ventricles of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A pilot study.

Background: Cytokines soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are involved in immune response, proliferation, apoptosis, and cardiovascular pathologies. We have previously confirmed that changes of their platelet or plasma contents are associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) hybrid imaging provides detailed insight into right ventricle (RV) hemodynamic and metabolic function.