Increased individual workload for nuclear medicine physicians over the past years: 2008-2023 data from The Netherlands.

Objecive: To investigate temporal trends in the individual workload of nuclear medicine physicians at a large tertiary care academic center between 2008 and 2023.

Methods: This study analyzed the reporting workload of nuclear medicine physicians in a large tertiary care academic center in The Netherlands on 36 unique (randomly sampled) calendar days, for each year between 2008 and 2023. The average daily departmental workload (measured with relative value units) was calculated for each year between 2008 and 2023.

Ultrashort Oncologic Whole-Body [F]FDG Patlak Imaging Using LAFOV PET.

Methods to shorten [F]FDG Patlak PET imaging procedures ranging from 65-90 to 20-30 min after injection, using a population-averaged input function (PIF) scaled to patient-specific image-derived input function (IDIF) values, were recently evaluated. The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility of ultrashort 10-min [F]FDG Patlak imaging at 55-65 min after injection using a PIF combined with direct Patlak reconstructions to provide reliable quantitative accuracy of lung tumor uptake, compared with a full-duration 65-min acquisition using an IDIF. Patients underwent a 65-min dynamic PET acquisition on a long-axial-field-of-view (LAFOV) Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT scanner.

Clinical Performance Comparison of a Long Versus a Short Axial Field-of-View PET/CT Using EARL-Compliant Reconstructions.

Purpose: To ensure comparable PET/CT image quality between or within centres, clinical inter-system performance comparisons following European Association of Nuclear Medicine Research Ltd. (EARL) guidelines is required. In this work the performance of the long axial field-of-view Biograph Vision Quadra is compared to its predecessor, the short axial field-of-view Biograph Vision.

Reducing and controlling metabolic active tumor volume prior to CAR T-cell infusion can improve survival outcomes in patients with large B-cell lymphoma.

Bridging therapy before CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell infusion is frequently applied in patients with relapsed or refractory Large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL). This study aimed to assess the influence of quantified MATV and MATV-dynamics, between pre-apheresis (baseline) and pre-lymphodepleting chemotherapy (pre-LD) MATV, on CAR T-cell outcomes and toxicities in patients with r/r LBCL. MATVs were calculated semi-automatically at baseline (n = 74) and pre-LD (n = 68) in patients with r/r LBCL who received axicabtagene ciloleucel.

Reading room assistants to reduce workload and interruptions of radiology residents during on-call hours: Initial evaluation.

Purpose: To determine how much timesaving and reduction of interruptions reading room assistants can provide by taking over non-image interpretation tasks (NITs) from radiology residents during on-call hours.

Methods: Reading room assistants are medical students who were trained to take over NITs from radiology residents (e.g.

A framework to integrate artificial intelligence training into radiology residency programs: preparing the future radiologist.

Objectives: To present a framework to develop and implement a fast-track artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum into an existing radiology residency program, with the potential to prepare a new generation of AI conscious radiologists.

Methods: The AI-curriculum framework comprises five sequential steps: (1) forming a team of AI experts, (2) assessing the residents' knowledge level and needs, (3) defining learning objectives, (4) matching these objectives with effective teaching strategies, and finally (5) implementing and evaluating the pilot. Following these steps, a multidisciplinary team of AI engineers, radiologists, and radiology residents designed a 3-day program, including didactic lectures, hands-on laboratory sessions, and group discussions with experts to enhance AI understanding.

Is work overload associated with diagnostic errors on F-FDG-PET/CT?

Purpose: To determine the association between workload and diagnostic errors on F-FDG-PET/CT.

Materials And Methods: This study included 103 F-FDG-PET/CT scans with a diagnostic error that was corrected with an addendum between March 2018 and July 2023. All scans were performed at a tertiary care center.

Current and Future Use of Long Axial Field-of-View Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scanners in Clinical Oncology.

The latest technical development in the field of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging has been the extension of the PET axial field-of-view. As a result of the increased number of detectors, the long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET systems are not only characterized by a larger anatomical coverage but also by a substantially improved sensitivity, compared with conventional short axial field-of-view PET systems. In clinical practice, this innovation has led to the following optimization: (1) improved overall image quality, (2) decreased duration of PET examinations, (3) decreased amount of radioactivity administered to the patient, or (4) a combination of any of the above.

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography-Based Clinical Target Volume Delineation Guideline for Postprostatectomy Salvage Radiation Therapy: The PERYTON Guideline.

Purpose: Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) scan is the standard imaging procedure for biochemical recurrent prostate cancer postprostatectomy because of its high detection rate at low serum prostate-specific antigen levels. However, existing guidelines for clinical target volume (CTV) in prostate bed salvage external beam radiation therapy (sEBRT) are primarily based on experience-based clinical consensus and have been validated using conventional imaging modalities. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize CTV definition in sEBRT by using PSMA PET/CT-detected local recurrences (LRs).

A dual-tracer approach using [C]CH and [F]FDG in HCC clinical decision making.

Background: Early detection of recurrent or progressive HCC remains the strongest prognostic factor for survival. Dual tracer PET/CT imaging with [C]CH and [F]FDG can further increase detection rates as both tracers entail different metabolic pathways involved in HCC development. We investigated dual-tracer PET/CT in clinical decision making in patients suspected of recurrent or progressive HCC.

[O]HO PET: Potential or Essential for Molecular Imaging?

Imaging water pathways in the human body provides an excellent way of measuring accurately the blood flow directed to different organs. This makes it a powerful diagnostic tool for a wide range of diseases that are related to perfusion and oxygenation. Although water PET has a long history, its true potential has not made it into regular clinical practice.

The radiology job market in the Netherlands: which subspecialties and other skills are in demand?

Objectives: To evaluate the current job market for medical specialists in radiology and nuclear medicine (NM) in the Netherlands.

Methods: Vacancies posted for radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians in the Netherlands between December 2020 and February 2022 were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 157 vacancies (146 for radiologist and 11 for nuclear medicine physicians) were included.

Skeletal F-PSMA-1007 uptake in prostate cancer patients.

Background/objectives: Accurate and uniform interpretation and reporting of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) lesions on prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) are indispensable. F-PSMA-1007 is increasingly used because of its favorable imaging characteristics. However, increased non-specific skeletal uptake may be an important pitfall of this radioligand.

Effects of proton therapy on regional [F]FDG uptake in non-tumor brain regions of patients treated for head and neck cancer.

Background And Purpose: Previous pre-clinical research using [F]FDG-PET has shown that whole-brain photon-based radiotherapy can affect brain glucose metabolism. This study, aimed to investigate how these findings translate into regional changes in brain [F]FDG uptake in patients with head and neck cancer treated with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three head and neck cancer patients treated with IMPT and available [F]FDG scans before and at 3 months follow-up were retrospectively evaluated.

External validation of 18 F-FDG PET-based radiomic models on identification of residual oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Objectives: Detection of residual oesophageal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is important to guide treatment decisions regarding standard oesophagectomy or active surveillance. The aim was to validate previously developed 18 F-FDG PET-based radiomic models to detect residual local tumour and to repeat model development (i.e.

Optimisation of scan duration and image quality in oncological Zr immunoPET imaging using the Biograph Vision PET/CT.

Purpose: Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based PET (immunoPET) imaging can characterise tumour lesions non-invasively. It may be a valuable tool to determine which patients may benefit from treatment with a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) and evaluate treatment response. For Zr immunoPET imaging, higher sensitivity of state-of-the art PET/CT systems equipped with silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)-based detector elements may be beneficial as the low positron abundance of Zr causes a low signal-to-noise level.

Semi-automated F-FDG PET segmentation methods for tumor volume determination in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients: a literature review, implementation and multi-threshold evaluation.

In the treatment of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), multiple therapeutic options are available. Improving outcome predictions are essential to optimize treatment. The metabolic active tumor volume (MATV) has shown to be a prognostic factor in NHL.

Validation of the F-FDG PET image biomarker model predicting late xerostomia after head and neck cancer radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Previously, PET image biomarkers (PET-IBMs) - the 90 percentile standardized uptake value (P90-SUV) and the Mean SUV (Mean-SUV) of the contralateral parotid gland (cPG) - were identified as predictors for late-xerostomia following head and neck cancer (HNC) radiotherapy. The aim of the current study was to assess in an independent validation cohort whether these pre-treatment PET-IBM can improve late-xerostomia prediction compared to the prediction with baseline xerostomia and mean cPG dose alone.

Materials And Methods: The prediction endpoint was patient-rated moderate-to-severe xerostomia at 12 months after radiotherapy.

Extending the clinical capabilities of short- and long-lived positron-emitting radionuclides through high sensitivity PET/CT.

This review describes the main benefits of using long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET in clinical applications. As LAFOV PET is the latest development in PET instrumentation, many studies are ongoing that explore the potentials of these systems, which are characterized by ultra-high sensitivity. This review not only provides an overview of the published clinical applications using LAFOV PET so far, but also provides insight in clinical applications that are currently under investigation.

Dose response modelling of secretory cell loss in salivary glands using PSMA PET.

Background And Purpose: Xerostomia remains a common side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer despite advancements in treatment planning and delivery. Secretory salivary gland cells express the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and show significant uptake on PET scans using Ga/F-PSMA-ligands. We aimed to objectively quantify the dose-response of salivary glands to RT using PSMA PET.

Shortened duration whole body F-FDG PET Patlak imaging on the Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT using a population-averaged input function.

Background: Excellent performance characteristics of the Vision Quadra PET/CT, e.g. a substantial increase in sensitivity, allow for precise measurements of image-derived input functions (IDIF) and tissue time activity curves.