The use of zeolites to generate PET phantoms for the validation of quantification strategies in oncology.

Purpose: In recent years, segmentation algorithms and activity quantification methods have been proposed for oncological (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET. A full assessment of these algorithms, necessary for a clinical transfer, requires a validation on data sets provided with a reliable ground truth as to the imaged activity distribution, which must be as realistic as possible. The aim of this work is to propose a strategy to simulate lesions of uniform uptake and irregular shape in an anthropomorphic phantom, with the possibility to easily obtain a ground truth as to lesion activity and borders.

The value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the assessment of active idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Purpose: The different stages in idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) are generally assessed by assay of inflammatory markers and analysis of contrast-enhanced CT images of the retroperitoneal mass. We investigated the potential role of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in this clinical setting.

Methods: (18)F-FDG uptake was assessed visually and semiquantitatively (using maximum standardized uptake values, SUVmax) in images of the abdominal mass in 22 patients prospectively enrolled from June 2008 to December 2010 who underwent a total of 33 PET/CT studies.

Myocardial blood flow and infarct size after CD133+ cell injection in large myocardial infarction with good recanalization and poor reperfusion: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Large acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) sometimes leaves extensive ischemic damage despite timely and successful primary angioplasty. This clinical picture of good recanalization with incomplete reperfusion represents a good model to assess the reparative potential of locally administered cell therapy. Thus, we conducted a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effect of intracoronary administration of CD133 stem cells on myocardial blood flow and function in this setting.

The role of PET with 13N-ammonia and 18F-FDG in the assessment of myocardial perfusion and metabolism in patients with recent AMI and intracoronary stem cell injection.

Unlabelled: Over the last decade, the effects of stem cell therapy on cardiac repair after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been investigated with different imaging techniques. We evaluated a new imaging approach using (13)N-ammonia and (18)F-FDG PET for a combined analysis of cardiac perfusion, metabolism, and function in patients treated with intracoronary injection of endothelial progenitors or with conventional therapy for AMI.

Methods: A total of 15 patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups based on different treatments (group A: bone marrow-derived stem cells; group B: peripheral blood-derived stem cells; group C: standard therapy alone).

ML segmentation strategies for object interference compensation in FDG-PET lesion quantification.

Background: Quantification of lesion activity by FDG uptake in oncological PET is severely limited by partial volume effects. A maximum likelihood (ML) expectation maximization (EM) algorithm considering regional basis functions (AWOSEM-region) had been previously developed. Regional basis functions are iteratively segmented and quantified, thus identifying the volume and the activity of the lesion.