Diverse Imaging Methods May Influence Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes in Oligorecurrent Prostate Cancer Patients Treated with Metastasis-Directed Therapy (the PRECISE-MDT Study).

Metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) has been tested in clinical trials as a treatment option for oligorecurrent prostate cancer (PCa). However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the impact of using different imaging techniques interchangeably for defining lesions and guiding MDT within clinical trials. We retrospectively identified oligorecurrent PCa patients who had 5 or fewer nodal, bone, or visceral metastases detected by choline or prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT and who underwent MDT stereotactic body radiotherapy with or without systemic therapy in 8 tertiary-level cancer centers.

A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study on the Impact of [F]F-Choline PET/CT Versus Conventional Imaging for Staging Intermediate- to High-Risk Prostate Cancer.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of [F]F-choline PET/CT with conventional imaging for staging and managing intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The primary objective was to assess the ability of PET/CT with [F]F-choline to identify lymph node and systemic involvement during initial staging. Secondary objectives included evaluating the impact of [F]F-choline PET/CT on unnecessary local treatments and assessing the safety of [F]F-choline agents.

Innovations in Positron Emission Tomography and State of the Art in the Evaluation of Breast Cancer Treatment Response.

The advent of hybrid Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and PET/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners resulted in an increased clinical relevance of nuclear medicine in oncology. The use of [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) has also made it possible to study tumors (including breast cancer) from not only a dimensional perspective but also from a metabolic point of view. In particular, the use of [18F]FDG PET allowed early confirmation of the efficacy or failure of therapy.

Positron Emission Tomography-Derived Radiomics and Artificial Intelligence in Multiple Myeloma: State-of-the-Art.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous neoplasm accounting for the second most prevalent hematologic disorder. The identification of noninvasive, valuable biomarkers is of utmost importance for the best patient treatment selection, especially in heterogeneous diseases like MM. Despite molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) has achieved a primary role in the characterization of MM, it is not free from shortcomings.

Diagnostic Accuracy of PET with F-Fluciclovine ([F]FACBC) in Detecting High-Grade Gliomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: F-Fluciclovine ([F]FACBC) has been recently proposed as a synthetic radiolabeled amino acid for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in patients with brain neoplasms. Our aim is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of [F]FACBC PET in high-grade glioma (HGG) patients, taking into account the literature data.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed.

PSMA PET/CT in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Myth or Reality?

Background: prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand PET has been recently incorporated into international guidelines for several different indications in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, there are still some open questions regarding the role of PSMA ligand PET in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The aim of this work is to assess the clinical value of PSMA ligand PET/CT in patients with CRPC.

[18F]FDG PET-TC radiomics and machine learning in the evaluation of prostate incidental uptake.

Aim: To evaluate the relevance of incidental prostate [F]FDG uptake (IPU) and to explore the potential of radiomics and machine learning (ML) to predict prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: We retrieved [F]FDG PET/CT scans with evidence of IPU performed in two institutions between 2015 and 2021. Patients were divided into PCa and non-PCa, according to the biopsy.

PET Radiomics and Response to Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Unlabelled: The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature concerning the applications of positron emission tomography (PET) radiomics in lung cancer patient candidates or those undergoing immunotherapy.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review was conducted on databases and web sources. English-language original articles were considered.

Role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in evaluating lymph node status in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: The presence of cervical lymph node metastases (CLNM) at diagnosis is one of the most relevant negative prognostic factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to analyse 2-deoxy-2[F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) PET/CT findings for the identification of primary tumours and CLNM in a sample of patients affected by HNSCC. Moreover, a maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) threshold for the detection of CLNM was estimated.

The Role of Molecular Imaging in Patients with Brain Metastases: A Literature Review.

Over the last several years, molecular imaging has gained a primary role in the evaluation of patients with brain metastases (BM). Therefore, the "Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology" (RANO) group recommends amino acid radiotracers for the assessment of BM. Our review summarizes the current use of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers in patients with BM, ranging from present to future perspectives with new PET radiotracers, including the role of radiomics and potential theranostics approaches.

Relevance of Volumetric Parameters Applied to [Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in NET Patients Treated with PRRT.

Background: this study aims to explore the prognostic and predictive role of volumetric parameters on [Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in neuroendocrine tumors (NET) patients treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 39 NET patients (21 male, 18 female; mean age 60.7 y) within the FENET-2016 trial (CTiD:NCT04790708).

ITA-IMMUNO-PET: The Role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for Assessing Response to Immunotherapy in Patients with Some Solid Tumors.

Aim: To examine the role of [18F]FDG PET/CT for assessing response to immunotherapy in patients with some solid tumors.

Methods: Data recorded in a multicenter ( = 17), retrospective database between March and November 2021 were analyzed. The sample included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor who underwent serial [18F]FDG PET/CT (before and after one or more cycles of immunotherapy), who were >18 years of age, and had a follow-up of at least 12 months after their first PET/CT scan.

Incidental Findings of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Sjögren's Syndrome Detected by Nuclear Medicine Techniques.

A 46-year-old female with Sjögren's syndrome previously treated with corticosteroids was referred to our department for suspicious humeral head osteonecrosis. Dual-phase bone scan showed an increased radiotracer distribution in the head of the left humerus. Nevertheless, whole-body scan revealed multiple sites of heterogeneous skeletal uptake.

The Value of Semiquantitative Parameters Derived from F-FDG PET/CT for Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in a Cohort of Patients with Different Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer.

Pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a strong prognostic factor in breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to investigate whether semiquantitative parameters derived from baseline [F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([F]FDG) positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) could predict pCR after NAC and survival outcomes in patients affected by different molecular subtypes of BC. We retrospectively retrieved patients from the databases of two Italian hospitals (Centre A: University Hospital of Ferrara; Centre B: University of Padua) meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) diagnosis of BC; (2) history of NAC; (3) baseline [F]FDG PET/CT performed before the first cycle of NAC; (4) available follow-up data (response after NAC and survival information).

PET-Derived Radiomics and Artificial Intelligence in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous malignancy that still represents the second cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Due to the heterogeneity of BC, the correct identification of valuable biomarkers able to predict tumor biology and the best treatment approaches are still far from clear. Although molecular imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has improved the characterization of BC, these methods are not free from drawbacks.

Glucose Metabolism Modification Induced by Radioligand Therapy with [Lu]Lu/[Y]Y-DOTATOC in Advanced Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Prospective Pilot Study within FENET-2016 Trial.

[18F]F-FDG (FDG) PET is emerging as a relevant diagnostic and prognostic tool in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), as a simultaneous decrease in [68Ga]Ga-DOTA peptides and increase in FDG uptake (the “flip-flop” phenomenon) occurs during the natural history of these tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variations on FDG PET in NEN patients treated with two different schemes of radioligand therapy (RLT) and to correlate them with clinical−pathologic variables. A prospective evaluation of 108 lesions in 56 patients (33 males and 23 females; median age, 64.

Radioligand therapy (RLT) as neoadjuvant treatment for inoperable pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a literature review.

In the last 10 years, several literature reports supported radioligand therapy (RLT) in neoadjuvant settings for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs). Indeed, primary tumor shrinkage has been frequently reported following RLT in unresectable or borderline resectable PanNETs. Moreover, RLT-induced intratumoral modifications facilitate surgery, both on primary tumor and metastasis, having a great impact on progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and quality of life (QoL).

FDG PET/CT Volume-Based Quantitative Data and Survival Analysis in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Purpose: The study aims to assess the role of SUVs, MTV, TLG, and other FDG PET metric data in predicting the prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed BC.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review was conducted by using three different databases: Pub- Med, Web of Science, and EMBASE, in the period between January 2011 and May 2021. Studies on the use of FDG PET in BC patients concerning the utility of metric PET data and survival were retrieved.

Optimization of Precursor Preparation in PSMA-11 Radiolabeling to Obtain a Highly Reproducible Radiochemical Yield.

[Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer because of its higher sensitivity and detection rate compared with traditional choline PET/CT. A highly reproducible radiochemical yield of the radiopharmaceutical to be used in the clinical routine is an important parameter for planning and optimization of clinical activity. During radiometallation of PSMA-11, the presence of metal ion contaminants in the peptide precursor may cause a decrease in the [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 radiochemical yield because of metal ion contaminants competition with gallium-68.

Role of PSMA-ligands imaging in Renal Cell Carcinoma management: current status and future perspectives.

Background: Renal masses detection is continually increasing worldwide, with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) accounting for approximately 90% of all renal cancers and remaining one of the most aggressive urological malignancies. Despite improvements in cancer management, accurate diagnosis and treatment strategy of RCC by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are still challenging. Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) is known to be highly expressed on the endothelial cells of the neovasculature of several solid tumors other than prostate cancer, including RCC.

Clinical-Diagnostic Relevance of Breast "Incidentaloma" Detected During 18F-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography: Correlation with Radiological Imaging and Histopathology.

Aim: This study aims to study the clinical-diagnostic relevance of incidental breast uptake ("incidentaloma") on 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan performed for other indications and to correlate it with radiological imaging and histopathology.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 3675 FDG-PET scans, identifying 43 patients with breast "incidentaloma." Thirty of these findings were further investigated with clinical examination, mammography (MMX), UltraSound (US) and/or magnetic resonance (MR).

Impact on the long-term prognosis of FDG PET/CT in luminal-A and luminal-B breast cancer.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to explore the prognostic role of 2- deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose PET (FDG PET)/CT in recurrent luminal A and luminal B breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: From two institutional databases, we retrospectively retrieved data about breast cancer patients undergoing FDG PET/CT between 2011 and 2018 for the assessment of recurrency. Molecular subtypes of breast cancer were defined based on the expression of estrogen, progesterone, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-b receptors and proliferation index.

Uncommon solitary nasal extramedullary plasmacytoma detected by F-FDG PET/CT.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is an uncommon neoplastic proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells. Despite having a better prognosis and lower conversion rate to multiple myeloma in comparison to solitary bone plasmacytoma, EMP diagnosis can be challenging. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) certainly has an established role in EMP diagnostic workup.

Prognostic factors in children and adolescents with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated with total thyroidectomy and RAI: a real-life multicentric study.

Purpose: This multicentric study aimed to investigate the main prognostic factors associated with treatment response at 1 year after radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) and the last disease status in pediatric patients affected by differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).

Materials And Methods: In the period 1990-2020, all consecutive patients ≤ 18 years from six different centers were retrospectively included. Patients were classified as low, intermediate, and high risk for persistence/recurrence.