Publications by authors named "Paula N V Pinto"

Objective: To evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity.

Methods: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of (18)F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans.

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Objective: To evaluate F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT)-and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity.

Methods: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUV) of 18F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans.

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Objective: To describe a technique for CT-guided biopsy based on PET/CT findings and to evaluate the indications and results of the technique in cancer patients.

Methods: We evaluated all patients receiving CT-guided percutaneous biopsies whose indication was based on PET/CT findings at an oncology reference center from October 2009 to December 2010. The PET/CT images were evaluated side by side with noncontrast CT images to identify the lesion or area of interest to be biopsied.

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Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the inclusion of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) involving faecal tagging and no laxatives on the computed tomography (CT) study routinely used in staging patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: CTC was performed on 25 patients who had a diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, with pathological correlation. Researchers recorded the accuracy of the CTC for staging colorectal cancer, as well as any changes to the plans for surgery based on this exam.

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Purpose: The purpose of this randomized, prospective study was to evaluate the effect of three preparation types on the abdominal sonographic examination quality and on patient acceptance.

Methods: Examinations were performed on 611 patients in the imaging department of a referral oncology center. Patients were divided into three groups: preparation with fasting, water, laxatives, and antiflatulents (Group I), preparation with fasting, water, and antiflatulents alone (Group II), or preparation with fasting and water alone (Group III).

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Background: Conformal external radiotherapy aims to improve tumor control by boosting tumor dose, reducing morbidity and sparing healthy tissues. To meet this objective careful visualization of the tumor and adjacent areas is required. However, one of the major issues to be solved in this context is the volumetric definition of the targets.

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Objective: To report oncological cases (excluding those related to breast cancer) for which radioguided surgery has been used in combination with the Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique.

Introduction: Radioguided surgery enables a surgeon to identify lesions or tissues that have been preoperatively marked with radioactive substances. The Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique has been widely used to identify the sentinel lymph node and occult lesions in patients with breast cancer.

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