Role and applications of [F]FDG PET/CT in the assessment of osteoarticular infection and inflammation - Part II.

[F]FDG PET/TC is an emerging tool in the evaluation of inflammatory arthropathies, characterised by their insidious course and clinical overlap. It allows detection of subclinical inflammation, assessment of systemic involvement and quantification of metabolic parameters useful in early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. In rheumatoid arthritis, it correlates with clinical indices (Disease Activity Score), serological markers (CRP, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies) and ultrasound findings, and facilitates the identification of complications such as cardiovascular and pulmonary involvement.

Role and applications of F-FDG PET/CT in the assessment of osteoarticular infection and inflammation - Part I.

F-FDG PET/CT has been positioned over time as a useful tool in the evaluation of osteoarticular infections, overcoming conventional explorations like MRI or bone scintigraphy in some indications. Its ability to provide functional and anatomical images simultaneously and its excellent resolution contributes to a more precise and personalised approach in the treatment of osteoarticular diseases such as spondylodiscitis. In addition, it has proven valuable in patients with suspected infection that is complex to diagnose or treat, improving detection in subclinical stages.

What do we know About the Usefulness of F-FDG PET-CT for the Management of Invasive Fungal Infection? An International Survey.

Background: Recent data support F-FDG PET-CT for the management of infections in immunocompromised patients, including invasive fungal infection (IFI). However, its role is not well established in clinical practice. We performed an international survey to evaluate the knowledge of physicians about the usefulness of F-FDG PET-CT in IFI, in order to define areas of uncertainty.

Usefulness of F-FDG PET-CT in the Management of Febrile Neutropenia: A Retrospective Cohort from a Tertiary University Hospital and a Systematic Review.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a complication of hematologic malignancy therapy. An early diagnosis would allow optimization of antimicrobials. The F-FDG-PET-CT may be useful; however, its role is not well established.

Decoding polymyalgia rheumatica, the role of Nuclear Medicine Imaging.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory joint disease that presents in patients older than 50 years with prolonged morning pain and stiffness in the shoulder and hip joints and neck. The lack of specific clinical findings, laboratory signs, biomarkers and established imaging methods makes it difficult to diagnose patients with this disease. F-FDG PET/CT is a functional imaging technique that is an established tool in oncology and has also proven useful in the field of inflammatory diseases.

Contributions of nuclear medicine to malignant musculoskeletal tumor disease in children.

A diagnosis of cancer is frightening at any age, but especially when the patient is a child. Only what is suspected can be diagnosed, only what is known or at least known to exist is suspected, but musculoskeletal tumors are infrequent and therefore very difficult to diagnose or treat. Probably due to their infrequency, the complexity of the radiological images, histopathological appearance, as well as the serious consequences due to inadequate biopsies and treatments, musculoskeletal tumor pathology requires clinical management that must be carried out by a group of specialists with specific training, allowing an adequate diagnosis, introduction of adjuvant therapies, as well as surgical treatment, making multidisciplinary treatment essential today.

[F-FDG-PET/CT in SARS-CoV-2 infection and its sequelae].

In recent months, much of the scientific efforts have focused on research on SARSCoV-2 infection and its consequences in humans. Still, many aspects remain unknown. It is known that the damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 is multifactorial and that its extension goes beyond lung inflammation and the acute phase, with the appearance of numerous complications and sequelae.

F-FDG-PET/CT in SARS-CoV-2 infection and its sequelae.

In recent months, much of the scientific efforts have focused on research on SARSCoV-2 infection and its consequences in humans. Still, many aspects remain unknown. It is known that the damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 is multifactorial and that its extension goes beyond lung inflammation and the acute phase, with the appearance of numerous complications and sequelae.

Are 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography results reliable in patients with ascending aortic grafts? A prospective study in non-infected patients.

Objectives: Our goal was to define characteristic patterns of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in non-infected patients with ascending aortic prosthetic grafts during the first year after surgery.

Methods: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) was performed at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively in 26 uninfected patients. Clinical, analytical and microbiological (blood culture) assessments were performed to confirm the absence of infection.

Functional image in soft tissue sarcomas: An update of the indications of F-FDG-PET/CT.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare and heterogeneous group of tumors. They account for 1% of solid malignant tumors in adults and 7% in children and are responsible for 2% of cancer mortality. They require a multidisciplinary approach in centers with experience.

PET/CT with F-FDG in suspected intracardiac device-related infections: analysis of performance and diagnostic usefulness.

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiac device-related infections (CDRI) may be life-threatening and require early and accurate diagnosis. The aims of this study were to analyze the performance of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in suspected CDRI, to assess changes to the initial diagnosis, and to identify a clinical subgroup deriving the greatest benefit from this imaging modality.

Methods: Retrospective study including patients evaluated by PET/CT for suspected CDRI from 2011 to 2018.

Successful treatment of healthcare-associated prosthetic infective endocarditis: the first Spanish case report.

Background: Since 2011, several cases of health care-related disseminated infection outbreaks have been reported subsequent to cardiac surgery. Diagnosis is difficult and the prognosis is extremely poor despite long-term antibiotic treatment and surgery.

Case Summary: We report a Spanish case of infective endocarditis (IE) with disseminated infection.

Dynamic circulating tumor DNA quantificaton for the individualization of non-small-cell lung cancer patients treatment.

Background: Liquid biopsy has evolved from being a promising line to becoming a validated approach for biomarker testing. However, its utility for individualization of therapy has been scarcely reported. In this study, we show how monitoring levels of EGFR mutation in plasma can be useful for the individualization of treatment.

F-Choline PET/CT scan in staging and biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients: Changes in classification and radiotherapy planning.

Objective: To evaluate the role of the F-Choline PET/CT in prostate cancer management when detecting distant disease in planning radiotherapy and staging and to evaluate the therapy changes guided by PET/TC results.

Material And Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed on F-Choline PET/CT scans of patients with prostate cancer. Staging and planning radiotherapy scans were selected in patients with at least 9 months follow up.

Clinical-scintigraphy discordance in a case of malignant external otitis.

We report the case of an immunocompromised female patient with external otitis, who developed a picture of external otitis with poor response to conventional treatment and subsequent isolation of Pseudomona Aeruginosa in the ear secretion culture. The final diagnosis was malignant external otitis. Our objective is to describe the scintigraphic findings as well as to analyze their correlation with the clinical pattern and to evaluate the possible causes of the discordance found.

Pancreatic involvement detected with (18)F-FDG PET/CT in disseminated sarcoidosis.

La sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. It may mimic malignancy and may affect multiple organs, with a variable clinical course. Pancreatic involvement is very rare.

[Usefulness of ventricular function values obtained using post-stress gated-SPECT in a diabetic population with clinical suspicion of ischaemic heart disease].

Objective: To assess the clinical usefulness of left ventricular function values obtained using post-stress myocardial perfusion gated-SPECT in diabetic patients with suspected ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

Materials And Methods: Sixty-one patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), with clinical suspicion of IHD and no previous history of heart disease were studied. Ergometric or pharmacological post-stress myocardial perfusion gated-SPECT was performed on all patients.

[Study of physician satisfaction as a quality criterion in Nuclear Medicine].

Objective: To determine the perception and satisfaction level of referring physicians requesting scans as final users of the Nuclear Medicine Department.

Material And Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was designed; it was composed of 10 closed questions (5 categorised and 5 with numerical scale) and 3 open questions. The indicators evaluated were: physician's information about available tests, test indications and diagnostic information, accessibility, delay in the examination and reception of the diagnostic report, usefulness of diagnostic information and overall satisfaction with the department.