Regional breath sound distribution analysis in single-lung transplant recipients.

Background: Perfusion scintigraphy has been used to evaluate and monitor graft function in single-lung transplant recipients. In this study, our objective was to determine whether quantitatively measured regional breath sounds, using a computerized breath sound analysis device, correlate with the standard methods of monitoring graft function used at our facility for single-lung transplant patients.

Methods: Quantitative regional breath sound measurements (QLD VRI) were performed with a VRIxp device on 37 single-lung transplant patients, who underwent perfusion scans and lung function testing for routine follow-up.

Short- and long-term outcome of lung volume reduction surgery. The predictive value of the preoperative clinical status and lung scintigraphy.

The NETT study assessed the benefits of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) versus medical treatment. However, data is available only on the early outcome of LVRS (24 months). We evaluate the factors affecting the outcome at one-year and up to 6 years after LVRS.

Lymphatic drainage to the popliteal basin in distal lower extremity malignant melanoma.

Unlabelled: Hypotheses Melanoma of the distal lower extremity may drain to the popliteal basin. Drainage pathways and retrieval of the popliteal sentinel nodes may affect patient outcome.

Design: Retrospective analysis of popliteal involvement in patients with stage IB or higher melanoma, operated on from August 1, 1993, to July 31, 2003.

PET-CT fusion imaging in differentiating physiologic from pathologic FDG uptake.

Interpretation of positron emission tomographic (PET) scans in the absence of correlative anatomic information can be challenging. PET-computed tomography (CT) fusion imaging is a novel multimodality technology that allows the correlation of findings from two concurrent imaging modalities in a comprehensive examination. CT demonstrates exquisite anatomic detail but does not provide functional information, whereas 2-[fluorine 18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) PET reveals aspects of tumor function and allows metabolic measurements.

Sentinel node guided surgery for melanoma in the head and neck region.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy may be more technically challenging for melanoma of the head and neck compared with other locations because of the complex lymphatic drainage patterns. This study demonstrates the value of sentinel node biopsy for head and neck melanoma, and highlights the associated difficulties. Thirty consecutive patients with primary cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck (n=26) or draining to the neck (n=4) underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy.

Non-resectable slow-growing meningiomas treated by hydroxyurea.

Purpose: To test the benefit of hydroxyurea in the treatment of recurrent and non-resectable slow-growing meningiomas.

Methods: Twelve patients with regrowing non-malignant meningiomas, were enrolled for a protocol of 2 years with continuous chemotherapy with hydroxyurea, 20 mg/kg/day. Response to treatment was evaluated both clinically and by diagnostic imaging using computed tomography (CT) and 201-Thallium single photon emission CT.

Scintigraphic patterns of veno-occlusive disease in liver transplantation.

Venous vascular complications in liver transplant recipients are rare. Diagnosis is usually based on clinical criteria and typical findings on liver biopsy. The scintigraphic patterns of posttransplant liver veno-occlusive disease are described, and the value of follow-up studies is suggested.

Patterns of papillary muscle ischemia in myocardial PET.

Purpose: Conventional nuclear medicine equipment lacks sufficient spatial resolution to reliably visualize the papillary muscles (PM). Positron emission tomography (PET), however, can adequately visualize these structures using various positron emitters.

Methods And Patients: We present various patterns of PM observed on myocardial PET imaging in 4 patients.

Localization of (99m)Tc-Labeled ApoB Synthetic Peptide in Arterial Lesions of an Experimental Model of Spontaneous Atherosclerosis.

We have previously shown that after administration of (123)I-SP-4 (a synthetic ApoB peptide fragment) to Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits that foci of tracer uptake can be identified by external gamma camera imaging which correspond to regions of the aortas found to contain abundant atherosclerotic lesions at postmortem evaluation. Because (99m)Tc is preferred over (123)I for scintigraphic imaging, we prepared a (99m)Tc-labeled form of the SP-4 peptide, designated (99m)Tc-P199. To assess the feasibility of detecting atherosclerotic lesions using (99m)Tc-P199 and to compare the relative uptake of the (99m)Tc-labeled and radioiodinated peptides by such lesions, an admixture of (99m)Tc-199 and (125)I-SP-4 was administered to 11 WHHL and 2 normal rabbits.