[18F]-Fluoroestradiol (FES) brain PET in the evaluation of patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer and known or suspected brain metastases.

Objective: Our purpose was to describe our initial institutional experience using dedicated brain [18F]-Fluoroestradiol (FES) PET/CT or PET/MRI in the management of patients with estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM), and compare to [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET and MRI.

Materials & Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven ER+ disease and MRI findings of suspected new, progressive, or recurrent BCBM were included in this retrospective study. Clinical and demographic data were collected.

Reproducibility of [F]MK-6240 kinetics in brain studies with shortened dynamic PET protocol in healthy/cognitively normal subjects.

Background: [F]MK-6240 is a neurofibrillary tangles PET radiotracer that has been broadly used in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies. Majority of [F]MK-6240 PET studies use dynamic acquisitions longer than 60 min to assess the tracer kinetic parameters. As of today, no consensus has been established on the optimum dynamic PET scan time.

In vivo brain estrogen receptor density by neuroendocrine aging and relationships with cognition and symptomatology.

17β-estradiol, the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order cognitive function and neurobiological aging. However, our knowledge of ER expression and regulation by neuroendocrine aging in the living human brain is limited. This in vivo brain F-fluoroestradiol (F-FES) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study of healthy midlife women reveals progressively higher ER density over the menopause transition in estrogen-regulated networks.

In vivo Brain Estrogen Receptor Expression By Neuroendocrine Aging And Relationships With Gray Matter Volume, Bio-Energetics, and Clinical Symptomatology.

17β-estradiol,the most biologically active estrogen, exerts wide-ranging effects in brain through its action on estrogen receptors (ERs), influencing higher-order cognitive function and neurobiological aging. However, our knowledge of ER expression and regulation by neuroendocrine aging in the living human brain is limited. This multi-modality neuroimaging study of healthy midlife women reveals progressively higher ER density over the menopause transition in estrogen-regulated networks.

The potential of a medium-cost long axial FOV PET system for nuclear medicine departments.

Purpose: Total body positron emission tomography (TB-PET) has recently been introduced in nuclear medicine departments. There is a large interest in these systems, but for many centers, the high acquisition cost makes it very difficult to justify their current operational budget. Here, we propose medium-cost long axial FOV scanners as an alternative.

Physical performance of adaptive axial FOV PET scanners with a sparse detector block rings or a checkerboard configuration.

Using Monte-Carlo simulations, we evaluated the physical performance of a hypothetical state-of-the-art clinical PET scanner with adaptive axial field-of-view (AFOV) based on the validated GATE model of the Siemens Biograph VisionPET/CT scanner.Vision consists of 16 compact PET rings, each consisting of 152 mini-blocks of 5 × 5 Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate crystals (3.2 × 3.

Noise-Based Image Harmonization Significantly Increases Repeatability and Reproducibility of Radiomics Features in PET Images: A Phantom Study.

For multicenter clinical studies, characterizing the robustness of image-derived radiomics features is essential. Features calculated on PET images have been shown to be very sensitive to image noise. The purpose of this work was to investigate the efficacy of a relatively simple harmonization strategy on feature robustness and agreement.

Assessing Bone Marrow Activity with []FLT PET in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia and Prefibrotic Myelofibrosis: A Proof of Concept.

This study aims to assess the value of FLT-PET as a non-invasive tool to differentiate between patients with ET and Pre-PMF. This study is a pilot study to have a proof of concept only. This is a prospective, interventional study where a total of 12 patients were included.

Decreased CSF clearance and increased brain amyloid in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: In sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), brain amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition is believed to be a consequence of impaired Aβ clearance, but this relationship is not well established in living humans. CSF clearance, a major feature of brain glymphatic clearance (BGC), has been shown to be abnormal in AD murine models. MRI phase contrast and intrathecally delivered contrast studies have reported reduced CSF flow in AD.

Dynamic Ga-DOTATATE PET/MRI in the Diagnosis and Management of Intracranial Meningiomas.

Purpose To evaluate dynamic gallium 68 (Ga) tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid octreotate (DOTATATE) brain PET/MRI as an adjunct modality in meningioma, enabling multiparametric standardized uptake value (SUV) and Patlak net binding rate constant () imaging, and to optimize static acquisition period. Materials and Methods In this prospective study (ClinicalTrials.gov no.

Population-based input function for TSPO quantification and kinetic modeling with [C]-DPA-713.

Introduction: Quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) studies of neurodegenerative diseases typically require the measurement of arterial input functions (AIF), an invasive and risky procedure. This study aims to assess the reproducibility of [C]DPA-713 PET kinetic analysis using population-based input function (PBIF). The final goal is to possibly eliminate the need for AIF.

Comparison of FDG and FMISO uptakes and distributions in head and neck squamous cell cancer tumors.

Purpose: Glycolysis is increased by hypoxia, suggesting a possible correlation between the accumulation of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in malignant tumors and regional hypoxia defined by 1H-1-(3-[18F]fluoro-2-hydroxypropyl)-2-nitroimidazole (FMISO) PET. The aim of this study is to investigate the intra-tumoral spatial distribution and quantitative relationship between FDG and FMISO in a cohort of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients.

Methods: Twenty HNSCC patients with 20 primary tumors and 19 metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) underwent FDG and FMISO PET within 1 week.

A study of 18F-FLT positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in cases of prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia.

The objectives of this research project are to study in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET); (1) the uptake patterns of FLT-PET (FLT-PET) and its value in diagnosing, staging, and treatment response monitoring of malignant hematopoiesis, (2) compare imaging findings from FLT-PET with bone marrow biopsy (standard of care), and (3) associate FLT-PET uptake patterns with genetic makeup such as JAK2 (Janus kinase 2), CALR (Calreticulin), MPL (myeloproliferative leukemia protein), Triple negative disease, and allele burden.This trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with number NCT03116542.

A pilot study of N-ammonia cardiac PET imaging to assess subacute cardiotoxicity following adjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer.

Objective: (1) Assess the feasibility of 13 N-ammonia cardiac PET (13 N-ammonia-PET) imaging in radiotherapy (RT) treatment position in locally-advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients. (2) Correlate pre-/post-RT changes in myocardial flow reserve (MFR) with the corresponding radiation heart dose.

Methods: Ten left-sided LABC patients undergoing Volumetric Modulated-Arc-Therapy (VMAT) to chest wall and regional lymph nodes underwent a rest/stress 13 N-ammonia-PET at baseline and (median) 13 months post-RT.

Multisite Technical and Clinical Performance Evaluation of Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers from 3D FDG PET Segmentations of Head and Neck Cancer Images.

Quantitative imaging biomarkers (QIBs) provide medical image-derived intensity, texture, shape, and size features that may help characterize cancerous tumors and predict clinical outcomes. Successful clinical translation of QIBs depends on the robustness of their measurements. Biomarkers derived from positron emission tomography images are prone to measurement errors owing to differences in image processing factors such as the tumor segmentation method used to define volumes of interest over which to calculate QIBs.

Physical performance of a long axial field-of-view PET scanner prototype with sparse rings configuration: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

Purpose: There is a growing interest in extending the axial fields-of-view (AFOV) of PET scanners. One major limitation for the widespread clinical adoption of such systems is the multifold increase in the associated material costs. In this study, we propose a cost-effective solution to extend the PET AFOV using a sparse detector rings configuration.

Carotid Plaque Positron Emission Tomography Imaging and Cerebral Ischemic Disease.

Background and Purpose- The clinical utility of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in evaluating carotid artery plaque vulnerability remains unclear. Two tracers of recent interest for carotid plaque imaging are F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) and F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association between carotid artery F-FDG or F-NaF uptake and recent or future cerebral ischemic events.

Erratum: Measuring temporal stability of positron emission tomography standardized uptake value bias using long-lived sources in a multicenter network.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1117/1.JMI.

Inter-operator variability in compartmental kinetic analysis of F-fluoromisonidazole dynamic PET.

Purpose: To assess the inter-operator variability in compartment analysis (CA) of dynamic-FMISO (dyn-FMISO) PET.

Methods: Study-I: Five investigators conducted CA for 23 NSCLC dyn-FMISO tumor time-activity-curves. Study-II: Four operators performed CA for four NSCLC dyn-FMISO datasets.

Measuring temporal stability of positron emission tomography standardized uptake value bias using long-lived sources in a multicenter network.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a quantitative imaging modality, but the computation of standardized uptake values (SUVs) requires several instruments to be correctly calibrated. Variability in the calibration process may lead to unreliable quantitation. Sealed source kits containing traceable amounts of [Formula: see text] were used to measure signal stability for 19 PET scanners at nine hospitals in the National Cancer Institute's Quantitative Imaging Network.

Multicenter survey of PET/CT protocol parameters that affect standardized uptake values.

Clinical trials that evaluate cancer treatments may benefit from positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which for many cancers can discriminate between effective and ineffective treatments. However, the image metrics used to quantify disease and evaluate treatment may be biased by many factors related to clinical protocols and PET system settings, many of which are site- and/or manufacturer-specific. An observational study was conducted using two surveys that were designed to record key sources of bias and variability in PET imaging.

Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography-Based Assessments of Androgen Receptor Expression and Glycolytic Activity as a Prognostic Biomarker for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Importance: Androgen receptor-signaling inhibitor (ARSi) drugs prolong life in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but such tumors eventually become resistant and progress. Comprehensive positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging using fluoro-2-D-deoxyglucose F 18 ([18F]-FDG) for glycolysis (Glyc) and fluorodihydrotestosterone F 18 ([18F]-FDHT) for androgen receptor (AR) expression determine heterogeneity of imaging phenotypes, which may be useful in distinguishing patients who will benefit from ARSi drugs from those who need alternative treatments.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that PET/CT-based assessments of AR expression and glycolytic activity would reveal heterogeneity affecting prognosis.

Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Dynamic F-Fluoromisonidazole PET Data in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Hypoxic tumors exhibit increased resistance to radiation, chemical, and immune therapies. F-fluoromisonidazole (F-FMISO) PET is a noninvasive, quantitative imaging technique used to evaluate the magnitude and spatial distribution of tumor hypoxia. In this study, pharmacokinetic analysis (PKA) of F-FMISO dynamic PET extended to 3 h after injection is reported for the first time, to our knowledge, in stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Multi-site quality and variability analysis of 3D FDG PET segmentations based on phantom and clinical image data.

Purpose: Radiomics utilizes a large number of image-derived features for quantifying tumor characteristics that can in turn be correlated with response and prognosis. Unfortunately, extraction and analysis of such image-based features is subject to measurement variability and bias. The challenge for radiomics is particularly acute in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) where limited resolution, a high noise component related to the limited stochastic nature of the raw data, and the wide variety of reconstruction options confound quantitative feature metrics.