Assessing Coronary Artery and Aortic Calcification in Patients with Prostate Cancer Using F-Sodium Fluoride PET/Computed Tomography.

The aim of this study was to assess coronary artery and aortic calcification in healthy controls, angina pectoris patients, and prostate cancer patients using 18F-sodium fluoride PET/computed tomography (NaF-PET/CT). A retrospective analysis compared 33 prostate cancer patients with 33 healthy subjects and 33 patients with angina pectoris. Increased target-to-background ratio (TBR) of the coronary arteries, ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta was observed in cancer patients compared to healthy controls but not compared to angina pectoris patients.

Volumetric parameters from [ F]FDG PET/CT predicts survival in patients with high-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

A positive fluorine-18 labelled 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose ([ F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been associated with more aggressive disease and less differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). Although a high maximum standardized uptake value (SUV ) predicts poor outcome in NEN, volumetric parameters from [ F]FDG PET have not been evaluated for prognostication in a pure high-grade gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NEN cohort. In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated the volumetric PET parameters total metabolic tumour volume (tMTV) and total total lesion glycolysis (tTLG) for independent prognostication of overall survival (OS).

Prognostic significance of conventional and volumetric PET parameters with and without partial volume correction in the assessment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The optimal quantification of PET in assessment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still under development. The effect of partial volume correction (PVC) on the evaluation of survival in the HNSCC patients has not been investigated yet.

Methodology: Pretreatment 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans of a selected group of 57 patients with advanced stage HNSCC were collected.

Implementation of FDG-PET/CT imaging methodology for quantification of inflammatory response in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: results from the ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235 trial.

We measured changes in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images in the lung parenchyma to quantify the degree of lung inflammation in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received radiotherapy (RT). The goal of this study was to demonstrate successful implementation of this imaging methodology on NSCLC patients and to report quantitative statistics between pre-RT and post-RT. Seventy-one patients with NSCLC underwent FDG-PET/CT imaging before and after RT in a prospective study (ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235).

Venous thromboembolism detected by FDG-PET/CT in cancer patients: a common, yet life-threatening observation.

Cancer patients are at markedly increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Early detection of VTE may decrease morbidity and mortality in this population. We conducted this study to evaluate the ability of FDG-PET/CT to detect thrombosis in cancer patients.

Assessment of atherosclerosis in multiple myeloma and smoldering myeloma patients using F- sodium fluoride PET/CT.

Background: To compare the NaF uptake in the thoracic aorta and whole heart, as an early indicator of atherosclerosis, in multiple myeloma (MM) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) patients with a healthy control (HC) group.

Methods: Forty-four untreated myeloma patients (35 MM and nine SMM) and twenty-six age and gender-matched HC subjects were collected. Each individual's NaF uptake in three parts of the aorta (AA: ascending aorta, AR: aortic arch, DA: descending aorta) and the whole heart was segmented.

Comparison of atherosclerotic burden in non-lower extremity arteries in patients with and without peripheral artery disease using F-NaF-PET/CT imaging.

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of peripheral artery disease (PAD). We compared the atherosclerotic burden in non-lower extremity arteries in patients with and without PAD using F-sodium fluoride (NaF)-PET/CT. We identified five individuals (61.

Correlation of whole-bone marrow dual-time-point F-FDG, as measured by a CT-based method of PET/CT quantification, with response to treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

The practical application of dual-time-point-imaging (DTPI) technique still remains controversial. One of the issues is that current parameters of DTPI quantification suffer from some deficiencies, mainly limited sampling of the diseased sites by confining measurements to specific locations. We aimed to examine the correlation between the percent change from early to delayed scans in whole-bone marrow (WBM) F-FDG uptake, as measured by a CT-based method of PET/CT quantification, and response to treatment in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

Prognostic significance of F-sodium fluoride in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.

Focal bone lesions and fractures due to weakened bone are associated with higher morbidity and mortality of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF) is a sensitive PET radiotracer for detection of abnormal bone metabolism and, therefore, is particularly suited to assess the degree of bone involvement in MM patients. We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of metabolic active volume (MAV) of F-NaF-avid lesions in MM patients.

Diagnosis and Monitoring of Osteoporosis with Total-Body F-Sodium Fluoride-PET/CT.

In recent years, F-Sodium Fluoride (NaF)-PET/CT has seen its role in the detection and management of osteoporosis increase. This article reviews the extent of this application in the literature, its efficacy compared with other comparable imaging tools, and how total-body PET/CT combined with global disease assessment can revolutionize measurement of total osteoporotic disease activity. NaF-PET/CT eventually can be the modality of choice for metabolic bone disorders, especially with these advances in technology and computation.

Assessing the feasibility of NaF-PET/CT versus FDG-PET/CT to detect abdominal aortic calcification or inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether NaF-PET/CT or FDG-PET/CT can detect abdominal aortic molecular calcification and inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this study, 18 RA patients (4 women, 14 men; mean age 56.0 ± 11.

Comparison of F-sodium fluoride uptake in the whole bone, pelvis, and femoral neck of multiple myeloma patients before and after high-dose therapy and conventional-dose chemotherapy.

Aim: To compare the effects of high-dose therapy (HDT consisting of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation) and conventional-dose chemotherapy (non-HDT) on the uptake of F-sodium fluoride (NaF) in the whole bone, pelvis, and femoral neck of multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

Method: The data of 19 MM patients who received HDT (61.5 (SD 5.

Novel Quantitative PET Imaging Techniques in Tuberculosis.

The role of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/computed tomography (CT) in tuberculosis (TB) continues to expand in disease detection, assessment of the extent of the disease, and treatment response monitoring. This article reviews available data regarding the use of FDG-PET/CT in patients with TB. A new method of quantification for patients with TB is introduced.

A Pilot Study of FDG-PET/CT in Polycythemia Vera Using Global Analysis Techniques.

Objectives: Functional imaging presents a non-invasive process that may capture the hyper-metabolic nature of red bone marrow in myeloproliferative neoplasms, such as polycythemia vera (PV).

Methods: This study analyzed the FDG-PET/CT scans (n=12) of six patients diagnosed with PV and six age-sex matched controls using a quantitative global analysis methodology.

Results: All PV patients had elevated activities in the bone marrow of each skeletal structure as compared to matched controls with respect to mean standardized uptake value (femoral neck p=0.

Role of FDG-PET/CT in Assessing the Correlation Between Blood Pressure and Myocardial Metabolic Uptake.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the association between blood pressure and LV myocardial uptake of FDG, hypothesizing that subjects with raised blood pressure would have higher FDG uptake.

Methods: We analyzed 86 healthy controls who underwent PET/CT imaging 180 minutes following FDG (4 MBq/Kg) administration. LV myocardial analysis was performed on axial sections using standard operator guided computer software (OsiriX MD).

An update on the role of F-FDG-PET/CT in major infectious and inflammatory diseases.

For decades, conventional nuclear medicine techniques have been utilized for the assessment of many infectious and inflammatory diseases. Most of these techniques have limitations such as the relatively low spatial resolution, being time consuming and low sensitivity or specificity. In recent years, FDG-PET/CT has shown promising role in the management of such diseases.

Pretreatment volumetric parameters of FDG-PET predict the survival after Yttrium-90 radio-embolization in metastatic liver disease.

This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of pretreatment FDG-PET in patients with metastatic liver disease undergoing Yttrium 90 (Y) radio-embolization using global disease assessment measures. Data from 16 patients with metastatic liver disease (8 males, 8 females) aged 55-97 years (mean: 67±12) were retrospectively collected. On PET, active malignant lesions in the liver were segmented with an adaptive thresholding system (ROVER software, ABX GmbH, Radeberg, Germany).

PET Assessment of Immune Effects from Interventional Oncology Procedures.

Interventional oncology treatments have profound effects on tumor immunity. Quantitative molecular imaging with FDG-PET has the potential to aid in understanding baseline tumor characteristics that can predict response to interventional oncology treatments and immunotherapy. This review highlights some of the evidence for immune activation in the setting of locoregional therapies, and the patterns of treatment response that may be expected in the setting of immune induction.

The Evolving Role of PET-Based Novel Quantitative Techniques in the Interventional Radiology Procedures of the Liver.

Interventional radiology procedures have revolutionized the treatment of cancer and interventional oncology is now the fourth pillar of cancer care. The article discusses the importance of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET imaging, and dual time-point imaging in the context of PET/computed tomography as applied to treatments of liver malignancy. The necessary paradigm shift in the adoption of novel segmentation methodologies to express global disease burden is explored.

18F-NaF Uptake in Ocular Prosthesis (Implant).

Ocular prosthesis is used as a replacement in the orbit following enucleation or evisceration of the eye. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), hydroxyapatite (HA) and porous polyethylene (PP) are some examples of the materials used in ocular prosthesis. We present a case of an 82-year-old man with prostate cancer who underwent F-NaF PET/CT imaging for evaluation of bone metastases and was incidentally found to have increased NaF uptake in the ocular prosthesis.

Evolving Roles of Fluorodeoxyglucose and Sodium Fluoride in Assessment of Multiple Myeloma Patients: Introducing a Novel Method of PET Quantification to Overcome Shortcomings of the Existing Approaches.

PET with fluorodeoxyglucose and sodium fluoride (NaF) radiotracers has shown a great promise in assessing patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the standardization of PET/computed tomography scans interpretation in patients with myeloma in clinical practice is still debatable. This article reviews available data regarding the use of fluorodeoxyglucose and NaF PET in patients with MM.

Dynamics of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the liver and its correlation with hepatic fat content and BMI.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the rate of elimination of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) from the liver and assess the impact of hepatic fat and obesity on F-FDG clearance in early and delayed PET scans. We hypothesized that an increase in liver fat may cause a decline in hepatic F-FDG elimination with potential consequences as measured by dual time-point F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

Patients And Methods: A total of 32 patients from the Cardiovascular Molecular Calcification Assessed by F-NaF PET/CT (CAMONA) clinical trial (17 males, 15 females; mean age: 47.

Pre-treatment partial-volume-corrected TLG is the best predictor of overall survival in patients with relapsing/refractory non-hodgkin lymphoma following radioimmunotherapy.

The role of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been well established in assessment of lymphoma, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The aim of this study was to compare changes and survival predictive values of various quantification parameters of FDG-PET/CT in patients with relapsing/refractory lymphoma before and after radioimmunotherapy (RIT). Data from 17 patients with relapsing/refractory NHL, treated with targeted RIT after chemotherapy/radiotherapy, were retrospectively collected.

Identification of Heterotopic Ossification Using 18F-NaF PET/CT.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a benign condition characterized by the abnormal formation of mature lamellar bone in extraskeletal soft tissues. Most frequently, HO is observed around the hip joint after fractures or surgical procedures such as open reduction internal fixation or total hip arthroplasties. We are presenting a case of HO as detected by F-NaF PET/CT in a 68-year-old woman with multiple myeloma and a history of internal fixation of the right hip.

Metastatic Seeding Attacks Bone Marrow, Not Bone: Rectifying Ongoing Misconceptions.

Conventional modalities, such as bone scintigraphy, are commonly used to assess osseous abnormalities in skeletal metastasis. Fluorine-18 (F)-sodium fluoride (NaF) PET similarly portrays osteoblastic activity but with improved spatial and contrast resolution and more accurate anatomic localization. However, these modalities rely on indirect evidence for tumor activity.