F-fluorothymidine PET for predicting survival in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to correlate preoperative 3'-deoxy-3'-[F] fluorothymidine (FLT) uptake with the clinical outcome and survival in these patients after surgery.

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective analysis in 27 patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (15 males, 12 females, mean age: 62 ± 13 years, range: 34 - 86 years). FLT PET (45 min p.

11C-choline PET/CT and whole-body MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging for patients with recurrent prostate cancer.

Purpose: To compare the detection efficacy of 11C-choline positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) with whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with suspected recurrent prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-seven patients (mean age 68, range 54-80 years) underwent 11C-choline PET/CT and MRI using T1-weighted (T1w), short-tau inversion recovery (STIR), and DWI. Two readers visually rated suspicious lesions on a 5-point scale in 20 different regions.

99mTc-DPD SPECT/CT for localisation of inflammatory and chronic osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle. Comparison with planar imaging and SPECT as a clinical adjunct in radiosynovectomy.

Aim: The precise localisation of osteoarthritic and inflammatory changes is crucial for selective treatment planning of radiosynovectomy (RSV). The present study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of planar bone imaging and SPECT for the detection of pathological bone metabolism and inflammation in joints of the foot and ankle, compared with SPECT/CT.

Patients, Methods: 39 patients (mean age 65.

Non-invasive imaging of implanted peritoneal carcinomatosis in mice using PET and bioluminescence imaging.

Background: Non-invasive imaging of peritoneal carcinomatosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to compare positron emission tomography (PET) and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for the early detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis in a mouse model.

Methods: Female nude mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 1×10(7) HSC45-M2-luc gastric cancer cells.

A comparative study of collimation in bedside chest radiography for preterm infants in two teaching hospitals.

Objective: Unnecessary exposure of the abdomen, arms or head may lead to a substantial increase of the radiation dose in portable chest X-rays on the neonatal intensive care unit. The objective was to identify potential factors influencing inappropriate exposure of non-thoracic structures in two teaching hospitals.

Methods: The study analysed 200 consecutive digital chest radiographs in 20 preterm neonates (mean gestation 25 ± 1 weeks).

Computed tomography to estimate cardiac preload and extravascular lung water. A retrospective analysis in critically ill patients.

Background: In critically ill patients intravascular volume status and pulmonary edema need to be quantified as soon as possible. Many critically ill patients undergo a computed tomography (CT)-scan of the thorax after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). This study investigates whether CT-based estimation of cardiac preload and pulmonary hydration can accurately assess volume status and can contribute to an early estimation of hemodynamics.

Lesion concordance, image quality and artefacts in PET/CT: results of a multicenter study.

Aim: This study had three major objectives: 1.) to record the number of concordant (both in PET and CT) pathological lesions in different body regions/organs, 2.) to evaluate the image quality and 3.

T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder potentially induced by imatinib in a patient with GIST.

Background: A 71-year-old male patient was diagnosed as having a KIT-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumor located at the gastric antrum. With no signs of distant metastasis, the patient primarily underwent gastric surgery with antrectomy and Billroth-I-reconstruction. Owing to tumor size and mitotic index, the patient was considered at high risk of tumor relapse and thus was entered into a clinical trial to receive adjuvant imatinib treatment.

Evaluation of dual-phase multi-detector-row CT for detection of intestinal bleeding using an experimental bowel model.

To evaluate dual-phase multi-detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in the detection of intestinal bleeding using an experimental bowel model and varying bleeding velocities. The model consisted of a high pressure injector tube with a single perforation (1 mm) placed in 10-m-long small bowel of a pig. The bowel was filled with water/contrast solution of 30-40 HU and was incorporated in a phantom model containing vegetable oil to simulate mesenteric fat.

Rectal cancer: MR imaging before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for prediction of tumor-free circumferential resection margins and long-term survival.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic importance of involvement of the circumferential resection margin predicted by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before neoadjuvant treatment in patients with rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: The local institutional review board approved the retrospective analysis of the data and waived informed consent. Sixty-eight patients (52 men, 16 women; mean age +/- standard deviation, 58.

PET imaging with [18F]3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine for prediction of response to neoadjuvant treatment in patients with rectal cancer.

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-labelled 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (FLT) was assessed for therapy monitoring in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: Ten patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were included and underwent long-course preoperative chemoradiotherapy (total dose 45 Gy, 1.8 Gy/day, concomitant 250 mg/m2 5-fluorouracil) followed by surgery.

[Nuclear medical diagnostics for liver tumors].

Standard nuclear medical procedures, such as functional, blood-pool and colloid scintigraphy, play a minor role in the routine workup of liver tumors. However, these techniques are capable of assessing specific organ functions and frequently allow the diagnosis of unclear liver lesions. The sensitivity of scintigraphic procedures can be increased using tomographic imaging (SPECT), the specificity with the introduction of hybrid scanners such as SPECT/CT.

Rectal carcinoma: high-spatial-resolution MR imaging and T2 quantification in rectal cancer specimens.

Purpose: To prospectively compare high-spatial-resolution T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and intermediate-weighted spectral fat-saturated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the differentiation of tumor from fibrosis and for delineation of rectal wall layers in rectal cancer specimens.

Materials And Methods: The local ethics committee approved the protocol, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Thin-section high-spatial-resolution MR imaging was performed in specimens obtained from 23 patients (16 men, seven women; median age, 64 years; age range, 39-84 years) immediately after resection.

Adenocarcinomas of esophagogastric junction: multi-detector row CT to evaluate early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of early response during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).

Materials And Methods: The study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

FDG PET and CT in locally advanced adenocarcinomas of the distal oesophagus. Clinical relevance of a discordant PET finding.

Aim: The incidence of adenocarcinomas of the distal oesophagus (ADE) has dramatically increased in Western countries. The clinical importance of a FDG PET finding discordant with CT was determined in patients with locally advanced ADE. In addition, tumour standardized uptake values (SUV) were correlated with patient survival.

Phase II study of weekly oxaliplatin plus infusional fluorouracil and folinic acid (FUFOX regimen) as first-line treatment in metastatic gastric cancer.

Oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU/FA) every 2 weeks has shown promising activity in advanced gastric cancer. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of weekly oxaliplatin plus 5-FU/FA (FUFOX regimen) in the metastatic setting. Patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric cancer received oxaliplatin (50 mg m(-2)) plus FA (500 mg m(-2), 2-h infusion) followed by 5-FU (2000 mg m(-2), 24-h infusion) given on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of a 5-week cycle.

[PET/CT for colorectal and hepatic tumors].

This contribution presents clinical and technical aspects of combining positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) for patients with colorectal tumors and characterization of unclear liver foci. In which manner and for which patients combined PET/CT is superior to PET or CT alone is also discussed. PET/CT can fulfil most prerequisites for imaging in pre- and postoperative management of patients with colorectal tumors and best meets the desire for optimal imaging procedures.

PET imaging with [11C]methyl- L-methionine for therapy monitoring in patients with rectal cancer.

In this study we evaluated whether positron emission tomography (PET) using the amino acid [11C]methyl- L-methionine (MET) may be used for therapy monitoring in patients with rectal cancer who are undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy. A total of 41 MET-PET scans were performed in 26 patients with locally advanced rectal cancers. All patients were examined prior to chemoradiotherapy.

Preoperative evaluation of pancreatic masses with positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose: diagnostic limitations.

Identification of pancreatic cancer in patients presenting with an enlarged pancreatic mass is a major diagnostic problem. Positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiolabeled glucose analogue 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been suggested to provide excellent accuracy for noninvasive determination of suspicious pancreatic masses. We conducted a prospective study to verify these results.

99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT for prediction of functional recovery defined by MRI in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction: additional value of gated SPECT.

Unlabelled: This study was designed to evaluate gated 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT for prediction of functional recovery proven by sequential MRI. 99mTc-labeled tetrofosmin is a recently introduced tracer for myocardial perfusion. However, its role for viability assessment is still under investigation.