Clinical management of oligometastatic cancer: Applying multidisciplinary tumor board recommendations in practice.

Aims: Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTs) are an integral part of ensuring high-quality, evidence-based and personalized cancer care. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the adherence to and implementation of MDT recommendations in patients with oligometastatic disease (OMD).

Methods: We screened all oncologic positron emission tomography (PET) scans conducted at a single comprehensive cancer center in 2020.

Immunohistochemical ERG positivity is associated with decreased PSMA expression and lower visibility in corresponding [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET scans of primary prostate cancer.

Purpose: TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion negatively regulates PSMA expression in prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) cell lines. Therefore, immunohistochemical (IHC) ERG expression, a surrogate for an underlying ERG rearrangement, and PSMA expression patterns in radical prostatectomy (RPE) specimens of primary PCa, including corresponding PSMA-PET scans were investigated.

Methods: Two cohorts of RPE samples (total n=148): In cohort #1 (n=62 patients) with available RPE and preoperative [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET, WHO/ISUP grade groups, IHC-ERG (positive vs.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake patterns in positron emission tomography/computed tomography caused by inflammation and/or infection after graft surgery for thoracic aortic dissection.

Background: To identify 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake patterns in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) caused by infection, inflammation, surgical material, and/or graft coating.

Methods And Results: Of 610 consecutive patients with thoracic aortic graft surgery, 60 patients with 187 PET/CT were retrospectively included. We quantified FDG uptake in all grafts using maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) alone and in relation to liver background (SUVratio) and determined the uptake pattern.

The Monocle Sign on 18 F-FDG PET Indicates Contralateral Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy.

Background: The aim of our study was to retrospectively analyze FDG PET/CT data in patients with facial nerve palsy (FNP) for the presence of the monocle sign.

Patients And Methods: A total of 85 patients with unilateral FNP were included into our study, thereof 73 with peripheral FNP and 12 with central FNP. FDG uptake (SUV max , SUV mean , total lesion glycolysis) was measured in both orbicularis oculi muscles (OOMs).

FDA-cleared artificial intelligence and machine learning-based medical devices and their 510(k) predicate networks.

The US Food and Drug Administration is clearing an increasing number of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)-based medical devices through the 510(k) pathway. This pathway allows clearance if the device is substantially equivalent to a former cleared device (ie, predicate). We analysed the predicate networks of cleared AI/ML-based medical devices (cleared between 2019 and 2021), their underlying tasks, and recalls.

Development and external validation of a multivariable [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET-based prediction model for lymph node involvement in men with intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a lymph node invasion (LNI) prediction model for men staged with [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET.

Methods: A consecutive sample of intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET, extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND), and radical prostatectomy (RP) at two tertiary referral centers were retrospectively identified. The training cohort comprised 173 patients (treated between 2013 and 2017), the validation cohort 90 patients (treated between 2016 and 2019).

Recognition of and treatment recommendations for oligometastatic disease in multidisciplinary tumor boards.

Background And Introduction: Growing evidence supports a combined modality treatment strategy for patients with oligometastatic disease. However, lack of phase III trial data and uncertainties around patient selection highlight the importance of multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDT) in therapeutic decision-making. This study aimed to analyze the recognition of and treatment recommendations for oligometastatic patients by MDTs at a large comprehensive cancer center in order to better understand current treatment patterns of oligometastasis.

Imaging-Based Prevalence of Oligometastatic Disease: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Oligometastatic disease refers to a distinct state in patients with cancer characterized by a low metastatic burden, with diagnosis being informed by a limited number of distant metastases in radiologic imaging. However, oligometastasis remains poorly understood in terms of its biology and prevalence in the metastatic cascade. In the absence of clinically viable molecular biomarkers, this study examined the prevalence of oligometastasis using oncological imaging.

Atypical patterns of spinal segment degeneration in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Purpose: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) affect the vascular perfusion of the lumbar spine. The treatment of AAAs with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) completely occludes the direct vascular supply to the lumbar spine. We hypothesized that patients with AAA who undergo EVAR show a different pattern of spinal degeneration than individuals without AAA.

Prediction of benzimidazole therapy duration with PET/CT in inoperable patients with alveolar echinococcosis.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare parasitic disease, most frequently affecting the liver, as a slow-growing tumor-like lesion. If inoperable, long-term benzimidazole therapy is required, which is associated with high healthcare costs and occasionally with increased morbidity. The aim of our study was to determine the role F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in staging of patients with alveolar echinococcosis and to identify quantitative imaging parameters related to patient outcome and/or duration of benzimidazole therapy.

Follow-up PET/CT of alveolar echinococcosis: Comparison of metabolic activity and immunodiagnostic testing.

Purpose: To investigate the potential role of follow-up 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in therapy control of inoperable patients with alveolar echinococcosis.

Materials And Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 48 PET/CT of 16 patients with confirmed alveolar echinococcosis were analysed. FDG-uptake of the most active echinococcosis manifestation was measured (i.

[F]FDG uptake of axillary lymph nodes after COVID-19 vaccination in oncological PET/CT: frequency, intensity, and potential clinical impact.

Objectives: To assess the frequency, intensity, and clinical impact of [F]FDG-avidity of axillary lymph nodes after vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) in patients referred for oncological FDG PET/CT.

Methods: One hundred forty patients referred for FDG PET/CT during February and March 2021 after first or second vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna were retrospectively included. FDG-avidity of ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes was measured and compared.

Phase Ib dose-escalation study of the hypoxia-modifier Myo-inositol trispyrophosphate in patients with hepatopancreatobiliary tumors.

Hypoxia is prominent in solid tumors and a recognized driver of malignancy. Thus far, targeting tumor hypoxia has remained unsuccessful. Myo-inositol trispyrophosphate (ITPP) is a re-oxygenating compound without apparent toxicity.

Malignancy Rate of Indeterminate Findings on FDG-PET/CT in Cutaneous Melanoma Patients.

Background: The use of -2-Fluor-2-desoxy-D-glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography FDG-PET/CT in clinical routine for staging, treatment response monitoring and post treatment surveillance in metastatic melanoma patients has noticeably increased due to significant improvement of the overall survival rate in melanoma patients. However, determining the dignity of the findings with increased metabolic activity on FDG-PET/CT can be sometimes challenging and may need further investigation.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the malignancy rate of indeterminate findings on FDG-PET/CT in metastatic cutaneous melanoma patients.

PET/CT helps to determine treatment duration in patients with resected as well as inoperable alveolar echinococcosis.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the role of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) at the end of benzimidazole therapy in alveolar echinococcosis.

Methods: A total of 22 patients undergoing PET/CT at the end of benzimidazole therapy were retrospectively registered. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUV) were measured in remaining echinococcus manifestations and compared to normal liver tissue.

A pilot study on lung cancer detection based on regional metabolic activity distribution in digital low-dose 18F-FDG PET.

Objectives: To investigate the potential of automatic lung cancer detection on submillisievert dose F-fludeoxyglucose (F-FDG) scans using different positron emission tomography (PET) parameters, as a primary step towards a potential new indication for F-FDG PET in lung cancer screening.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis with 83 patients referred for F-FDG PET/CT, including of 34 patients with histology-proven lung cancer and 49 patients without lung disease. Aside clinical standard PET images (PET) two additional low-dose PET reconstructions were generated, using only 15 s and 5 s of the 150 s list mode raw data of the full-dose PET, corresponding to 10% and 3.

Approval of artificial intelligence and machine learning-based medical devices in the USA and Europe (2015-20): a comparative analysis.

There has been a surge of interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)-based medical devices. However, it is poorly understood how and which AI/ML-based medical devices have been approved in the USA and Europe. We searched governmental and non-governmental databases to identify 222 devices approved in the USA and 240 devices in Europe.

Identification of target zones for lung volume reduction surgery using three-dimensional computed tomography rendering.

Background: The key issues for performing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is the identification of the target zones. Recently introduced three-dimensional computed tomography rendering methods are used to identify the morphological distribution and its severity of lung emphysema by densitometry. We demonstrate a new software for emphysema imaging and show the pre- and post-operative results in patients undergoing LVRS planned based on this new technology.

Immunohistochemical PSMA expression patterns of primary prostate cancer tissue are associated with the detection rate of biochemical recurrence with Ga-PSMA-11-PET.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted PET has a high detection rate for biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer (PCa). Nevertheless, even at high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (> 3 ng/ml), a relevant number of PSMA-PET scans are negative, mainly due to PSMA-negative PCa. Our objective was to investigate whether PSMA-expression patterns of the primary tumour on immunohistochemistry (IHC) are associated with PSMA-PET detection rate of recurrent PCa.

Manual prostate cancer segmentation in MRI: interreader agreement and volumetric correlation with transperineal template core needle biopsy.

Objectives: To assess interreader agreement of manual prostate cancer lesion segmentation on multiparametric MR images (mpMRI). The secondary aim was to compare tumor volume estimates between MRI segmentation and transperineal template saturation core needle biopsy (TTSB).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who had undergone mpMRI of the prostate at our institution and who had received TTSB within 190 days of the examination.

Ga-PSMA-11 dose reduction for dedicated pelvic imaging with simultaneous PET/MR using TOF BSREM reconstructions.

Objectives: When increasing the PET acquisition time to match the longer MRI protocol in simultaneous PET/MR, the injected PET tracer dose can possibly be lowered to reduce radiation exposure. Moreover, applying new commercially available time-of-flight (TOF) block sequential regularized expectation maximization (BSREM)-based reconstruction algorithms could allow for further dose reductions. The purpose of this study was to find the minimal dose of the tracer targeting the prostate specific membrane antigen (Ga-PSMA-11) for a dedicated 15-min pelvic PET/MR scan that still matches the image quality of a reference 3-min scan at 100% (150 MBq) dose.