Low Malignancy Rates in Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytologies in a Primary Care Setting in Germany.

Background: Reported results for thyroid nodule fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology mainly originate from tertiary centers. However, thyroid nodule FNA cytology is mainly performed in primary care settings for which the distribution of FNA Bethesda categories and their respective malignancy rates are largely unknown. Therefore, this study investigated FNA cytology malignancy rates of a large primary care setting to determine to what extent current evidence-based strategies for the malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules are applied and applicable in such primary care settings.

Evaluation of a Two-Year Routine Application of Molecular Testing of Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspirations Using a Seven-Gene Panel in a Primary Referral Setting in Germany.

Background: Major differences with respect to the diagnostic performance of a "ruling in" approach in the presurgical diagnosis of indeterminate thyroid fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) have been reported. Therefore, the aim of this prospective multicenter study was to investigate the specific diagnostic impact of mutation testing using a seven-gene panel in a routine primary referral setting analyzing FNAs from endocrinology and nuclear medicine practices in Germany.

Methods: RNA and DNA was extracted from 564 routine air-dried FNA smears obtained from 64 physicians and cytologically graded by one experienced cytopathologist.

99mTc-besilesomab (Scintimun) in peripheral osteomyelitis: comparison with 99mTc-labelled white blood cells.

Purpose: The diagnosis of osteomyelitis is a challenge for diagnostic imaging. Nuclear medicine procedures including white blood cell imaging have been successfully used for the identification of bone infections. This multinational, phase III clinical study in 22 European centres was undertaken to compare anti-granulocyte imaging using the murine IgG antibody besilesomab (Scintimun) with (99m)Tc-labelled white blood cells in patients with peripheral osteomyelitis.

Multicenter comparison of calibration and cross calibration of PET scanners.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to compare the calibration of PET scanners and their cross calibration to peripheral devices in a multicenter study.

Methods: Twenty-three dedicated PET scanners were investigated, applying standardized protocols. To ensure exact determination of the activity used, dose calibrators were checked using (68)Ge standards.