Evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors with 99mTc-EDDA/HYNIC TOC.

Background: This paper is the short review of our preliminary results obtained with 99mTc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC.

Material And Methods: The total of 495 patients with different neuroendocrine tumors were investigated during last few years.

Results: There have been 334 true positive (TP), 73 true negative (TN), 6 false positive (FP) and 82 false negative findings (FN).

Can we do better? Economic analysis of human resource investment to improve home care service for the elderly in Serbia.

Background: Social services aimed at the elderly are facing great challenges caused by progressive aging of the global population but also by the constant pressure to spend funds in a rational manner.

Purpose: This paper focuses on analyzing the investments into human resources aimed at enhancing home care for the elderly since many countries have recorded progress in the area over the past years. The goal of this paper is to stress the significance of performing an economic analysis of the investment.

The diagnostic performance and added value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of liver metastases in recurrent colorectal carcinoma patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the value of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT in detection of liver metastases in patients with suspected recurrent colorectal carcinoma, as well as to compare diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT with conventional imaging methods (MDCT).

Subjects And Methods: This study included 73 patients with resected primary colorectal adenocarcinoma referred for (18)F-FDG PET/CT to the National PET Center, at the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, from January 2010 to May 2013, with suspicion of recurrence. The patients underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination on a 64-slice hybrid PET/CT scanner (Biograph, TruePoint64, Siemens Medical Solutions, Inc.

Can (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan change treatment planning and be prognostic in recurrent colorectal carcinoma? A prospective and follow-up study.

Objective: To prospectively study whether in patients with resected primary colorectal cancer fluorine- 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) examination could diagnose the stage, specify treatment procedure and be prognostic.

Subjects And Methods: This prospective study included 75 patients with resected primary colorectal adenocarcinoma referred for (18)F-FDG PET/CT to the National PET Center, at the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, from January 2010 to May 2013. Findings of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were compared to findings of subsequent histopathological examinations or with results of clinical and imaging follow-up.

Validation of IAEA software package for the analysis of scintigraphic renal dynamic studies: parameters of renal transit in children with renal pelvic dilatation.

Purpose: The objectives of the study were to use the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) software package for the analysis of scintigraphic renal dynamic studies to obtain values of curve parameters and excretory parameters in children with hydronephrosis and to validate the reliability of these numerical outputs by comparing with values established by consensus reports.

Patients And Methods: Fifty children with hydronephrosis (median age, 16 months; 30 boys, 20 girls; 99 kidneys) underwent Tc-MAG3 diuresis renography. Studies were analyzed by 2 observers, and according to the assessment of images, renograms, and differential function, kidneys were classified as normal (42, kidneys contralateral to hydronephrotic kidney), hypotonic unobstructed (49), and obstructed (8).

Economic analysis of social services for the elderly in Serbia: two sides of the same coin.

According to demographic trends, the ratio of senior citizens in the overall population of the Republic of Serbia is rising. This generates the need to create socially acceptable and economically sustainable models for the protection of the elderly. The goal of this paper is to stress the necessity of analyzing and evaluating the efficiency of social protection services aimed at senior citizens.

Gallium-68 DOTATOC PET/CT in vivo characterization of somatostatin receptor expression in the prostate.

Aim: The aim was to investigate somatostatin receptor (sstr) expression in normal prostate by determining the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of (68)Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients, without NET involvement of the prostate gland, for establishing the reference standard.

Methods: Sixty-four NET patients underwent (68)Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT. SUVmax of the prostate gland, normal liver, testes, and gluteus muscles were evaluated.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of gated SPECT MIBI early post-stress imaging in patients with intermediate Duke Treadmill Score.

Purpose Of The Report: The aims of this study were to compare perfusion and functional parameters between early (ES) and standard (SS) post-stress gated SPECT MIBI, to validate ES against coronary angiography, and to determine whether ES parameters can predict future cardiac events.

Patients And Methods: The sample included 63 patients with normal or mildly impaired left ventricular function and intermediate Duke Treadmill Score. They underwent a 2-day stress-rest gated SPECT MIBI with the post-stress data acquired at 15 minutes (ES) and 60 minutes (SS) after i.

FDG PET imaging in sarcoidosis.

The objective of this review is to highlight the clinical utility of FDG-PET/CT for evaluation of patients with chronic sarcoidosis. The emphasis was on the potential advantages and disadvantages of this technique in these patients based on which recommendations were made. The advantage of FDG-PET/CT technique is that it can visualize FDG accumulation in activated inflammatory cells and simultaneously provide PET and CT images.

Responsiveness of FDG PET/CT to treatment of patients with active chronic sarcoidosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare baseline to follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT findings after treatment for active chronic sarcoidosis and to correlate changes on 18F-FDG PET/CT with changes in clinical status.

Patients And Methods: The sample included 66 patients with chronic sarcoidosis and evidence of active inflammation on baseline F-FDG PET/CT for which they received therapy. Of these 66 patients, 30 returned for the follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT after 12 (5) months to evaluate response to treatment.

Clinical value of immunoscintigraphy in the rectal carcinomas: immunoscintigraphy of rectal carcinomas.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability of the immunoscintigraphy with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for the detection of metastases and recurrences of rectal carcinomas.

Methodology: A total of 65 patients underwent immunoscintigraphy with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. Indication for that examination was suspicious rectal cancer or suspicious rectal cancer recurrence and/or metastases.

Estimation of infarct size using transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic measurement of coronary flow reserve in infarct related and reference coronary artery.

Background: Patients in chronic phase of myocardial infarction (MI) have decreased coronary flow reserve (CFR) in infarct related artery (IRA) that is proportional to the extent of microvascular/myocardial damage. We proposed a novel model for the assessment of microvascular damage and infarct size using Doppler echocardiography evaluation of CFRs of the IRA (LAD) and reference artery (RCA).

Methods: Our study included 34 consecutive patients (28 men, mean age 50 ± 11 years) with first anterior STEMI and single vessel disease successfully treated with primary PCI.

The utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT for diagnosis and adjustment of therapy in patients with active chronic sarcoidosis.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for detection of inflammation in granulomatous sites and management of patients with chronic sarcoidosis. The 3 specific aims were to assess differences between (18)F-FDG PET/CT and multidetector CT (MDCT) findings, to compare (18)F-FDG PET/CT results with serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and to determine whether (18)F-FDG PET/CT findings are associated with the decision to change therapy.

Methods: We studied 90 sarcoidosis patients (mean age ± SD, 47 ± 12 y; 32 men and 58 women) with persistent symptoms who were referred for (18)F-FDG PET/CT evaluation to assess the extent of inflammation.

Dopamine transporter imaging (123)I-FP-CIT (DaTSCAN) SPET in differential diagnosis of dopa-responsive dystonia and young-onset Parkinson's disease.

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a genetic disorder characterized by childhood onset dystonia, dominant inheritance, diurnal symptoms fluctuation and positive levodopa response. Adult-onset DRD is frequently combined with parkinsonism and can be mistaken with young onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD). Both conditions are caused by dopamine deficiency, due to nigral cells' loss in YOPD, and due to enzymatic defects in dopamine synthesis in DRD.

Gallbladder motility disorders estimated by non-invasive methods.

Background/aims: The aim is to compare the radionuclide (DC) and ultrasonographic (US) method in the assessment of gallbladder (GB) motility.

Methodology: The study was performed in 15 controls (C), 10 patients with acute cholecystitis (AC), 20 patients with chronic acalculous cholecystitis (CAC), 26 patients with chronic cholecystitis with calculosis (CCC) as well as in 15 patients with GB dyskinesia (D). GB emptying period (EP), ejection fraction (EF) and ejection rate (ER) were estimated with dynamic cholescintigraphy (DC) and US.

The utility of two somatostatin analog radiopharmaceuticals in assessment of radiologically indeterminate pulmonary lesions.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess diagnostic accuracy of Tc-99m depreotide and Tc-99m-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC scintigraphy for evaluation of pulmonary lesions that appeared ambiguous on computed tomography (CT).

Material And Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients (37 men and 12 women; mean age, 60 ± 11 years) with 60 pulmonary lesions on chest radiography and CT were referred for nuclear imaging. They were prospectively allocated to undergo whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using either Tc-99m depreotide (26 patients, group 1) or Tc-99m-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC imaging (23 patients, group 2).

The diagnostic role of gated myocardial perfusion imaging and radionuclide ventriculography in severe congenital heart disease.

Several techniques have been applied for the assessment of severe congenital heart diseases (SCHD) including echocardiography, cardiac catheterization with angiocardiography, and more recently, cardiovascular multi detector tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The value of gated single photon emission tomography (GSPET) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) for evaluating myocardial ischemia, tissue viability, and left ventricular function in SCHD is less apparent. The risk of radiation exposure is greatest in the youngest patients.

Invasive lobular breast cancer presenting an unusual metastatic pattern in the form of peritoneal and rectal metastases: a case report.

Gastrointestinal metastases from invasive lobular breast cancer are uncommon with the stomach and small intestines being the most common metastatic sites. Peritoneal and rectal metastases are very rare and only rarely occur as the first manifestation of disease. We herein report the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with abdominal carcinomatosis as a first sign of invasive lobular breast carcinoma (ILC).

Diagnosis of mesh infection after abdominal wall hernia surgery - role of radionuclide methods.

Background/aims: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the role of detection of late mesh infection following incisional hernia repair with radiolabeled antigranulocyte antibodies.

Methodology: Mesh infection diagnoses were set up with clinical examination and laboratory analysis and confirmed by ultrasonography (US), computerized tomography (CT), scintigraphy with 99mTc-antigranulocyte antibodies and microbiological examination.

Results: Of the 17 patients investigated, 6 had a late mesh infection, and 11 had both mesh infection and recurrent incisional hernia.

Radioimmunoscintigraphy of colorectal carcinomas with 99mTc-labelled antibodies.

Background/aims: The aim of the study was the evaluation of the clinical validity of immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc labeled antibodies for the detection of metastases and recurrences of colorectal carcinomas.

Methodology: We examined 17 patients with colorectal carcinomas. Scintigraphy was performed with anti-CEA MoAb 99mTc-BW 431/26.

Monoclonal immunoscintigraphy for detection of metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Aim: To assess the clinical role of monoclonal immunoscintigraphy for the detection of metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Methods: Monoclonal immunoscintigraphy was performed in patients operated on for colorectal adenocarcinoma suspected of local recurrence and metastatic disease. The results were compared with conventional diagnostics.

Helicobacter pylori infection in various groups of patients studied, estimated by 14C-urea breath test.

The aim of this study was the detection of helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and estimation of the clinical validity and the accuracy of the 14C-urea breath test in the groups of patients studied. A total of 248 patients with gastric diseases were examined. There were 38 patients with gastric ulcer, 41 with duodenal ulcer, 43 with gastroduodenitis erosiva, 26 with hiatus hernia, 36 with gastric carcinoma and 64 patients with gastritis.

Possible role of the scintigraphic estimation of the relative liver perfusion in the diagnosis and therapy of liver carcinomas.

Background: The aim of the study is evaluation of the possible role of the scintigraphic estimation of the relative liver perfusion in diagnosis and the choice of treatment of liver carcinomas.

Material And Methods: Hepatic perfusion index was obtained by dynamic scintigraphy in 126 patients.

Results: In the control group values did not differ from the value in the patients with benign tumors (p > 0.

Usefulness of gated SPECT myocardial imaging in evaluation of patients with inferior myocardial infarction.

Objective: Gated single photon emission computed tomography (gated SPECT) myocardial imaging gives useful information about the extent and severity of perfusion abnormalities (PA) and global left ventricular (LV) function in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate by gated SPECT myocardial imaging differences in perfusion scores and LV function between stress and rest in patients with mild left ventricular dysfunction and/or normal function and previous inferior myocardial infarction (IMI) and to detect myocardial stunning.

Materials And Methods: The study included 77 patients (age 53 ± 8.