TRIPAS: a triapplicator system with relocatable 'hot spot' at tissue depth.

Solving the problem of heat focusing and standardization of the clinical application of hyperthermia requires a mathematical prediction model. The model should include the medium constitutive parameter, and be able to predict positioning of the microwave applicators to optimize treatment planning and provide for reproducible treatment set-up. We present a configuration of 3 applicators subtended by an equilateral triangle in order to target and relocate a 'hot spot' for improved treatment of deep tumors.

Microwave hyperthermia as an adjunct to radiation therapy: summary experience of 256 multifraction treatment cases.

Results in 256 cases of malignant disease treated by multifraction combination hyperthermia-radiation therapy under the supervision of one physician are presented. The overall response rate was 94% including a 62% complete response. Complications specifically ascribed to hyperthermia were minor, and most side effects of combined treatment were radiation dose related.

Clinical and parametric evaluation of three large-field-of-view cameras.

This paper compares the clinical and parametric performance, at 140 keV, of three different large-field cameras in a single institution. The instruments tested were the Ohio Nuclear 410, Picker 4/15, and Searle LFOV. There were differences noted in both qualitative and quantitative measurements of physical performance, but these differences could not be demonstrated in clinical studies.

Early and delayed Tc-99m glucoheptonate brain scintigraphy: are routine early images indicated?

Both early and delayed Tc-99m glucoheptonate brain images were evaluated in 859 patients in order to determine whether the early imaging with this agent is clinically useful. The results suggest that the early brain images are inferior to the delayed ones in detecting CNS lesions. Use of both, however, may help to differentiate skull or scalp abnormalities from true lesions of the brain.

Critical evaluation of 99mTc glucoheptonate as a brain imaging agent.

99mTc glucoheptonate was used as a brain imaging agent in a consecutive series of 859 patients. Sensitivity was 94% in patients with proved CNS tumors. Static imaging of patients with infarction showed a sensitivity of 62%.

Technetium-99m-glucoheptonate as a brain-scanning agent: critical comparison with pertechnetate.

Delayed 99mTc-glucoheptonate and pertechnetate scans were evaluated in a paired study for their ability to detect brain lesions. Glucoheptonate was found to be superior in eight of 17 cases of brain tumor and in two of ten patients with cerebral infarction. In addition, early (30 min) 99mTc-glucoheptonate brain scans were compared with delayed studies: the former were inferior in 48% of the cases.

Transient brain scan abnormalities in renal dialysis patients.

Two patients on chronic renal hemodialysis developed acute neurologic symptoms and unusual brain scan findings, including very prominent cranial sinuses. Symptoms and scan abnormalities reverted to normal within a few days. The possible mechanisms are discussed.

Evaluation of postcraniotomy patients by radionuclide scan.

Twenty-eight patients with cerebral tumors were evaluated after craniotomy with combined radionuclide techniques in order to assess presence or absence of tumor recurrence. The combination of a positive pertechnetate or Tc-phosphate scan with a positive gallium scan strongly indicates the presence of recurrent or residual tumor. Infection may also cause uptake but was easily distinguished by the distribution.

Metastatic hemangiopericytoma associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia: review and report of a case.

The hemangiopericytoma is an invasive tumor of vascular origin. No matter how benign the course and how circumscribed the mass, it must be considered a lesion with high malignant potential. In the case report here, a hemangiopericytoma of the pancreas with metastasis to the liver was associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in a 78-year old woman.

Reliability of gallium brain scanning in the detection and differentiation of central nervous system lesions.

Both 99mTc-pertechnetate and 67Ga-citrate brain scans were performed in 93 patients with cerebral neoplasms and in 70 others with cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. Tumor detection was clearly better with 67Ga(96%) than with 99mTc(85%). Cerebral infarctions consistently either failed to concentrate 67Ga(67%) of revealed a much lower concentration than the 99mTc study (27%).

Scintigraphic elvaluation of liver metastases from thyroid carcinoma.

Thirty-one patients with carcinoma of the thyroid were evaluated using 131-I scan of the torso including the area of the liver. Focal areas of 131I uptake were found in the liver in two patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma. Both patients showed associated abnormalities on 99m-Tc-sulfur colloid liver scans.