Aim: We undertook a study to evaluate whether Lutetium (Lu) DOTATATE whole body scan is well comparable to Gallium positron emission tomography (PET) / Indium Octreotide, and hence with dosimetric advantage can replace it in the pre-therapy setting. Materials and Methods: We undertook a prospective study of a total of 39 patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (age 11-70 years), who underwent Lu-DOTATATE scans within the period August 2009-November 2010. This included 28 males and 11 females. Dose of Lu-DOTATATE injected for diagnostic scanning purpose was 10 mCi i.v. Whole body planar images and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT images were obtained at 4, 24 and 48 hours. The Lu-DOTATATE whole body and SPECT-CT images were compared to contrast CT scans in all patients, and Indium Octreotide and Gallium DOTATATE PET images in nine patients, with reference to detection sensitivity of number of lesions. The pre-therapy scans were also used for dosimetric calculations. Fourteen of these 39 patients further went ahead with Lu-DOTATATE therapy. Results: All 39 patients demonstrated Lu-DOTATATE uptake in the disease sites seen on the contrast CT images. The uptake intensity was well comparable to Indium Octreotide and Gallium DOTATATE PET scans of all nine patients, with equally well-defined lesions. The post-therapy Lu-DOTATATE scans of the 14 patients who underwent therapy demonstrated higher intensity uptake pattern in the same disease sites, suggesting favorable therapeutic effect. The scans were useful in determining dosimetric details for therapeutic purpose and adequate exposure rates to suggest good ablative effect. Conclusion: Our preliminary data suggest that Lu-DOTATATE whole body scanning procedure is cost effective and equally sensitive as Gallium DOTATOC/NOC PET scan in pre-therapy setting of neuroendocrine tumors. The additional advantage of dosimetry calculations on this scanning procedure makes it more ideal to tailor therapies with more accuracy.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

A 72-year-old male, a known case of carcinoma of prostate, had bilateral orchidectomy in 2002 and while on hormones developed multiple bone metastases in 2010. He was treated with ¹⁵³ Samarium ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonate (EDTMP). The author compares the features of ^99m Tc methylene diphosphonate (MDP) scan and ¹⁵³ Sm EDTMP bone scan, highlighting the similarities of skeletal uptake.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

Aim: To determine the diagnostic reliability of ¹⁸ F-FDOPA, ¹³ N-Ammonia and F18-FDG PET/CT in primary brain tumors. We evaluated the amino acid and glucose metabolism of brain tumors by using PET with ¹⁸ F-FDOPA, ¹³ N-Ammonia and F18-FDG PET/CT. Materials and Methods : Nine patients undergoing evaluation for brain tumors were studied. Tracer uptake was quantified by the use of standardized uptake values and the ratio of tumor uptake to normal identical area of contra lateral hemisphere (T/N). In addition, PET uptake with ¹⁸ F-FDOPA was quantified by use of ratio of tumor uptake to striatum uptake (T/S). The results were correlated with the patient's clinical profile. Results : Both high-grade and low-grade tumors were well visualized with ¹⁸ F-FDOPA. The sensitivity for identifying tumors was substantially higher with ¹⁸ F-FDOPA PET than with F18-FDG and ¹³ N-Ammonia PET as determined by simple visual inspection. The sensitivity for identifying recurrence in low grade gliomas is higher with ¹³ N-Ammonia than with F18-FDG. Conclusion: ¹⁸ F-FDOPA PET is more reliable than F18-FDG and ¹³ N-Ammonia PET for evaluating brain tumors.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

Background: Dedifferentiation of thyroid follicular cells renders radioiodine therapy ineffective in patients of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). An alternative therapy to treat the disease or reinduce radioiodine uptake is necessary. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the role of retinoic acid therapy in 13 cases of DTC with raised thyroglobulin and/or clinically evident disease. Retinoic acid was given in a dose of 1.5 mg/kg for a period ranging between 1.5 and 18 months. Results: Age of the patients was between 18 and 65 years with a median of 49 years. Ten patients had papillary while two had follicular and one patient had mixed papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. Mean radioiodine given before starting retinoic acid was 164 mCi. Mean duration of therapy was 6.4 months. Thyroglobulin decreased in 2 patients and increased in 11 patients at the end of therapy. Radioiodine uptake was demonstrable in six patients, though faintly, while 7 cases showed no uptake. Based on the clinical and biochemical parameters, four patients had progressive disease, eight had stable disease and one patient showed partial response. Of the six patients with reinduction of radioiodine uptake, three had biochemical progression and the other three had stable disease. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that retinoic acid therapy may induce radioiodine uptake and reduce serum thyroglobulin levels in some patients with DTC, but whether this results in clinically significant response can only be ascertained on long-term follow-up.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

A 47-day-old female infant presented with congenital inguinal hernia, seizure on the 2 ^nd day of life, fever, progressive jaundice, acholic stools and distension of abdomen. She was suspected to have choledochal cyst with extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) and referred for an Hepatobiliary Tc-99m iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan. On HIDA scan, a functional diagnosis of ruptured choledochal cyst was made which was not possible on anatomical imaging like ultrasound (USG)/computed tomography (CT) scan. This was supported thereafter by bilious aspirate on abdominal paracentesis. Immediate laparotomy with T-tube insertion was done. The child improved dramatically after the procedure. Biliary peritonitis secondary to cyst perforation or rupture is a rare complication reported to occur in 1-2% cases of choledochal cyst. Early diagnosis and management is the key to reduce the morbidity and mortality.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

Bone scintigraphy with Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) is used to detect metastases in patients with cancer. Uptake in non-osseous, non-urologic tissues is occasionally found in the routine bone scintigraphy, which may mimic as metastatic lesions. The authors describe the case of a 70-year-old man with prostate cancer, showing diffuse tracer uptake in the left hemithorax and entire abdomen on bone scan that required additional imaging modality for localization. Careful interpretation is needed of the unusual uptake of radiotracer in regions other than the skeleton for metastatic work up.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]  [PubMed]

Scintigraphic differentiation between acute torsion, hydrocele and testicular or scrotal abscess can be difficult. Doppler sonography may provide useful complimentary information toward diagnosis. The authors describe a 5-year-old child where epididymitis with hydrocele was misdiagnosed as testicular torsion on scrotal scintigraphy.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Functional imaging using radionuclide Tc99m pertechnetate is routinely used in the evaluation of the problems related to the thyroid gland. Scintiscan has been useful in the visualization of thyroid tissue in ectopic sites due to congenital developmental anomalies. Similarly, the scan helps in establishing the diagnosis of autonomously functioning nodule when the nodule being evaluated appears "hot" with suppression of rest of the gland activity. Here, we present a very rare case of autonomously functioning thyroid adenoma in an ectopic focus of accessory thyroid tissue in the mediastinum.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

F-18 fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the thyroid and thymus is well reported in patients with Graves' disease. Incidental skeletal muscle uptake has also been reported in other non-musculoskeletal (benign and malignant) pathologies. We report a patient of Graves' disease showing symmetrical skeletal muscle uptake but no thyroidal or thymus uptake of FDG.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Background: The bacterial endotoxin test (BET) performed using gel clot method is a 60-min test and typically performed after the decay of the 2-( ¹⁸ F) fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (F18-FDG) sample to determine the endotoxin content. The objective of this study protocol was to perform BET testing of F18-FDG by gel clot method. Materials and Methods: Ten random decayed samples of the F18-FDG were subjected to the gel clot BET. The assay was performed with undiluted F18-FDG and at four different maximum valid dilutions of 1:10, 1:100, 1:350 and 1:700 (total number of tests = 100). The sensitivity of the LAL reagent used was 0.125 EU/ml. Endotoxin dilutions were freshly prepared from control standard endotoxin (CSE) stock solution for each F18-FDG batch testing. If the gel had formed and remained intact in the bottom of the reaction tube after an inversion of 180°, the test was considered positive. Any other state of the reaction mixture constituted a negative test. Results: In the undiluted samples, the measured pH (7.05) was well within the acceptable range (i.e. 6.0-8.0) for the gel clot assay. Of the 10 undiluted F18-FDG batches and all the diluted samples, none gelled after 60-min incubation period at 37°C. However, the undiluted F18-FDG did inhibit gel formation at the lysate sensitivity of 0.125 EU/ml. Conclusion: The total volume of FDG produced was 16 ml in the synthesis module. The total F18-FDG preparation at any time did not contain more than 8 EU (0.5 EU/ml Χ 16 ml). Thus, the product is safe for human administration.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]

Aim: To define the range of phase spread on equilibrium gated radionuclide ventriculography (ERNV) in normal individuals and derive the cut-off limit for the parameters to detect cardiac dyssynchrony. Materials and Methods: ERNV was carried out in 30 individuals (age 53±23 years, 25 males and 5 females) who had no history of cardiovascular disease. They all had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF 55-70%) as determined by echocardiography, were in sinus rhythm, with normal QRS duration (≤120 msec) and normal coronary angiography. First harmonic phase analysis was performed on scintigraphic data acquired in best septal view. Left and right ventricular standard deviation (LVSD and RVSD, respectively) and interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD), the absolute difference of mean phase angles of right and left ventricle, were computed and expressed in milliseconds. Mean + 3 standard deviation (SD) was used to derive the cut-off limits. Results: Average LVEF and duration of cardiac cycle in the study group were 62.5%±5.44% and 868.9±114.5 msec, respectively. The observations of LVSD, RVSD and right and left ventricular mean phase angles were shown to be normally distributed by Shapiro-Wilk test. Cut-off limits for LVSD, RVSD and IVMD were calculated to be 80 msec, 85 msec and 75 msec, respectively. Conclusion: Fourier phase analysis on ERNV is an effective tool for the evaluation of synchronicity of cardiac contraction. The cut-off limits of parameters of dyssynchrony can be used to separate heart failure patients with cardiac dyssynchrony from those without. ERNV can be used to select patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]  [PubMed]