Combined Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography : Option or necessity?

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Gallium-67 Scintigraphy in the Era of Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography : Tertiary centre experience

Objectives: Although 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has largely replaced the use of gallium-67 (67Ga) scintigraphy in the evaluation and follow-up of lymphoma patients, 67Ga scans are still of value, particularly in countries where no PET/CT service is available. The current study presents the experience of a tertiary care centre using 67Ga scintigraphy for the evaluation of lymphomas and infections. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all 67Ga scans performed between 2007 and 2011 at the Royal Hospital in Muscat, Oman. Images and reports of 67Ga scans were compared to clinical and radiological follow-up data including CT and PET/CT scans and biopsies when available. Results: A total of 74 patients were referred for 67Ga scintigraphy during this period with 12 patients excluded due to lack of follow-up data, resulting in 62 patients. Among these patients, 90 67Ga scans were performed, including 59 for lymphoma, 29 for infection and two for sarcoidosis assessment. Of the infection assessment scans, 22 were performed to assess pyrexia of unknown origin and seven for follow-up after known infections. Sensitivity and specificity were found to be 80% and 88%, respectively, for the lymphoma assessment scans. For the infection assessment scans, sensitivity and specificity were reported to be 80% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Results from this study were consistent with other reported rates of 67Ga scan sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of lymphomas and infections. This indicates that 67Ga scintigraphy is a useful tool for these types of evaluations when PET/CT services are not available

The Medical Case for a Positron Emission Tomography and X-ray Computed Tomography Combined Service in Oman

The value of a positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) combined service in terms of diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness and impact on clinical decision-making is welldocumented in the literature. Its role in the management of patients presenting with cancer is shifting from early staging and restaging to the early assessment of the treatment response. Currently, the application of PET/CT has extended to non-oncological specialties—mainly neurology, cardiology and rheumatology. A further emerging application for PET/CT is the imaging of infection/inflammation. This article illustrates some of the PET/CT applications in both oncological and non-oncological disorders. In view of the absence of this modality in Oman, this article aims to increase the awareness of the importance of these imaging modalities and their significant impact on diagnosis and management in both oncological and non-oncological specialties for patients of all age groups as well as the decision-makers

Graves’ disease post-COVID-19 m-RNA vaccine in pediatric age group

The surge of the COVID-19 pandemic (December / 2019 - May/2023) and its catastrophic effect worldwide have necessitated emergent intervention to reduce its influence on people's health and life. To eliminate and reduce the impact of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 vaccination was emergently authorized in December 2020 which has established good safety and efficacy. Having said that, some adverse effects merged in a few individuals. We are reporting an adolescent patient a 17-year-old female who has been diagnosed with Graves’ disease after post-COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, she was a confirmed case of COVID-19 infection three months earlier. The patient presented with typical features of hyperthyroidism 30 days post receiving the first dose of the vaccination. Based on the patient's presentation relative to the administration of the vaccine and prior infection of the virus. We proposed the synergistic effect of both factors to induce Graves’ disease in this young healthy female with no family history of autoimmune disease. We are reporting this case for pediatric endocrinologists to be aware of the interaction and possible impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on thyroid function

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Combined Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography: Option or necessity?

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The Medical Case for a Positron Emission Tomography and X-ray Computed Tomography Combined Service in Oman

The value of a positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) combined service in terms of diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness and impact on clinical decision-making is well-documented in the literature. Its role in the management of patients presenting with cancer is shifting from early staging and restaging to the early assessment of the treatment response. Currently, the application of PET/CT has extended to non-oncological specialties—mainly neurology, cardiology and rheumatology. A further emerging application for PET/CT is the imaging of infection/inflammation. This article illustrates some of the PET/CT applications in both oncological and non-oncological disorders. In view of the absence of this modality in Oman, this article aims to increase the awareness of the importance of these imaging modalities and their significant impact on diagnosis and management in both oncological and non-oncological specialties for patients of all age groups as well as the decision-makers

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures