Nuclear medicine procedures and the evaluation of male sexual organs: a short review

Sexuality consists of three aspects that are interrelated and inseparable, biological, physiological and social. The biological aspect considers the individual's capability to give and to receive pleasure. In consequence, it covers the functionality of the sexual organs and the physiology of human sexual response cycle. Diagnostic imaging modalities, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) have been used to evaluate clinical disorders of the male reproductive system. PET and SPECT procedures basically involve the administration of a radiopharmaceutical that has a higher uptake in a specific tumor or tissue. The aim of this brief review is to present some radiopharmaceuticals that have been used in the clinical evaluation of the male sexual organs (testes, prostate, seminal vesicles, penis) related with male sexuality. This information could be useful in better understanding the male sexual response cycle, as well as the sexual disorders, when considering the male sexual organs and the pelvic floor. Moreover, the findings obtained with PET and SPECT imaging could help to evaluate the efficacy of clinical results of therapeutic procedures. In conclusion, the knowledge from these images could aid in better understanding the physiology of the different organs related with sexuality. Furthermore, they could be important tools to evaluate the physiological integrity of the involved organs, to improve clinical strategies and to accompany the patients under treatment

Imaging Of Bladder Cancer: Update On Current Approaches For Diagnosis

Imaging plays a mainstay role in evaluation of patients with bladder cancer, especially for diagnosis, local and distant staging and treatment follow up. In this article, we aim to review and to update conventional and functional imaging methods used in clinical management of bladder cancer.WoSScopu

Emergency surgery for bowel obstruction in extremely aged patients

BACKGROUND: As a result of the increasing of life expectancy, the incidence of pathologies that can lead to operation for bowel obstruction is also increasing. Comorbidities and reduced physiological reserve can decrease elderly patients' ability to tolerate operations especially in an emergency context. We retrospectively evaluated the treatment and outcomes of a cohort of patients aged more than 85 years who underwent emergency surgery for intestinal occlusion. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-eight patients who were admitted to our Institution and operated for acute bowel obstruction have been included in our study. We divided the study population in 2 groups (group A: patients aged>85 years old; group B patients aged 6485 years). We evaluated the differences between the two groups in terms of intestinal occlusion aetiology, surgical procedures, morbidity and mortality rates. RESULTS: Group A consisted of 57 patients, group B of 221; elderly patients trend in ASA score classification was significantly towards high risk for elderly group; statistical analysis did not show differences in terms of bowel obstruction etiology (except colon volvulus, more frequent in advanced age), type of procedure, duration of hospital stay, procedure-related complication rate. Perioperative mortality was significantly higher in elderly group, due to the mayor incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory fatal events directly related to pre-existing comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high surgical risk, early diagnosis and treatment of the obstructive disease can lead to achieve encouraging outcomes also in extremely advanced age; an aggressive evaluation of comorbidities and the cardiorespiratory risks reduction, when possible, could be useful in improve postoperative outcomes in terms of mortality

Early surgical management of acute cholecystitis in ultra-octogenarian patients: Our 5-year experience

BACKGROUND: Acute calculous cholecystitis is a leading cause for hospital admission especially in developed countries. As older age population increases, medical research should consider the efficacy of all therapeutic options, including early surgical procedure in an emergency context, for the treatment of acute cholecystitis in elderly high-risk patients. METHODS: From 01/01/2012 to 31/12/2016, 245 patients were admitted to our Institution with diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and managed with cholecystectomy within the same hospitalization. The study population was divided into 2 subgroups: group A (patients aged more than 80 years) and group B (patients within the limit of 80 years of age); the objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the surgical outcomes of the 2 groups in terms of conversion rate, mortality rate, overall morbidity and procedure-related complication rates. RESULTS: Statistical analysis did not show significant differences between ultra octogenarian and younger patients in terms of conversion to open procedure, iatrogenic bile duct lesions, postoperative peritoneal bleeding, bile leakage and peritoneal collection; no differences in terms of hospital stay have been demonstrated. Mortality and overall morbidity rates, even if similar to what observed in Literature and within acceptable values, were significantly higher in elderly patients, due to the presence of severe comorbidities leading to potentially fatal postoperative events. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive approach in an emergency setting for acute cholecystitis seems to be a feasible and adequate therapeutic approach for extremely aged high-risk patients

Sarcopenia and Patient’s Body Composition: New Morphometric Tools to Predict Clinical Outcome After Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy: a Multicenter Study

Background: The impact of preoperative body composition as independent predictor of prognosis for esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy is still unclear. The aim of the study was to explore such a relationship. Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study from a prospectively maintained database. We enrolled consecutive patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy in four Italian high-volume centers from May 2014. Body composition parameters including total abdominal muscle area (TAMA), visceral fat area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were determined based on CT images. Perioperative variables were systematically collected. Results: After exclusions, 223 patients were enrolled and 24.2% had anastomotic leak (AL). Sixty-eight percent of patients were sarcopenic and were found to be more vulnerable in terms of postoperative 90-day mortality (p = 0.028). VFA/TAMA and VFA/SFA ratios demonstrated a linear correlation with the Clavien-Dindo classification (R = 0.311 and 0.239, respectively); patients with anastomotic leak (AL) had significantly higher VFA/TAMA (3.56 ± 1.86 vs. 2.75 ± 1.83, p = 0.003) and VFA/SFA (1.18 ± 0.68 vs. 0.87 ± 0.54, p = 0.002) ratios. No significant correlation was found between preoperative BMI and subsequent AL development (p = 0.159). Charlson comorbidity index correlated significantly with AL (p = 0.008): these patients had a significantly higher index (≥ 5). Conclusion: Analytical morphometric assessment represents a useful non-invasive tool for preoperative risk stratification. The concurrent association of sarcopenia and visceral obesity seems to be the best predictor of AL, far better than simple BMI evaluation, and potentially modifiable if targeted with prehabilitation programs

Pretargeted immuno-PET and radioimmunotherapy of prostate cancer with an anti-TROP-2 x anti-HSG bispecific antibody

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