Metabolic characterisation of solitary pulmonary nodules by positron emission tomography with FDG - preliminary report

BACKGROUND: In the past some authors evaluated FDG-PET as a powerful tool for non-invasive assessment of malignancy of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN). The aim of this paper is to verify the performance of positron emission tomography with fludeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) in SPN in the conditions of the Czech Republic during the first 16 months of the operation of the PET Centre Prague. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The group of 22 patients with 23 SPN was investigated by dedicated PET scanner due to inconclusive CT scan. icromorphological confirmation was available in 61%; follow-up (median = 12 months) concerned the other 39% SPN. RESULTS: PET was clearly positive in 11 nodules, all were malignant according to micromorphological assessment. PET was completely negative in 10 nodules, 3 of them were micromorphologically evaluated as benign, the other 7 nodules were followed up without any signs of malignancy. In two cases, PET revealed enhanced glucose consumption, but the pattern was not typical for malignancy. These cases were considered as bronchopneumonia, but till now, they have not been definitely resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Excluding two unresolved cases, sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET was 100% for malignancy in our series. PET was helpful in medical decision-making in all patients

Detection of Bronchial Neoplasia in Uranium Miners by Autofluorescence Endoscopy (SAFE-1000)

The increase in the detection rate for premalignant changes of bronchial epithelium was studied in 56 symptom-free volunteers from the risk group of Czech uranium miners (mean age 50.69 years, mean WLM 21.06 (1 Working Level Month is equal to the absorption of latent energy of 2.08 × 10–5 J/m3 in one month, i.e. 170 working hours)) by the additional employment of the System of Autofluorescence Endoscopy (SAFE-1000 Pentax) to conventional white-light bronchoscopy, comparing results with those of bronchial biopsy histopathology examination. Histopathology using hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed intraepithelial neoplasias in 15 areas in 10 persons. White-light bronchoscopy sensitivity was 21.05%, and specificity 93.7% which an autofluorescence bronchoscopy sensitivity was 78.95% and specificity 81.89%

Continued Smoking in Lung Transplant Patients: A Cross Sectional Survey

Smoking is associated with a higher incidence of post-lung transplantation complications and mortality. Prior to inclusion on the lung transplant waiting list in the Czech Republic, patients are supposed to be tobacco free for at least 6 months. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of smoking, validated by urinary cotinine, among patients post lung transplantation and prior to inclusion on the transplant waiting list