Intense uptake evidenced by 18F-FDG PET/CT without a corresponding CT finding — dream or reality?

Although 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been widely validated and extensively used in the latest years in clinical practice, interpretation of PET/CT images can be affected by several pitfalls. We here present a case of intense lung uptake in a patient without a corresponding finding on CT images, probably due to a microembolism produced during the injection process and located in small vascular structures of the lung parenchyma

Extraosseous myocardial uptake incidentally detected during bone scan: report of three cases and a systematic literature review of extraosseous uptake

Bone scintigraphy is widely considered as an important technique able to investigate various pathological conditions of the skeletal system. Many unexpected extraosseous uptakeshave been reported in literature. We present here three casesof unexpected 99mTc-oxidronate (HDP) myocardial extraosseous uptakes in patients undergoing bone scan for staging purposes. In particular, we present the first reported case ofa myocardial uptake in a patient with IgM-related amyloidosis. Subsequently, we perform a review of the existing literature about extraosseous uptakes

F18-FDG-PET/CT in a patient affected by Lynch syndrome

Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common hereditary syndrome that predisposes patients to colorectal cancer, and it accounts for 2–5% of the total burden of colorectal cancer. We report a case of a 61-year-old female affected by Lynch syndrome who underwent multiple adenocarcinoma resections, studied by F18-FDG-PET/CT for 5 years. This case report suggests a potential role of F18-FDG-PET/CT in the evaluation of patients affected by Lynch syndrome. Nuclear Med Rev 2010; 13, 2: 87–8

Possible additional value of 18FDG-PET in managing pancreas intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: Preliminary results

Although some clinical and radiological features may predict malignancy presence in intraductal papillary mucinous pancreas neoplasms, preoperative diagnosis remains difficult. In this study we present 7 patients with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) studied both with 18FDG-PET and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). A focal hypermetabolism was documented in 2 patients (the standardized uptake value in the neoplastic foci was 6.7 and 9), while absence of FDG uptake in the neoplasm area was recorded in the remaining 5 cases. Mean follow-up was 27 months (range 21–34). The final judgement was benign IPMN in 5 cases and malignant IPMN in 2. PET scan always correctly predicted the presence or absence of malignancy, while MRCP failed to detect malignancy in 3/7 cases. In conclusion, this preliminary experience suggests that 18FDG-PET may prove useful for malignancy detection in IPMN, improving differential diagnosis with benign intraductal papillary growth by functional data

Cetuximab in the treatment of metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands: A case report and review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Patients with metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary glands have a poor outcome. The epidermal growth factor receptor protein is overexpressed in approximately 70% of mucoepidermoid carcinoma patients and may represent a therapeutic target. However, whether treatment with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents is effective is unclear and clinical trials are difficult due to the rarity of the disease. Here we assessed the activity of cetuximab in mucoepidermoid carcinoma on a molecular basis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 40-year old Caucasian man with a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the major salivary glands who developed distant bone and visceral metastases despite platinum-based chemotherapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor was overexpressed and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated a chromosome 7 polysomy. The patient was treated with the monoclonal antibody cetuximab in combination with cisplatin. After 11 doses of cetuximab, the patient developed brain metastases but evidence of response was documented at all extracranial metastatic sites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case report indicates that cetuximab can be active in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and may restore sensitivity to cisplatin in platinum-treated patients. Cetuximab does not cross the blood brain barrier and may select a metastatic clone to home the central nervous system while responding at other sites.</p

PROCESSO DI PREPARAZIONE DI TIGECICLINA

Si descrive un processo per la preparazione di tigeciclina per reazione di 9-amminominociclina con un derivato N-protetto di tert-butilglicina seguita da rimozione del gruppo protettivo in condizioni blande

Positron Emission Tomography for the Response Evaluation following Treatment with Chemotherapy in Patients Affected by Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Selected Review

The aim of the present paper is to review the scientific literature concerning the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of response to chemotherapy in patients affected by liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Material and Methods. Studies were identified by searching PubMed electronic databases. Both prospective and retrospective studies were included. Information regarding the figure of merit of PET for the evaluation of therapy response was extracted and analyzed. Results. Existing data suggests that 18F-FDG PET/CT may have an outstanding role in evaluating the response. The sensitivity of PET in detecting therapy response seems to be greater than conventional imaging (CT and MRI). PET/CT response is strictly related to better overall survival and progression-free survival. Conclusions. PET/CT is more than a promising technique to assess the response to chemotherapy in colorectal and liver metastases. However, to be fully validated, this examination needs further studies by recruiting more patients

Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Temperature for Ultrastable Optical Cavities

This paper describes the application of a novel active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) to the stabilization of the temperature of two ultra-stable Fabry-Pérot cavities. The cavities are 10 cm long and entirely made of ultra-low-expansion glass. The control is based on a linear extended state observer that estimates and compensates the disturbance in the system in real time. The resulting control is inherently robust and easy to tune. A digital implementation of ADRC gives a temperature instability of 200 μK at one day of integration tim