Nuclear imaging for localization and surgical outcome prediction in epilepsy: A review of latest discoveries and future perspectives

BackgroundEpilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Approximately, one-third of patients with epilepsy have seizures refractory to antiepileptic drugs and further require surgical removal of the epileptogenic region. In the last decade, there have been many recent developments in radiopharmaceuticals, novel image analysis techniques, and new software for an epileptogenic zone (EZ) localization.ObjectivesRecently, we provided the latest discoveries, current challenges, and future perspectives in the field of positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in epilepsy.MethodsWe searched for relevant articles published in MEDLINE and CENTRAL from July 2012 to July 2022. A systematic literature review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis was conducted using the keywords “Epilepsy” and “PET or SPECT.” We included both prospective and retrospective studies. Studies with preclinical subjects or not focusing on EZ localization or surgical outcome prediction using recently developed PET radiopharmaceuticals, novel image analysis techniques, and new software were excluded from the review. The remaining 162 articles were reviewed.ResultsWe first present recent findings and developments in PET radiopharmaceuticals. Second, we present novel image analysis techniques and new software in the last decade for EZ localization. Finally, we summarize the overall findings and discuss future perspectives in the field of PET and SPECT in epilepsy.ConclusionCombining new radiopharmaceutical development, new indications, new techniques, and software improves EZ localization and provides a better understanding of epilepsy. These have proven not to only predict prognosis but also to improve the outcome of epilepsy surgery

Validation of the Thai Osteoporosis Foundation and Royal College of Orthopaedic Surgeons of Thailand Clinical Practice Guideline for bone mineral density measurement in postmenopausal women

AbstractObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the Thai Osteoporosis Foundation (TOPF) and Royal College of Orthopaedic Surgeons of Thailand (RCOST) Clinical Practice Guideline for bone mineral density (BMD) measurement for the detection of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Its secondary objective was to find better indicators to detect postmenopausal osteoporosis.MethodsPostmenopausal women were enrolled in this study between June and December 2014. The clinical risk factors following TOPF and RCOST Clinical Practice Guideline for BMD measurement were collected. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsFour hundred postmenopausal women were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the studied population was 66.16 ± 6.04 years. Twenty-seven percent of the participants had either osteoporosis of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, or total hip, of which 13.3% had osteoporosis at the lumbar spine, 21.3% had osteoporosis at the femoral neck, and 2.5% had osteoporosis of the total hip. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting osteoporosis of the whole TOPF and RCOST guideline were 96.2% and 16.7%, 98.8% and 18.7%, 90.0% and 15.1%, and 97.2% and 19.5% at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, and any sites, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that only OSTA ≤−1, osteopenia on X-ray and low trauma fracture after age of 40 years were significant clinical risk factors in the detection of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to obtain the optimum probability value of osteoporosis at any sites which revealed that the probability value of 0.2222236 would have a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 62% as the optimal cut point to detect osteoporosis. A simple flow diagram of “OSTA ≤−1”, “Osteopenia on X-ray” and “A history of low trauma fracture after age of 40 years” was developed as a better trade-off guideline for BMD measurement.ConclusionsThis study revealed that the TOPF and RCOST guideline for BMD measurement provided a high true positive rate of disease detection but with an expense of high false positive rate. The simple flow diagram was proposed as a more appropriate guideline for BMD measurement in postmenopausal women

Endometrial stromal sarcoma with selective polyvinyl alcohol embolization of a pulmonary metastasis after recurrent hemoptysis and expansive growth

A 63-year-old female with a well-vascularized pulmonary metastasis of an endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) of 6×6 cm received selective embolization with 150–250 μm polyvinyl alcohol (Contour; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) via a bronchial artery. Post-interventional loss of perfusion was qualitatively estimated to be >80%. The lesion was located in direct proximity to the pulmonary hilar vessels. Owing to recurrent and sudden hemoptyses, an interdisciplinary tumor board assessed the risk of life-threatening blood loss to be greater than that of angiography with particle embolization and agreed on an endovascular approach. Hemoptysis did not recur in a follow-up period of six months. Initial clinical symptoms were noted 25 years ago. However, establishing a definite diagnosis has, for a long time, remained a histopathological challenge

Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer:chemotherapy

<b>Background:</b> Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers are frequently described as part of a group of oral cancers or head and neck cancer. Treatment of oral cavity cancer is generally surgery followed by radiotherapy, whereas oropharyngeal cancers, which are more likely to be advanced at the time of diagnosis, are managed with radiotherapy or chemoradiation. Surgery for oral cancers can be disfiguring and both surgery and radiotherapy have significant functional side effects, notably impaired ability to eat, drink and talk. The development of new chemotherapy agents, new combinations of agents and changes in the relative timing of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy treatments may potentially bring about increases in both survival and quality of life for this group of patients.<p></p> <b>Objectives:</b> To determine whether chemotherapy, in addition to radiotherapy and/or surgery for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer results in improved survival, disease free survival, progression free survival, locoregional control and reduced recurrence of disease. To determine which regimen and time of administration (induction, concomitant or adjuvant) is associated with better outcomes.<p></p> <b>Search strategy:</b> Electronic searches of the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED were undertaken on 28th July 2010. Reference lists of recent reviews and included studies were also searched to identify further trials.<p></p> <b>Selection criteria:</b> Randomised controlled trials where more than 50% of participants had primary tumours in the oral cavity or oropharynx, and which compared the addition of chemotherapy to other treatments such as radiotherapy and/or surgery, or compared two or more chemotherapy regimens or modes of administration, were included.<p></p> <b>Data collection and analysis:</b> Trials which met the inclusion criteria were assessed for risk of bias using six domains: sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding, completeness of outcome data, selective reporting and other possible sources of bias. Data were extracted using a specially designed form and entered into the characteristics of included studies table and the analysis sections of the review. The proportion of participants in each trial with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers are recorded in Additional Table 1.<p></p> <b>Main results:</b> There was no statistically significant improvement in overall survival associated with induction chemotherapy compared to locoregional treatment alone in 25 trials (hazard ratio (HR) of mortality 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.00). Post-surgery adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved overall survival compared to surgery +/- radiotherapy alone in 10 trials (HR of mortality 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.99), and there was an additional benefit of adjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy compared to radiotherapy in 4 of these trials (HR of mortality 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98). Concomitant chemoradiotherapy resulted in improved survival compared to radiotherapy alone in patients whose tumours were considered unresectable in 25 trials (HR of mortality 0.79, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.84). However, the additional toxicity attributable to chemotherapy in the combined regimens remains unquantified.<p></p> <b>Authors' conclusions:</b> Chemotherapy, in addition to radiotherapy and surgery, is associated with improved overall survival in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers. Induction chemotherapy is associated with a 9% increase in survival and adjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy is associated with a 16% increase in overall survival following surgery. In patients with unresectable tumours, concomitant chemoradiotherapy showed a 22% benefit in overall survival compared with radiotherapy alone.<p></p&gt

Cutaneous Management after Extravasation of High-Concentrated Amino Acid Solution Administered for Renal Protection in PRRT

High-concentrated amino acid solution is used to protect the kidneys during peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PPRT) in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Extravasation of the solution can cause cutaneous complications. In this study, we described a 66-year-old man with metastatic medullary thyroid cancer and a 32-year-old woman with metastatic pancreatic NET who developed cutaneous lesions caused by the extravasation of an amino acid solution (25 g of lysine and 25 g of arginine in 1 L of normal saline) during PRRT with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE. Both were treated conservatively, and these cutaneous lesions gradually improved. The patient with metastatic pancreatic NET rejected the amino acid infusion in subsequent cycles of PRRT and therefore received [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE alone, and her serum creatinine level and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remained normal for 2 months after the last treatment. These two cases revealed cutaneous complications resulting from high-concentrated amino acid solution during PRRT because of hyperosmolarity. Health care providers should be aware of this complication to ensure its prevention and appropriate management. Preserved renal function was demonstrated after [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE treatment in the absence of the infusion of a high-concentrated amino acid solution. However, long-term follow-up of renal function is suggested