The quarterly journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging : official publication of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine (AIMN) [and] the International Association of Radiopharmacology (IAR), [and] Section of the Society of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Biology
-
Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging · Feb 2010
Comparative StudyComparison of (68)Ga-DOTA-Tyr(3)-octreotide and (18)F-fluoro-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography in neuroendocrine tumor patients.
(68)Ga-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide positron emission tomography ((68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET) and (18)F-fluoro-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine PET ((18)F-DOPA PET) are emerging modalities for imaging of neuroendocrine tumors. This study reports our initial experiences with these two PET modalities on initial diagnosis, staging and restaging in NET patients. ⋯ (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC and (18)F-DOPA PET are useful tools in the detection and staging of NET lesions. Our initial results allow the conclusion that (68)Ga-DOTA-TOC PET may have a stronger clinical impact in NET patients, as it does not only offer diagnostic information, but is decisive for the further treatment management, i. e. PRRT, as well.
-
Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging · Feb 2010
Clinical TrialPreliminary experience with (68)Ga-DOTA-lanreotide positron emission tomography.
Positron emission tomography (PET) of (68)Ga-radiolabelled (SST) somatostatin receptor (R) binding peptides has recently been evaluated in SSTR positive tumor patients. First promising results in lung and thyroid tumor patients with (111)In-DOTA-Lanreotide (DOTA-LAN) scintigraphy have been described. We report our first experience with (68)Ga-labeled DOTA-LAN. ⋯ (68)Ga-DOTA-LAN visualized the majority of tumor lesions. Further studies are required to assess the clinical value, and to obtain the best imaging protocol of this new PET SSTR tracer.
-
Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging · Aug 2009
Comparative StudyComparative performance of two inhaler systems to assess distribution of convective ventilation by 99mTc-labeled aerosol scintigraphy in patients with airway obstruction.
Redistribution of convective ventilation, the leading disorder in airway obstruction, is a target of pharmacological and mechanical ventilation treatments for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Convective ventilation is visualized by ventilation scintigraphy using radiolabeled aerosol particles that should ideally deposit in the terminal airspaces, but not in the conducting airways, and have no Brownian motion (which characterizes diffusive ventilation). Currently available commercial systems do not meet these requirements as they do not ensure an optimal size of aerosol droplets delivered at the mouthpiece. ⋯ These findings consistently indicate that the smaller-sized radiolabeled droplets generated by FAI, combined with the better breathing dynamics of the inhaler device, result in better overall performance as compared to the commercial system. This makes scintigraphic images obtained with the new device especially suitable for assessing convective ventilation in COPD patients, a particularly helpful feature for analytically describing the distribution patterns observed in airway-obstructed patients and for evaluating the effects of drugs, mechanical ventilation, and other interventions in such patients.
-
Although the promise of new positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents is great, the process of bringing these agents to commercialization remains in its infancy. There are no PET products today that have gone through the full clinical and chemistry development process required to gain marketing approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ⋯ The review includes discussion of validation from development to commercial production of PET radiopharmaceuticals with a special emphasis on equipment and instrumentation used in production and testing. The goal is to stimulate a dialog that leads to the standardization of industry practices and regulatory requirements for validation practices in PET.
-
Q J Nucl Med Mol Imaging · Mar 2008
Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and elevated thyroglobulin after total thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of 18F fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) treated with therapeutic (131)I because of elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels during follow up. The results of FDG-PET/CT were compared with post-therapy (131)I whole body scan (131I-t-WBS) and Tg at short term follow up. ⋯ FDG-PET/CT is a powerful and useful tool for assessing patients with DTC. it can provide additional information in those patients with high Tg at follow-up and eligible for 131I therapy. A negative FDG-PET/CT could also represent a prognostic tool combined with serum Tg testing a short term follow-up.