Nuclear medicine communications
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The purpose of the current study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET or PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) for detection of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ The current meta-analysis showed the high sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT for the detection of PTLD. At present, the literature regarding the use of F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT for the detection of PTLD remains limited; thus, further large multicenter studies would be necessary to substantiate the diagnostic accuracy of F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT for the diagnosis of PTLD.
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This essay will explore the critical issues and challenges surrounding lifelong learning for professionals, initially exploring within the profession and organizational context of nuclear medicine practice. It will critically examine how the peer-review process called Quality Management Audits in Nuclear Medicine Practice (QUANUM) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can be considered a lifelong learning opportunity to instill a culture of quality to improve patient care and elevate the status of the nuclear medicine profession and practice within the demands of social changes, policy, and globalization. ⋯ Further key debates surrounding lifelong learning, such as compulsification of lifelong learning and impact on professional change, will then be weaved through the discussion using theoretical grounding through a qualitative review of the literature. Keeping in mind that there is very limited literature focusing on the implications of QUANUM as a lifelong learning process for nuclear medicine professionals, this essay uses select narratives and observations of QUANUM as a lifelong learning process from an auditor's perspective and will further provide a comparative perspective of QUANUM on the basis of other lifelong learning opportunities such as continuing professional development activities and observe parallelisms on its benefits and challenges that it will offer to other professionals in other medical speciality fields and in the teaching profession.
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Plantar pain is a common problem endured by most adults at some point in their life that may result in considerable disability. Plantar fibromatosis is a locally invasive neoplasm, with the development of fibrous nodules on the plantar aspect of the feet, which can remain asymptomatic for years. (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT has been more prevalent as the imaging modality of choice for cancer patients, but the imaged field of view is often from the base of the skull to the upper thighs. ⋯ One such finding is the presence of (18)F-FDG-avid plantar nodules. This review is intended to help clinicians become aware of these potential false-positive nodules that can affect a patient's staging and management.
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Review Case Reports
FDG-PET and PET/CT in the clinical management of gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
The management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) has been revolutionized in recent years by two major developments: the introduction of imatinib mesylate as a targeted therapeutic agent and the dramatic change in the tumor metabolic activity following successful therapy making in fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET as the modality of choice for monitoring therapeutic response. In the present communication, we have explored the current role of PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging in GIST on the basis of a brief overview of the published studies and our experience on the subject gained in a large tertiary care setting. ⋯ The findings of detection of disease recurrence on discontinuing imatinib and acquired resistance to imatinib provide insight into the issue of therapeutic endpoint definition. On the basis of the experience gained in recent times, the future potential of this powerful modality in this setting is hypothesized.
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Oesophageal carcinoma is a relatively rare form of cancer. However, it is also one of the most deadly forms of cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of only 3% for patients with nodal disease, and 42% for those without nodal disease. ⋯ The literature is reviewed in the context of our recent experience. A retrospective review of 129 patients with oesophageal carcinoma, who underwent PET or PET-CT scanning over a 24-month period confirmed the incremental value of PET and PET-CT scanning in the staging of oesophageal carcinoma.