Nuclear Imaging in Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatosis which may result in a wide variety of clinical and biological presentations. Symptoms are often nonspecific, and incidental abnormal findings on chest radiography is rather common. Although sarcoidosis resolves favorably in most cases, some localizations can provoke functional impairment or even impact on patients' prognosis. The diagnosis is based on a pathological hallmark which is the non-necrotizing epithelioid-cell rich granuloma.Owing to the ability to detect inflammation throughout the body with a high sensibility, FDG-PET/CT gained a central role in sarcoidosis because it...
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - March 9, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Eve Piekarski, Khadija Benali, Fran çois Rouzet Source Type: research
The “3M” Approach to Cardiovascular Infections: Multimodality, Multitracers, and Multidisciplinary
Cardiovascular infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis is crucial for adequate patient management, as early treatment improves the prognosis. The diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of a single symptom, sign, or diagnostic test. Rather, the diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary discussion in addition to the integration of clinical signs, microbiology data, and imaging data. The application of multimodality imaging, including molecular imaging techniques, has improved the sensitivity to detect infections involving heart valves and vessels and implanted cardiovascular devices while als...
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - March 9, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Martina Sollini, Raffaella Berchiolli, Roberto C. Delgado Bolton, Alexia Rossi, Margarita Kirienko, Roberto Boni, Elena Lazzeri, Riemer Slart, Paola Anna Erba Source Type: research
Molecular Imaging of Vulnerable Plaque
Molecular imaging provides multiple imaging techniques to identify characteristics of vulnerable plaque including I) Inflammatory cells (the presence and metabolic activity of macrophages), II) synthesis of lipid and fatty acid in the plaque, III) the presence of hypoxia in severely inflamed lesions, IV) expression of factors stimulating angiogenesis, V) expression of protease enzymes in the lesion, VI) development of microthrombi in late-phase lesions, VII) apoptosis, and VIII) microcalcification. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - March 9, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Takehiro Nakahara, Jagat Narula, H. William Strauss Source Type: research
Nuclear Imaging in Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatosis which may result in a wide variety of clinical and biological presentations. Symptoms are often nonspecific, and incidental abnormal findings on chest radiography is rather common. Although sarcoidosis resolves favorably in most cases, some localizations can provoke functional impairment or even impact on patients' prognosis. The diagnosis is based on a pathological hallmark which is the non-necrotizing epithelioid-cell rich granuloma.Owing to the ability to detect inflammation throughout the body with a high sensibility, FDG-PET/CT gained a central role in sarcoidosis because it...
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - March 9, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Eve Piekarski, Khadija Benali, Fran çois Rouzet Source Type: research
Guest Editorial on Molecular Imaging of Infection and Inflammation
In this second, and concluding, issue on Molecular Imaging of Infection and Inflammation, Sollini et al1 review the nascent, but expanding role of labeled leukocyte SPECT/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of cardiovascular infections, including infective endocarditis and infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices, as well as prosthetic vascular graft infections. PET/MRI combines th e features of MRI—such as soft tissue contrast, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging—with the quantitative physiological and metabolic data provided by PET. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 27, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Christopher J. Palestro Source Type: research
Letter from the Editors —May 2018 Issue
Prior to these two issues, we last visited Nuclear Medicine's role in infection and inflammation 9 years ago. In 2009, the two major diagnostic agents available were Gallium-67 Citrate and Indium-111-labeled leukocytes (WBC). From a day-to-day clinical standpoint, these two approaches to studying infection and inflammation remain the standard today. Labeled white cells are used for most studies except for the spine and lungs where gallium has proven superior. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 19, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Leonard M. Freeman, M. Donald Blaufox Source Type: research
Letter from the Editors
The first approach to evaluating infectious disease clinically with radionuclide methodology utilized gallium-67 citrate, which was developed as a carrier-free agent at the Oak Ridge National Laboratories. In an early issue of Seminars, Dr Raymond Hayes shared some of his memories of its early usage as a tumor-seeking agent and, subsequently, for detecting sites of infection.1 The number of gallium studies performed clinically peaked in the 1980s during the increasing prevalence of HIV and its associated complication of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 14, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Leonard M. Freeman, M. Donald Blaufox Source Type: research
Imaging Macrophage-associated Inflammation
Macrophages belong to the mononuclear phagocyte system comprising closely related cells of bone marrow origin. Activated macrophages are critical in several diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, and atherosclerosis. Noninvasive imaging techniques that can specifically image activated macrophages could therefore help in differentiating various forms of inflammatory diseases and to monitor therapeutic responses. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 13, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Catherine A. Foss, Julian Sanchez-Bautista, Sanjay K. Jain Source Type: research
Implementation of Quality Systems in Nuclear Medicine: Why It Matters. An Outcome Analysis (Quality Management Audits in Nuclear Medicine Part III)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) developed a comprehensive program —Quality Management Audits in Nuclear Medicine (QUANUM). This program covers all aspects of nuclear medicine practices including, but not limited to, clinical practice, management, operations, and services. The QUANUM program, which includes quality standards detailed in relevant checklists, aims at introducing a culture of comprehensive quality audit processes that are patient oriented, systematic, and outcome based. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 9, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Maurizio Dondi, Diana Paez, Leonel Torres, Mario Marengo, Angelika Bischof Delaloye, Kishor Solanki, Annare Van Zyl Ellmann, Enrique Estrada Lobato, Rodolfo Nunez Miller, Francesco Giammarile, Thomas Pascual Source Type: research
Imaging of Spondylodiscitis
Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the vertebral body or disc and may also involve the epidural space, posterior elements, and paraspinal soft tissues. It is a cause of morbidity and mortality, and warrants early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Diagnosis can be difficult because of nonspecific signs and symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging is sensitive and specific and is the imaging modality of choice for spondylodiscitis. Gadolinium contrast can show the extent of soft tissue and bone phlegmon and abscess. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 6, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Meera Raghavan, Elena Lazzeri, Christopher J. Palestro Source Type: research
Currently Available Radiopharmaceuticals for Imaging Infection and the Holy Grail
Infection is ubiquitous. However, its management is challenging for both the patients and the health-care providers. Scintigraphic imaging of infection dates back nearly half a century. The advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of disease at cellular and molecular levels have paved the way to the development of a large number of radiopharmaceuticals for scintigraphic imaging of infection. These include radiolabeling of blood elements such as serum proteins, white blood cells (WBCs), and cytokines, to name a few. (Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine)
Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - February 5, 2018 Category: Nuclear Medicine Authors: Ebru Salmanoglu, Sung Kim, Mathew L. Thakur Source Type: research
