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Evaluation of 177Lu-Dotatate treatment in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors and prognostic factors

Introduction: The early diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is a medical challenge and a multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve its frequently fatal prognosis. Our goal was to evaluate the usefulness of [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) in the diagnosis of this disease. Materials and Methods: We prospectively assessed 43 patients (five female and 38 male) with clinical suspicion of IE between 2014 and 2017. All patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and an 18F-FDG PET scan, and the results were compared. A positive PET finding was defined as increased FDG uptake on cardiac valves or intracardiac devices. Results: Out of 43 patients with suspected IE, the diagnosis was confirmed in 30 cases (79.7%). 18F-FDG PET was positive in 24 patients, with 19 showing FDG uptake on cardiac valves (two native and 17 prosthetic) and five on cardiac devices, being concordant with echocardiographic findings in 11 cases. 18F-FDG PET sensitivity was 80%, specificity 92%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96% and negative predictive value (NPV) 66%. Echocardiography presented sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 36%, 84%, 84% and 36%, respectively. Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET proved to be a sensitive technique with a high diagnostic value in patients with prosthetic valves and intracardiac devices and suspected IE. Its utility decreased dramatically in patients with suspected IE on native valves, in which TEE presented higher sensitivity and thus better diagnostic value. Resumo: Introdução: O diagnóstico precoce de endocardite infecciosa (EI) é um desafio médico. Portanto, uma abordagem multidisciplinar é essencial para melhorar o prognóstico desta patologia, muitas vezes fatal. O nosso objetivo foi avaliar a utilidade da tomografia por emissão de pósitrons [18F] 2-fluoro-2-desoxi-D-glicose (18F-FDG-PET) no diagnóstico desta doença. Materiais e métodos: De forma prospetiva, avaliámos 43 doentes (5 do sexo feminino e 38 do masculino) clinicamente suspeitos de EI entre 2014-2017. Todos os doentes foram submetidos a um ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE) e uma PET 18F-FDG, os resultados foram posteriormente comparados. Um critério PET positivo foi definido como um aumento na captação de FDG nas válvulas cardíacas ou nos dispositivos intracardíacos. Resultados: Dos 43 doentes com suspeita de EI, o diagnóstico foi confirmado em 30 casos (79,7%). O 18F-FDG-PET foi positivo em 24 doentes, dos quais 19 demonstraram captação de FDG nas válvulas cardíacas (2 nativas e 17 protésicas) e cinco nos dispositivos cardíacos, concordando com os achados ecocardiográficos em 11 casos. A sensibilidade de 18F-FDG-PET (S) foi de 80%, especificidade (P) de 92%, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) de 96% e valor preditivo negativo (VPN) de 66%. A ecocardiografia apresentou valores de S, P, PPV e VPN de 36%, 84%, 84% e 36%, respetivamente. Conclusões: O 18F-FDG-PET demonstrou ser uma técnica sensível com alto valor diagnóstico em doentes com suspeita de EI com próteses valvulares e dispositivos intracardíacos. A utilidade desta técnica diminui drasticamente em doentes com suspeita de EI nas válvulas nativas, nas quais a ETE apresentou maior sensibilidade e, portanto, melhor valor diagnóstico. Keywords: Infective endocarditis, Positron emission tomography, 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose, Transesophageal echocardiography, Palavras-chave: Endocardite infecciosa (EI), Tomografia por emissão de pósitrões (18F-FDG-PET), Ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE)

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term prognostic value provided by the exercise electrocardiographic (ECG) response to nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in the evaluation of patients with chest pain, focusing on patients with a discrepancy between the two tests. Methods: A total of 1460 consecutive patients (777 female; 62.6±11.4 years) undergoing exercise myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were included. The endpoint was the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome, heart failure or cardiac death during follow-up. Results: Ischemic ECG changes were observed during stress testing in 271 patients (18.5%) and 362 patients (24.7%) had positive (abnormal) exercise MPI results. There was a discrepancy between ECG and SPECT findings in 471 patients (32.2%). During the follow-up period (14.0-39.6 months), 224 patients (15.3%) presented cardiac events. The hazard ratios (HR) of ECG and MPI results to predict events were 1.506 (95% CI: 1.113-2.039) and 10.481 (95% CI: 7.799-14.080), respectively. In patients with negative MPI, the ECG response did not predict events (HR 1.214 [95% CI: 0.646-2.282]), the same as in patients with positive MPI (HR 1.203 [95% CI: 0.848-1.705]). Only in hypertensive patients with positive SPECT did the ECG show significant prognostic value (HR 1.937 [95% CI: 1.030-3.642]). In multivariate analysis, positive MPI proved an independent long-term prognostic factor (HR 10.536 [95% CI: 7.759-14.308]), but not ECG (HR 1.356 [95% CI: 0.994-1.850]). Conclusion: MPI results (normal vs. abnormal) had strong predictive value and discrepant ECG results had no significant additive prognostic value. Resumo: Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar o valor prognóstico a longo prazo, fornecido pelo eletrocardiograma (ECG) em resposta ao esforço na cintigrafia de perfusão miocárdica (CPM) na avaliação de doentes com dor torácica, com ênfase para os grupos de doentes com discrepância entre os dois testes. Método: Foram incluídos 1460 doentes consecutivos (777 do sexo feminino; 62,6 ± 11,4 anos), submetidos a exercício na cintigrafia de perfusão miocárdica com SPECT. O endpoint foi a presença de síndrome coronária aguda, insuficiência cardíaca ou morte cardíaca durante o seguimento. Resultados: Duzentos e setenta e um doentes (18,5%) apresentaram alterações eletrocardiográficas de isquemia durante o teste de esforço e 362 doentes (24,7%) tinham resultados positivos (anormais) na CPM. A discrepância entre os resultados do ECG e CPM apareceu em 471 doentes (32,2%). Durante o período de seguimento (14,0-39,6 meses), 224 (15,3%) apresentaram eventos cardíacos. O hazard ratio (HR) para predizer eventos dos resultados do ECG e CPM foi de 1,506 (1,113-2,039) e 10,481 (7,799-14,080), respetivamente. No grupo de doentes com CPM negativo, o ECG não prediz eventos [HR 1,214 (0,646-2,282)],e o mesmo acontece no grupo de doentes com CPM positivo [HR 1,203 (0,848-1,705)]. Apenas em doentes hipertensos com CPM positivo, o ECG mostrou valor prognóstico significativo [HR 1,937 (1,030-3,642)]. Na análise multivariada, a CPM positiva foi um fator independente de prognóstico a longo prazo [HR 10,536 (7,759-14,308)], mas não o ECG [HR 1,356 (0,994-1,850)]. Conclusão: O resultado da CPM (normal versus anormal) teve um forte valor preditivo e o resultado discrepante no ECG não teve um valor prognóstico adicional significativo. Keywords: Electrocardiogram, Myocardial perfusion imaging, Stress test, Prognosis, Palavras-chave: Eletrocardiograma, Imagens de perfusão miocárdica, Prova de esforço, Prognóstico

Cancer stem cells play an important role in carcinogenesis and resistance to treatment and may lead to metastasis. The isolation of circulating stem cells involves cell sorting based on the presence of cell surface markers. Many surface markers such as CD133, c-Kit, SOX, OCT4 and TWIST have been reported. In the present study, we determined the expression of different stem cell markers and their variation in expression at different stages of the treatment process. Samples of EDTA blood were collected from metastatic colorectal cancer patients, and circulating cancer stem cells were isolated for the analysis of the expression of stem cell markers using RT-PCR. These findings were correlated with the response to therapy. All statistical analyses were performed using the GraphPad Prism 5.03 software. Significant differences were found in the expression levels of the markers CD133, SOX2, OCT4 and TWIST1. No differences were found in c-Kit expression. Correlation in the expression levels of most of the markers was observed. Expression of CD133, OCT4, SOX2 and TWIST1 had a predictive value for colon cancer behavior. Evaluation of this stem cell gene expression panel may be useful for predicting the response during the process of treatment, and the relative easy access to samples facilitates this method. Moreover the correlation between CD133 and TWIST1 expression may be associated with tumor regrowth and metastatic relapse.

Poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma (PDFC) is a tumor of follicular cell origin with intermediate attributes between well-differentiated carcinomas and anaplastic carcinomas. The majority of patients presenting with distant metastases have locally advanced tumors, being lungs and bones the most common sites affected. We present a case of a patient with a painful bulky mass at the left thorax-abdominal wall as an uncommon distant metastasis of a PDFC. After thyroidectomy, a pre-ablative 131I whole-body scan showed distant metastases on the neck, both lungs, and lateral chest-abdominal wall, so the administration of I for thyroid remnant ablation stimulated with RH-TSH was decided.

Bone metastases are the result of a primary cancer invasion which spreads into the bone marrow through the lymphogenous or hematogenous pathways. Bone metastases are a common complication of cancer.The primary cancers that most frequently metastasize to bone are breast and prostate cancer (65 - 75 %) amongst many others (thyroid 42 %, lung 36 % or kidney 35 %) (Suva et al., 2011). Although the exact incidence of bone metastases is unknown given its dependence on the type of primary cancer, it is estimated that 350,000 people die of bone metastases annually in the United States. [Okechukwu Felix Erondu, Ed.] Medical Imaging, 2011, p.339-354