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Breast positron emission tomography (PET) has had insurance coverage when performed with conventional whole-body PET in Japan since 2013. Together with whole-body PET, accurate examination of breast cancer and diagnosis of metastatic disease are possible, and are expected to contribute significantly to its treatment planning. To facilitate a safer, smoother, and more appropriate examination, the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine published the first edition of practice guidelines for high-resolution breast PET in 2013. Subsequently, new types of breast PET have been developed and their clinical usefulness clarified. Therefore, the guidelines for breast PET were revised in 2019. This article updates readers as to what is new in the second edition. This edition supports two different types of breast PET depending on the placement of the detector: the opposite-type (positron emission mammography; PEM) and the ring-shaped type (dedicated breast PET; dbPET), providing an overview of these scanners and appropriate imaging methods, their clinical applications, and future prospects. The name “dedicated breast PET” from the first edition is widely used to refer to ring-shaped type breast PET. In this edition, “breast PET” has been defined as a term that refers to both opposite- and ring-shaped devices. Up-to-date breast PET practice guidelines would help provide useful information for evidence-based breast imaging.

Purpose To establish an objective method of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) that can assist in the diagnosis of glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1-DS). Methods FDG-PET was performed in 8 patients with a mean age of 12.5 years (range, 2–22 years) with GLUT1-DS. Their PET findings were compared with those of 45 controls with a mean age of 11.2 years (range, 2–21 years) by statistical parametric mapping (SPM12, Welcome Neurological Institute). The controls had epilepsy of unknown etiology and normal MRI findings. The age-adjusted ratios of mean radioactivities in regions of interest (ROIs) of bilateral lenticular nuclei, thalami, and the whole cerebral cortex were also measured. The sensitivities and specificities of the ratios for the differential diagnosis of GLUT1-DS were also determined. Results SPM showed significantly decreased uptake in bilateral thalami and increased uptake in bilateral lenticular nuclei in patients with GLUT1-DS. There were no areas in the cerebral cortex with significant differences between patients and controls. On ROI analysis, by setting the cut-off value of the age-adjusted lenticular nuclei/thalami radioactivity ratio to 1.54, patients with GLUT1-DS were differentiated from controls with sensitivity of 1.00 and specificity of 0.98. Conclusion The age-adjusted lenticular nuclei/thalami radioactivity ratio on PET can distinguish patients with GLUT1-DS from patients with epilepsy of unknown etiology with high sensitivity and specificity. It is important to pay attention to the metabolism of the lenticular nuclei and thalami on PET for the diagnosis of GLUT1-DS.

PURPOSE This paper aims to explore the role of a metabolic parameter on F-FDG-PET/CT for clinical T-classification in early-stage adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred six surgically resected pathological TNM stage (p-stage) 0/I lung adenocarcinomas were retrospectively reviewed. The solid size (SS) measured on thin-section CT and the pathological invasive size (IS) of tumors were recorded. The SUVmax and metabolic tumor volume with SUV ≥1.0 (MTV1.0) derived from PET/CT data were measured on a workstation, and the metabolic tumor diameter with SUV ≥1.0 (MTD1.0) was calculated automatically from MTV1.0. For the correlations between the IS and the SS, MTD1.0, or SUVmax, Pearson's correlation coefficients were compared using the Meng-Rosenthal-Rubin method. Additionally, the reproducibility between the clinical TNM stage (c-stage), based on the SS or MTD1.0, and the p-stage was analyzed using the kappa coefficient (k). RESULTS For the correlations between the IS and the other parameters, Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.630 for the SS, 0.600 for the SUVmax, and 0.725 for MTD1.0. MTD1.0 correlated significantly and more strongly with the IS than the SS and the SUVmax did (P = 0.040, and P = 0.008, respectively). The reproducibility between p-stage and c-stage based on the SS was moderate (k = 0.529, P < 0.001), whereas that between p-stage and c-stage based on MTD1.0 was substantial (k = 0.676, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS MTD1.0 on FDG-PET/CT was correlated significantly and more strongly with the pathological IS in lung adenocarcinomas than with the SS on thin-section CT. FDG-PET/CT could classify more precisely early-stage lung adenocarcinoma than the presently used T-classification based on thin-section CT findings.

Objective Recent many studies have shown that whole body “diffusion-weighted imaging with background body signal suppression” (DWIBS) seems a beneficial tool having higher tumor detection sensitivity without ionizing radiation exposure for pediatric tumors. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of whole body DWIBS and 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting lymph node and bone metastases in pediatric patients with neuroblastoma. Methods Subjects in this retrospective study comprised 13 consecutive pediatric patients with neuroblastoma (7 males, 6 females; mean age, 2.9 ± 2.0 years old) who underwent both 18F-FDG PET/CT and whole-body DWIBS. All patients were diagnosed as neuroblastoma on the basis of pathological findings. Eight regions of lymph nodes and 17 segments of skeletons in all patients were evaluated. The images of 123I-MIBG scintigraphy/SPECT-CT, bone scintigraphy/SPECT, and CT were used to confirm the presence of lymph node and bone metastases. Two radiologists trained in nuclear medicine evaluated independently the uptake of lesions in 18F-FDG PET/CT and the signal-intensity of lesions in whole-body DWIBS visually. Interobserver difference was overcome through discussion to reach a consensus. The sensitivities, specificities, and overall accuracies of 18F-FDG PET/CT and whole-body DWIBS were compared using McNemer’s test. Positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) of both modalities were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Results The total numbers of lymph node regions and bone segments which were confirmed to have metastasis in the total 13 patients were 19 and 75, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, PPV, and NPV of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting lymph node metastasis from pediatric neuroblastoma were 100, 98.7, 98.9, 95.0, and 100%, respectively, and those for detecting bone metastasis were 90.7, 73.1, 80.3, 70.1, and 91.9%, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, PPV, and NPV of whole-body DWIBS for detecting bone metastasis from pediatric neuroblastoma were 94.7, 24.0, 53.0, 46.4 and 86.7%, respectively, whereas those for detecting lymph node metastasis were 94.7, 85.3, 87.2, 62.1, and 98.5%, respectively. The low specificity, overall accuracy, and PPV of whole-body DWIBS for detecting bone metastasis were due to a high incidence of false-positive findings (82/108, 75.9%). The specificity, overall accuracy, and PPV of whole-body DWIBS for detecting lymph node metastasis were also significantly lower than those of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting lymph node metastasis, although the difference between these 2 modalities was less than that for detecting bone metastasis. Conclusion The specificity, overall accuracy, and PPV of whole-body DWIBS are significantly lower than those of 18F-FDG PET/CT because of a high incidence of false-positive findings particularly for detecting bone metastasis, whereas whole-body DWIBS shows a similar level of sensitivities for detecting lymph node and bone metastases to those of 18F-FDG PET/CT. DWIBS should be carefully used for cancer staging in children because of its high incidence of false-positive findings in skeletons.

This study aimed to investigate whether indices of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony by gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (GMPS) could be useful to predict prognosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with normal perfusion defect scores. One hundred and sixty-seven CKD patients with normal perfusion defect scores on adenosine-stress 201Tl GMPS and no previous history of overt heart diseases were enrolled. Phase standard deviation (PSD) and bandwidth (BW) were automatically calculated from GMPS. The major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) for a mean of 560 days were defined as sudden cardiac death, fatal arrhythmias, and acute coronary syndrome requiring urgent coronary revascularization. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of MACEs. The MACEs occurred in 12 patients (7.1%). Patients who experienced MACEs showed significantly higher PSD and wider BW than those who did not. In the Kaplan-Meier event-free survival analysis, cardiac event rate was significantly higher in the high-PSD and wide-BW group (n = 81) than in the low-PSD and narrow-BW group (n = 71) (P = .002). The multivariate regression analysis revealed that the PSD was associated with MACEs (odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.69, P = .01). The LV dyssynchrony indices from GMPS may be novel prognostic predictors in CKD patients with normal perfusion defect scores.

We investigated the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in predicting the effect of induction therapy in patients with thymic epithelial tumors. Fourteen patients with thymic epithelial tumors who underwent PET-CT before and after induction therapy were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the change in the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in PET-CT, the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors and the pathologic response (Ef0, no necrosis of tumor cells; Ef1, some necrosis of tumor cells with more than one-third of viable tumor cells; Ef2, less than one-third of tumor cells were viable; and Ef3, no tumor cells were viable) was analyzed. The study cohort consisted of 5 males and 9 females. Nine of the patients had thymoma, and 5 had thymic carcinoma. The induction therapy included chemotherapy in 9 cases, chemoradiation therapy in 4 cases and radiation therapy in 1 case. Among the 8 patients with a pathologic response of Ef0/1, 5 were clinically evaluated as having stable disease (SD), while 3 were found to have had a partial response (PR). The SUVmax was elevated in 2 cases, unchanged in 1 and decreased in 5. On the other hand, 3 of the 6 patients with a pathologic response of Ef2, 3 were classified as having SD, while the other 3 had a PR. The SUVmax decreased in all of the patients. In comparison with CT, PET-CT seems to be useful for predicting the pathologic response to induction therapy in patients with thymic epithelial tumors.

The prognostic impact and pathophysiology of global left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD), namely mechanical dyssynchrony of whole left ventricle, as assessed by phase analysis of electrocardiographically gated (ECG-gated) myocardial perfusion SPECT has not been clearly elucidated in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and narrow QRS complex (

Background The circulating concentrations of triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL)–cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDL)–cholesterol have a substantial genetic component, and the heritability of early-onset dyslipidemia is expected to be higher than that of late-onset forms of this condition. Purpose To identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to early-onset hypertriglyceridemia, hypo–HDL-cholesterolemia, and hyper–LDL-cholesterolemia in Japanese. We have now performed exome-wide association studies (EWASs) for early-onset forms of these conditions. Methods A total of 8073 individuals aged ≤65 years was enrolled in the study. The EWASs for hypertriglyceridemia (2664 cases, 5294 controls), hypo–HDL-cholesterolemia (974 cases, 7085 controls), and hyper–LDL-cholesterolemia (2911 cases, 5111 controls) were performed with Illumina Human Exome-12 v1.2 DNA Analysis BeadChip or Infinium Exome-24 v1.0 BeadChip arrays. The relation of allele frequencies for 31,198, 31,133, or 31,175 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that passed quality control to hypertriglyceridemia, hypo–HDL-cholesterolemia, or hyper–LDL-cholesterolemia, respectively, was examined with Fisher's exact test. To compensate for multiple comparisons of genotypes with each of the three conditions, we applied Bonferroni's correction for statistical significance of association. Results The EWASs of allele frequencies revealed that 25, 28, or 65 SNPs were significantly associated with hypertriglyceridemia (P Conclusion We have thus identified 12 novel loci that confer susceptibility to early-onset dyslipidemia. Determination of genotypes for the SNPs at these loci may prove informative for assessment of the genetic risk for hypertriglyceridemia, hypo–HDL-cholesterolemia, or hyper–LDL-cholesterolemia in Japanese.

Background Given that early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, and hyperuricemia have been shown to have strong genetic components, statistical power of a genetic association study may be increased by focusing on early-onset subjects with these conditions. Although genome-wide association studies have identified various genes and loci significantly associated with T2DM, metabolic syndrome, and hyperuricemia, genetic variants that contribute to predisposition to these conditions in Japanese individuals remain to be identified definitively. Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to early-onset T2DM, metabolic syndrome, or hyperuricemia in Japanese. We have now performed exome-wide association studies (EWASs) for early-onset subjects with T2DM, metabolic syndrome, or hyperuricemia and corresponding controls. Methods A total of 8102 individuals aged ≤65 years was enrolled in the study. The EWAS for T2DM was performed with 7407 subjects (1696 cases, 5711 controls), that for metabolic syndrome with 4215 subjects (2296 cases, 1919 controls), and that for hyperuricemia with 7919 subjects (1365 cases, 6554 controls). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped with Illumina Human Exome-12 DNA Analysis BeadChip or Infinium Exome-24 BeadChip arrays. The relation of allele frequencies for 31,210, 31,521, or 31,142 SNPs that passed quality control to T2DM, metabolic syndrome, or hyperuricemia, respectively, was examined with Fisher's exact test. To compensate for multiple comparisons of genotypes with T2DM, metabolic syndrome, or hyperuricemia, we applied Bonferroni's correction for statistical significance of association. Results The EWAS of allele frequencies revealed that four, six, or nine SNPs were significantly associated with T2DM (P Conclusion Given that OR4F6 was significantly associated with both T2DM and metabolic syndrome, we thus newly identified four genes (ZNF860, OR4F6, OR52E4, HERPUD2) that confer susceptibility to early-onset T2DM, metabolic syndrome, or hyperuricemia. Determination of genotypes for the SNPs in these genes may prove informative for assessment of the genetic risk for T2DM, metabolic syndrome, or hyperuricemia in Japanese.

Background Before radioiodine therapy for Graves’ disease, the estimated thyroid-absorbed dose is calculated based on various clinical parameters. However, the actual accumulation of iodine in the thyroid during radioiodine therapy is not determined. We validated the feasibility of post-therapeutic image-based thyroid dosimetry through quantitative single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and thyroid biokinetics and expanding the Medical Internal Radiation Dose Committee’s (MIRD) voxel dosimetry guidelines. Methods Forty-three patients with Graves’ disease who underwent radioiodine therapy were chosen as subjects for this retrospective analysis. We acquired patients’ SPECT images 24 h after oral administration. SPECT images were quantified using system volume sensitivity to calculate time-integrated activity coefficients on a voxel basis. Absorbed dose was obtained by convolving MIRD guideline voxel S values with time-integrated activity coefficients. To determine accuracy, we compared the results obtained using the post-therapeutic image-based absorbed-dose method (D̅image,PVC) with absorbed doses calculated using the method described by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (pre-therapeutic method; DEANM). Results Using image-based dosimetry as post-therapeutic dosimetry, we visualized the local accumulation and absorbed dose distribution of iodine in the thyroid. Furthermore, we determined a strong correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.89) between both dosimetries, using the regression equation: D̅image,PVC = 0.94 × DEANM + 1.35. Conclusion Post-therapeutic image-based doses absorbed in the thyroid resembled those of pre-therapeutic EANM method-based absorbed doses. Additionally, the post-therapeutic image-based method had the advantage of visualizing thyroid iodine distribution, thus determining local dose distributions at the time of treatment. From these points, we propose that post-therapeutic image-based dosimetry could provide an alternative to standard pre-therapeutic dosimetry to evaluate dose response.

Background Given that substantial genetic components have been shown in ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a heritability may be higher in early-onset than late-onset individuals with these conditions. Although genome-wide association studies have identified various genes and loci significantly associated with ischemic stroke, ICH, or intracranial aneurysm mainly in European ancestry populations, genetic variants that contribute to susceptibility to these disorders in Japanese individuals remain to be identified definitively. Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to ischemic stroke, ICH, or SAH in Japanese. We have now performed exome-wide association studies (EWASs) in early-onset subjects with these conditions and corresponding controls. Methods A total of 6649 individuals aged ≤65 years were examined. For the EWAS of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, 6224 individuals (450 subjects with ischemic stroke, 5774 controls) or 6179 individuals (261 subjects with ICH, 176 subjects with SAH, 5742 controls), respectively, were examined. EWASs were performed with the use of Illumina Human Exome-12 v1.2 DNA Analysis BeadChip or Infinium Exome-24 v1.0 BeadChip. To compensate for multiple comparisons of allele frequencies with ischemic stroke, ICH, or SAH, we applied a false discovery rate (FDR) of Results The relation of allele frequencies of 31,245 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that passed quality control to ischemic stroke was examined with Fisher's exact test, and 31 SNPs were significantly (FDR Conclusion We have thus newly identified nine genes that confer susceptibility to early-onset ischemic stroke, ICH, or SAH. Determination of genotypes for the SNPs in these genes may prove informative for assessment of the genetic risk for ischemic stroke, ICH, or SAH in Japanese.

Background Early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) has a strong genetic component. Although genome-wide association studies have identified various genes and loci significantly associated with CAD mainly in European ancestry populations, genetic variants that contribute to susceptibility to this condition in Japanese individuals remain to be identified definitively. Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify genetic variants that confer susceptibility to early-onset CAD in Japanese. We have now performed exome-wide association studies (EWASs) in subjects with early-onset CAD and controls. Methods A total of 7256 individuals aged ≤65 years was enrolled in the study. The EWAS was conducted with 1482 subjects with CAD and 5774 controls. Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed with Illumina Human Exome-12 DNA Analysis BeadChip or Infinium Exome-24 BeadChip arrays. The relation of allele frequencies for 31,465 SNPs that passed quality control to CAD was examined with Fisher's exact test. To compensate for multiple comparisons of allele frequencies with CAD, we applied a false discovery rate (FDR) of Results The relation of allele frequencies for 31,465 SNPs to CAD with the use of Fisher's exact test showed that 170 SNPs were significantly (FDR Conclusion We have newly identified 26 loci that confer susceptibility to CAD. Determination of genotypes for the SNPs at these loci may prove informative for assessment of the genetic risk for CAD in Japanese.

Background: Imaging studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have yet to answer the underlying questions concerning the relationship among tau retention, neuroinflammation, network disruption and cognitive decline. We compared the spatial retention patterns of 18F-THK5351 and resting state network (RSN) disruption in patients with early AD and healthy controls. Methods: We enrolled 23 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB)-positive patients with early AD and 24 11C-PiB-negative participants as healthy controls. All participants underwent resting state functional MRI and 18F-THK5351 PET scans. We used scaled subprofile modeling/principal component analysis (SSM/PCA) to reduce the complexity of multivariate data and to identify patterns that exhibited the largest statistical effects (variances) in THK5351 concentration in AD and healthy controls. Findings: SSM/PCA identified a significant spatial THK5351 pattern composed by mainly three clusters including precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) which accounted for 23.6% of the total subject voxel variance of the data and had 82.6% sensitivity and 79.1% specificity in discriminating AD from healthy controls. There was a significant relationship between the intensity of the 18F-THK5351 covariation pattern and cognitive scores in AD. The spatial patterns of 18F-THK5351 uptake showed significant similarity with intrinsic functional connectivity, especially in the PCC network. Seed-based connectivity analysis from the PCC showed significant decrease in connectivity over widespread brain regions in AD patients. An evaluation of an autopsied AD patient with Braak V showed that 18F-THK5351 retention corresponded to tau deposition, monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) and astrogliosis in the precuneus/PCC. Interpretation: We identified an AD-specific spatial pattern of 18F-THK5351 retention in the precuneus/PCC, an important connectivity hub region in the brain. Disruption of the functional connections of this important network hub may play an important role in developing dementia in AD.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the development of neuroimaging, identification of focal cortical dysplasia remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to show the longitudinal changes of MR imaging and FDG-PET in patients with West syndrome and subtle focal cortical dysplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 52 consecutive patients with West syndrome, 4 were diagnosed with subtle focal cortical dysplasia on 3T MR imaging. MR imaging and PET findings were evaluated longitudinally at onset and at 12 and 24 months of age. RESULTS: At the onset of West syndrome, MR imaging demonstrated focal signal abnormalities of the subcortical white matter in 2 patients. In the other 2 patients, focal subcortical high-intensity signals became visible on follow-up T2WI as myelination progressed. PET at onset showed focal cortical hypometabolism in 3 patients, with 1 of these patients also having focal hypermetabolism and 1 having normal findings. On PET at 24 months, hypometabolism persisted in 2 patients and disappeared in 1, and hypermetabolism disappeared in 1. In 1 patient with normal MR imaging and PET findings at onset, focal hyperintensity and hypometabolism first appeared at 24 months of age. The findings on MR imaging and PET in these patients evolved differently with brain maturation and the clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: Subtle focal cortical dysplasia can be undetectable on MR imaging at the onset of West syndrome and is not always accompanied by hypometabolism or hypermetabolism on PET. Longitudinal MR imaging and PET studies may be useful for detecting such lesions. Even in West syndrome with a congenital structural abnormality, PET findings evolve differently with brain maturation and the clinical condition.

To identify prognostic factors associated with a low-iodine diet (LID) and the amount of remnant thyroid tissue in Japanese patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who received initial I-131 remnant ablation (RAI) using a fixed low dose of I-131 (1110 MBq). In this prospective study, we enrolled 45 patients. Patients were classified into a self-managed LID group and a strict LID group. We measured the urinary iodine concentration on the day of RAI after patients consumed LID for 2 weeks. Thyroid-stimulating hormone-induced thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and I-131 uptake by the remnant thyroid tissue were also evaluated. A response-evaluation whole-body scan (WBS) was performed 6–8 months after RAI to determine the outcome of the therapy. Post-LID urinary iodine levels of the strict LID group tended to be lower than those of the self-managed LID group. Twenty-five cases (56%) showed absence of uptake, whereas 20 cases (44%) showed residual uptake on the response-evaluation WBS. There were no significant differences between “absence” and “residual” groups in urinary iodine concentrations and Tg levels (p = 0.253 and p = 0.234, respectively). However, significant differences were observed in I-131 uptake by the thyroid bed (p = 0.035). For patients following the current Japanese method of a 2-week LID, the urinary iodine concentration was not a predictive factor for the successful outcome of RAI. In contrast, low I-131 uptake by the thyroid bed, revealed by the scintigram after RAI, may serve as a favorable predictive factor.

Histological chorioamnionitis (CAM) is one form of intrauterine inflammation that is often seen in cases of preterm birth and are usually confirmed based on pathological examination after delivery. Histological CAM is related to significant neonatal morbidity and mortality; however, its etiology is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for histological CAM, using medical background, including fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns in preterm birth cases. The preterm birth cases delivered between 28 and 36 weeks were categorized into two groups according to the presence of histological CAM. Ninety-five preterm infants were included: 48 infants without histological CAM and 47 cases with histological CAM. The odds ratio for histological CAM was adjusted for FHR patterns, gestational age, and delivery mode (vaginal delivery or Caesarean section). Logistic regression analysis showed that vaginal delivery and gestational age were associated with histological CAM (odds Ratio [OR]: 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-9.4, p < 0.05, and OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9, p < 0.05, respectively). However, there were no specific FHR patterns associated with histological CAM. Our study indicates that in preterm birth cases, histological CAM is not related to any specific FHR pattern. However, labor uterine contraction and immature gestational age at the delivery are related to histological CAM. These results may provide better delivery management methods for preterm birth cases.

Aim We sought to identify the relationship between regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and error types on the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Method The CDT was administered to 142 patients with AD. We used the Mendez scoring method. Their rCBF values were measured by single-photon emission computed tomography. The correlation between the CDT total score and rCBF was examined on a voxel-by-voxel basis. After we excluded 37 patients whose drawings were inappropriate for assessing the CDT error types, we examined the relationships between each error type on the CDT and rCBF. Results Total score on the CDT was positively correlated with rCBF in the left posterior middle temporal lobe. We also found relationships between the error “non-existence of number 2, or not pointing toward number 2” and the left frontal lobe; the error “uneven number spacing” and the bilateral frontal lobe; “deviation of the clock center” and the left frontal lobe; “missing numbers” and the right parietal lobe; “uneven number distance from edge” and the right parietal and the temporal lobes; “same length hands” and the bilateral temporal lobe; and “unclosed circle” and the left temporal lobe. Conclusions Each error type on the CDT appears to relate to a different brain region. These findings will be useful in the understanding of CDT performances and the underlying neuropsychological pathology. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 777–784.

Accurate preoperative evaluation of lymph nodes can provide optimal treatment for patients. However, in patients with clinical N1 disease (cN1) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), no suitable predictor has been identified for hilar/intrapulmonary lymph node metastasis (pathological N1 disease; pN1). The purpose of this study was to identify pN1 in cN1 NSCLC patients. We retrospectively reviewed the clinicoradiological features of 109 patients with a discrete type of cN1 NSCLC who had undergone complete resection at our institution from 2004 to 2015. The association between clinicoradiological variables and nodal status was analyzed to identify predictors for pN1. The cohort consisted of 77 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 39 to 84 years. The breakdown by pathological N category was 40 (37%) pN0, 41 (38%) pN1, and 28 (25%) pN2 patients. Maximum lymph node diameter was identified as a significant predictor for pN1, with an odds ratio of 1.25 (P = 0.010). When limited to 63 patients who underwent positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) at our institution, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the lymph node was an independent predictor, with an odds ratio of 1.91 with logistic regression analysis (P = 0.004). The size of lymph node and the SUVmax were significant factors for pN1, with optimal cut-off values of 13 mm and 4.28, respectively. Among the patients with cN1, maximum lymph node size and SUVmax of the FDG-PET were significant predictors for pN1.

Purpose To compare dual-phase dual-energy CT (DE-CT) with FDG-PET/CT for predicting histopathological locoregional invasiveness of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Materials and methods We selected 63 consecutive patients with NSCLC lesions (37 males, 26 females; age range, 44–85 years; mean age, 69 years) who were evaluated preoperatively by both DE-CT and PET/CT at our institution. Postoperative microscopic invasiveness (lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, and/or pleural involvement) was reviewed, and we defined locoregionally invasive tumors as those that had at least one positive finding of microscopic invasiveness. DE-CT scanning in the arterial and delayed phases was performed after injection of iodinated contrast media using 140-kVp and 80-kVp tube voltages. Three-dimensional iodine-related attenuation of primary tumors in the arterial and delayed phases was quantified automatically using “syngo Dual Energy Lung Nodules” application software, and the ratio of arterial phase to delayed phase enhancement (A/D ratio) was calculated. The A/D ratio and SUVmax on PET/CT were evaluated with respect to postoperative invasiveness by univariate logistic regression analysis. Results The A/D ratio was significantly correlated with lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, and pleural involvement (p = 0.011, p = 0.021, and p = 0.010, respectively). In contrast, the SUVmax was significantly correlated with pleural involvement (p = 0.020) but not with lymphatic permeation or vascular invasion (p = 0.088 and p = 0.100, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with lesion diameters ≤2 cm, the A/D ratio was significantly correlated with locoregional invasiveness (p = 0.040), while the SUVmax was not (p = 0.121). Conclusion For the prediction of microscopic invasiveness of NSCLCs, the diagnostic performance of dual-phase DE-CT may be comparable to that of FDG-PET/CT.

We investigated a possible correlation between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), which is assessed by pretreatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography, and the overall survival (OS) in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from two institutions on long-term follow-up, and examined whether SUVmax is correlated with several survival outcomes, including lung metastasis-free survival. A total of 81 patients were enrolled. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Both univariate and multivariate survival analyses were assessed by a Cox proportional hazards model. SUVmax ≥15.2 in institution A (p = 0.0306) or SUVmax ≥8 in institution B (p = 0.0132) was significantly predictor of a lower OS. We disaggregated the data by high SUVmax (SUVmax ≥15.2 from institution A and SUVmax ≥8 from institution B) and low SUVmax (SUVmax

Purpose We conducted a pilot study to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of PET/CT with 11C-choline (choline PET/CT) for primary diagnosis and staging of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UUT-UC). Methods Enrolled in this study were 16 patients (9 men, 7 women; age range 51 – 83 years, mean ± SD 69 ± 10.8 years) with suspected UUT-UC. The patients were examined by choline PET/CT, and 13 underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy and partial cystectomy. Lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy were also performed as necessary in some of the patients. Of the 16 patients, 12 were confirmed to have UUT-UC (7 renal pelvis carcinoma and 5 ureteral carcinoma), 1 had malignant lymphoma (ureter), 1 had IgG4-related disease (ureter), and 2 had other benign diseases (ureter). Results Of the 16 study patients, 13 showed definite choline uptake in urothelial lesions, and of these, 11 had UUT-UC, 1 had malignant lymphoma, and 1 had IgG4-related disease. Three patients without choline uptake comprised one with UUT-UC and two with benign diseases. Of the 12 patients with UUT-UC, 3 had distant metastases, 2 had metastases only in the regional lymph nodes, and 7 had no metastases. Distant metastases and metastases in the regional lymph nodes showed definite choline uptake. The outcome in patients with UUT-UC, which was evaluated 592 – 1,530 days after surgery, corresponded to the patient classification based on the presence or absence of metastases and locoregional or distant metastases. Choline uptake determined as SUVmax 10 min after administration was significantly higher than at 20 min in metastatic tumours of UUT-UC (p

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the 11C-methionine (MET) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) findings of central nervous system (CNS) germinoma and the diagnostic utility of these findings. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the cases of 10 patients who were diagnosed with CNS germinoma according to their histopathological or clinical findings. All the patients underwent pretreatment MET and/or FDG-PET scans, and the resultant images were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. In the qualitative assessments, we used 3- and 5-grade visual scoring systems for the MET- and FDG-PET images, respectively. In the quantitative assessments, the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and the ratio of the SUVmax of the tumor (T) divided by the mean SUV for the normal white or gray matter [T/N (WM), T/N (GM)], was calculated. Results The mean and SD values of SUVmax, T/N (WM), and T/N (GM) were 1.9 ± 1.4, 2.5 ± 1.3, and 1.7 ± 0.9 on MET-PET and 5.8 ± 2.2, 1.6 ± 0.5, and 0.8 ± 0.2 on FDG-PET, respectively. On MET-PET, only one lesion was not detected. On the other hand, on FDG-PET all of the lesions exhibited uptake values that were intermediate between those of the normal white matter and gray matter. Conclusion In terms of its tumor-contouring ability, MET is a good tracer for diagnosing CNS germinomas; therefore, MET-PET is considered to be useful for planning biopsies or surgery. Although FDG-PET is capable of detecting CNS germinomas, it produced insufficient image contrast in the present study. Further studies are needed before FDG-PET can be used in clinical examinations of CNS germinoma.

To investigate possible causes for false-negative findings on PET scans for solid-type lung cancers, we retrospectively compared PET findings to clinical and pathological features using multivariate analysis.We reviewed PET/CT records, clinical records, preoperative thin-section CT images, and postoperative pathological records and selected only solid-type primary lung cancers with lesions ≤ 40 mm in diameter that had been definitively diagnosed by surgical resection. PET images with SUVmax of ≥ 2.5 were considered PET-positive. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of PET-positive or negative among five factors: body weight, blood glucose level, lesion size, location, and histological classification.A total of 187 solid-type primary lung cancers were selected. Forty lesions (21.4%) were judged as PET-negative and 147 lesions (78.6%) were judged as PET-positive. Multivariate logistic analysis for the 187 lesions revealed that lesion size (p0.001) and histological tumour type (p0.001) were significant factors for determining whether PET findings were negative.Among solid-type lung cancers, lesion size and histopathological findings were significantly associated with FDG uptake. In particular, it warrants attention that lesions ≤ 2 cm and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma have a tendency for negative PET findings.

Objective: Previously we devised a method for estimating 123I-IMP activity at 10 min after intravenous injection of 123I-IMP (Ca10) without any blood sampling using 123I-IMP autoradiography (ARG) acquisition data, and verified its usefulness for quantification of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). In this study, we attempted to develop a more simplified method for estimation of Ca10 and to validate its usefulness for quantification of rCBF in a number of patients with different cerebrovascular diseases.Methods: Consecutive 134 patients were examined for 123I-IMP ARG study. Dynamic images of the lungs for 5 min and brain SPECT images for 30 min (6×5 min) and Ca 10 values were acquired from the first 35 patients. Using the data of the 35 patients, the regression equation for estimating Ca10 was calculated by the multiple regression analysis. The regression equation was applied to the other 99 patients who comprised 29 patients with Parkinson’s disease, 32 with common or internal carotid artery occlusion or stenosis, 14 with moyamoya disease, 12 with cerebral infarction, and 12 with other diseases. The mean of rCBFs in various regions of the brain (mCBF) calculated using the estimated Ca10 was compared with that calculated using directly measured Ca10 in the 99 patients. Results: The regression equation obtained was as follows: Estimated Ca10 =1070.1 +2.17 ×10-3a-8.08 ∙ b - 2.23 ×c +2.47 ×10-3d, where a: the area under the time-activity curve of the lungs (UCL), b: body weight, c: sum of UCL and the counts of brain projection data from 10 to 15 min after injection (CB1), d: those from 35 to 45 min (CB6), respectively. The estimated Ca10 closely correlated with the directly measured Ca10 (r=077). The mCBF values calculated using the estimated Ca10 closely correlated with those calculated using the directly measured Ca10 in all the patient groups (r=0.80, 0.78, 0.62, 0.77, 0.85 and 0.79 in patients with Parkinson’s disease, common or internal carotid artery occlusion or stenosis, moyamoya disease, cerebral infarction, and the other diseases, and total 99 patients, respectively). Conclusion: This study verified that the newly developed noninvasive method, which is more simplified than the previous method, can estimate reliably the Ca10 values which are available for quantification of rCBF in different patient groups.

We investigated whether myocardial 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy predicts impairment of myocardial functional reserve in response to dobutamine stress in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Forty DCM patients (LVEF 39 ± 12 %) underwent myocardial 123I-MIBG scintigraphy, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization. Myocardial 123I-MIBG uptake was quantified as the delayed heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratio and washout rate (WR). Local denervation was evaluated on polar map images. LV dP/dt max and T1/2 were determined from left ventricular pressure curves at baseline and during dobutamine infusion (15 μg/kg /min). Patients were classified into two groups as follows: group A comprised 21 patients showing a delayed H/M ratio of

Positron emission tomography using [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG-PET) plays an important role in many oncological settings. In this study, we assessed the utility of (18)F-FDG PET-CT for predicting the histologic type and stage of thymic epithelial tumours.We retrospectively analyzed 58 patients with thymic epithelial tumours who underwent PET-CT before treatment and investigated the relationship between the histologic type based on the World Health Organization classification and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) of each tumour. We also analyzed the relationship between the Masaoka tumour stage and the SUV(max).The study included 31 males and 27 females, ranging in age from 25 to 80 years (median: 62 years). The tumour histology of 44 tumours was thymoma and that of the remaining tumours was thymic carcinoma, including 11 squamous cell carcinomas and 3 carcinoids. The Masaoka tumour stage was as follows: Stage I in 8, Stage II in 24, Stage III in 18 and Stage IV in 8 patients. The patients were divided into three groups according to a simplified histologic classification: low-risk thymomas (types A, AB and B1, n = 23), high-risk thymomas (types B2 and B3, n = 21) and thymic carcinomas (n = 14). The SUV(max) of the thymic carcinoma group was significantly higher than those of the low-risk thymoma and high-risk thymoma groups (P0.001, respectively). No significant differences between the low-risk thymoma and high-risk thymoma groups were observed (P = 0.204). The SUV(max) of Stages III and IV thymomas showed a higher trend toward Stages I and II thymomas (P = 0.060).PET-CT is a useful modality for predicting the histologic type and tumour stage of thymic epithelial tumours.

We sought to determine the relationship between (99m)Tc-sestamibi washout and myocardial properties in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients.Twenty-four HCM patients underwent biventricular cardiac catheterization, with a micromanometer-tipped catheter, both at rest and during atrial pacing, echocardiography and myocardial (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy at rest. The (99m)Tc-sestamibi washout rate (WR) was calculated using initial and delayed planar images. The HCM patients were divided into two groups as follows: Group A consisted of 13 patients showing (99m)Tc-sestamibi WR22.5%; group B of 11 patients showing (99m)Tc-sestamibi WR ≥ 22.5%. Significant correlations were observed between (99m)Tc-sestamibi WR and percentage changes in pressure half-time (T (1/2)), as well as those in the maximum first derivative LV pressure (LV dP/dt (max)) (r = .43, P = .033; r = -.63, P = .001). The percentage changes in LV dP/dt (max) and those in T (1/2) were significantly more reduced in group B than in group A (P.05). The biphasic force-frequency relation was more frequently observed in group B than in group A (82% vs. 18%).Increased (99m)Tc-sestamibi washout is associated with an impaired contractile reserve and prolonged relaxation, suggesting that myocardial (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy may be useful in noninvasively detecting the early impairment of myocardial function in HCM patients.

Interval sentinel lymph nodes (ISLN) are defined as the lymph nodes located between the primary melanoma and anatomically well-defined lymph nodal basins. It was reported that the ISLN appeared to be at the same metastatic risk as sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in the traditional nodal basins. This study aimed to examine the incidence and metastatic risk of the ISLN in melanoma patients. Between June of 1999 and December of 2008, 117 patients enrolled at Nagoya University Hospital underwent SLN biopsy for primary cutaneous melanoma with a Breslow thickness of at least 1.0 mm. Triple techniques with lymphoscintigraphy, blue dye injection and gamma probe were used for the biopsy except for 13 cases that underwent lymphoscintigraphy, ultrasonography and blue dye injection, but without gamma probe. Patients who had melanoma of the head and neck were excluded from this analysis. The SLN were identified in 253 nodal basins from 117 patients, and ISLN were found in six patients (5%). We recognized 41 (17%) SLN metastases in 246 conventional nodal basins and one (14%) in seven ISLN. Although ISLN were identified infrequently, the incidence of metastasis into the ISLN was similar to that into SLN in conventional nodal basins. It is therefore recommended that preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative recognition of ISLN should be performed.

We assessed the performance of 37 MBq I-123 as a diagnostic imaging agent in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer using comparisons with their corresponding high-dose post-treatment I-131 scans. We reviewed diagnostic I-123 whole-body scans and post-treatment I-131 scans of 69 patients who underwent I-131 therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (47 papillary and 22 follicular). Diagnostic scans were performed 24 h following the oral administration of 37 MBq of I-123. I-131 doses were administered 3 days after the I-123 diagnostic scans using 2.22–7.4 GBq (median = 5.55 GBq). All images for diagnostic I-123 scans and the corresponding post-treatment I-131 scans were interpreted by consensus of at least 2 experienced radiologists. They evaluated the accumulations of radioiodine in the following 5 sites: thyroid bed, cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes, lung, bone and others. The concordance rates between I-123 scans and I-131 scans were calculated. A total of 108 sites were identified on the post-treatment I-131 scans. Seventy-seven sites (71%) were also identified on the I-123 diagnostic scans. The concordance rates between I-123 diagnostic scans and I-131 post-treatment scans were high for thyroid bed and bone metastases (89 and 86%, respectively), while they were low for lymph node and lung metastases on post-treatment scans (61 and 39%, respectively). Diagnostic scanning with relatively low dose I-123 is not always predictive of subsequent therapeutic I-131 uptake, especially for lymph node and lung metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer.

Aims To examine the relation between mitochondrial dysfunction and myocardial contractile and relaxation reserves in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods and results Thirty HCM patients (LVEF ≥60%) underwent biventricular cardiac catheterization analysis both at rest and during atrial pacing as well as myocardial 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy at rest to calculate washout rate. Endomyocardial biopsy specimens were obtained for quantitative mRNA analysis and electron microscopy. The HCM patients were divided into two groups—group A: normal force–frequency relation and a pressure half-time ( T 1/2) of

Inflamed atherosclerotic plaques may rupture and cause acute myocardial infarction, stroke and other thrombotic events. Early detection of these unstable plaques could, in many cases, prevent such potentially fatal events. 11C-choline or 18F-labelled choline derivatives for visualizing the synthesis of phospholipids, are promising markers of plaque inflammation with potential advantages over 18F-FDG. Their potential for plaque characterization in humans is, however, unclear. In this study the prevalence and distribution of 11C-choline uptake in the aortic and common carotid arterial walls of elderly male patients was evaluated with combined PET/CT. Additionally, the localization of radiotracer uptake and calcification was correlated in various vessel segments. Image data from 93 consecutive male patients between 60 and 80 years old who had undergone whole-body 11C-choline PET/CT assessment for prostate cancer were evaluated retrospectively. 11C-choline uptake and calcification were analysed qualitatively and semiquantitatively and compared. 11C-choline uptake was found in 95% of patients, calcification in 94% throughout all vessel segments. In 6% of the patients radiotracer uptake was colocalized with calcifications, whereas less than 1% of calcification sites showed increased radiotracer uptake. Both 11C-choline uptake and calcification in the aortic and common carotid arterial walls are common in elderly men. Radiotracer uptake and calcification are, however, only rarely colocalized. 11C-choline has the potential to provide information about atherosclerotic plaques independent of calcification measurement.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between brain perfusion and cognitive dysfunction in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) patients. Methods Thirteen genetically confirmed SCA6 patients and 21 age- and education-matched control subjects were subjected to single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and neuropsychological tests. Brain perfusion was examined with SPECT analysis, while general cognition, verbal and visual memory, attention, visuospatial ability, language, executive function, depression, and anxiety were examined with the neuropsychological tests. Results SCA6 patients showed prefrontal hypoperfusion, and impairments of visual memory, verbal fluency, and executive function compared to control subjects. These neuropsychological impairments in SCA6 patients were significantly correlated with a decrease in prefrontal perfusion. This relation was not correlated to other factors, such as age, education and severity of cerebellar ataxia, which are possible relevant factors associated with cognitive performance. Conclusions SCA6 patients have mild cognitive impairment, and correlating prefrontal hypoperfusion. These results indicate cognitive impairment in SCA6 patients resulting from prefrontal hypoperfusion.

Objective: We evaluated comprehensive neuropsychological tests and regional brain blood flow to compare cognitive dysfunction between two types of multiple system atrophy: predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C) and predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P). Methods: Twenty-one patients with MSA-C, 14 patients with MSA-P, and 21 age- and education-matched control subjects were subjected to neuropsychological tests and SPECT. The neuropsychological tests examined general cognition, verbal and visual memory, working memory, visuospatial and constructional ability, language, executive function, depression, and anxiety, while SPECT analysis examined brain perfusion. Results: Patients with MSA-P showed severe involvement of visuospatial and constructional function, verbal fluency, and executive function compared with control subjects. Patients with MSA-C showed involvement only in visuospatial and constructional function compared with control subjects and a milder degree of involvement compared with patients with MSA-P. Patients with MSA-P tended toward a wide and severe impairment in cognitive function compared with patients with MSA-C. In addition, neuropsychological impairment in patients with MSA-P was significantly correlated with a decrease in prefrontal perfusion. This significant relation was not correlated to other factors such as age, education, and severity of cerebellar ataxia and parkinsonism, which are relevant factors associated with cognitive performance. Conclusions: Patients with multiple system atrophy–parkinsonism show more severe and more widespread cognitive dysfunctions than patients with multiple system atrophy–cerebellar ataxia. Our results also indicate that cognitive dysfunction in patients with multiple system atrophy–parkinsonism may be associated with prefrontal involvement. GLOSSARY: MSA = multiple system atrophy; MSA-C = MSA-cerebellar; MSA-P = MSA-parkinsonism.

The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of FDG-PET/CT is commonly used as an indicator to evaluate the invasiveness and prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). We investigated the correlation between SUVmax and tumor invasiveness or postoperative recurrence of solid type NSCLC and compared squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)/adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) to adenocarcinoma (AC). A retrospective review of preoperative PET/CT, thin-section CT, and postoperative pathological records obtained over a 5-year period was conducted. Solid type NSCLC tumors on thin-section CT with confirmed diagnosis from surgical resection (diameter ≤3 cm) were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the correlation between tumor characteristics and pathological prognostic factors or postoperative recurrence. 150 patients (111 males, 39 females; mean age 67 years; 106 cases of AC, 36 cases of SCC, and 8 cases of ASC) were included. SUVmax was significantly correlated with pleural involvement (p = 0.047), lymphatic permeation (p = 0.003), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.027), and tumor invasiveness (p

The aim of this study was to examine abnormalities of the central nervous system in patients with chronic pain who were diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Brain activity was assessed using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. The data collected from 18 patients were compared with data obtained from 13 normal age-matched controls. Our results showed that glucose metabolism was bilaterally increased in the secondary somatosensory cortex, mid-anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) or posterior cingulated cortex (PCC) (or both), parietal cortex, posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and cerebellum as well as in the right posterior insula and right thalamus in our patients. In contrast, glucose metabolism was reduced contralaterally in the dorsal prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex. Glucose metabolism was bilaterally elevated in the mid-ACC/PCC and the PPC, which correlated with pain duration. These data suggested that glucose metabolism in the brains of patients with CRPS changes dramatically at each location. In particular, glucose metabolism was increased in the areas concerned with somatosensory perception, possibly due to continuous painful stimulation.

Single photon emission computed tomography was performed in three preterm infants with athetoid cerebral palsy due to kernicterus. No clinical signs and symptoms of kernicterus, or ultrasonographic abnormalities were seen during the neonatal period in any patients. Although MRI during infancy revealed high intensity areas in bilateral globi pallidi in all of them, MRI abnormalities were mild in two of them. On later MRI, subtle high intensity areas in the globi pallidi were recognized in only one of them. Single photon emission computed tomography demonstrated hypoperfusion in the basal ganglia regions in all patients. Regions of interest analyses showed decreased blood flow in the basal ganglia related to the cortical areas. Single photon emission computed tomography will be useful for the diagnosis of kernicterus, whereas MRI abnormalities become less clear beyond infancy.

After daily treatments with Mt. Fuji ground water containing natural vanadium (approximately 65 microg/l) at doses of 0.53 microg/kg/day for 12 weeks, blood glucose (BG), serum hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels and insulin secretion from the pancreas of Goto-Kakisaki (GK) rats, a genetic model of Type 2 diabetes, were improved. In GK rat liver insulin receptors, the binding properties of [125I] insulin, and the activities of insulin receptor beta subunit and primary insulin-like growth factor-1beta all recovered to normal levels of those found in Wistar rats. These results suggest that daily treatment with small concentrations of natural vanadium improves hyperglycemia by ameliorating liver insulin receptor activity.

To evaluate the effect of epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation (SCS), the response of the brain with chronic pain was examined “before” and “during” stimulation, using fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). The thalamus was considered to have an important role for the response.

X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) is a relatively common genetic disorder that occurs in about one in every 2000-6000 male births. Clinically, XLI is characterized by a generalized scaling of the skin, with large, polygonal, dark brown scale, and more prominent on the extensor aspects of the limbs. It is known that an undetectable maternal serum, unconjugated estriol, associated with placental steroid sulfatase (STS) deficiency, may be the cause of cause of XLI. In most case, STS deficiency is caused by a complete or partial deletion of the STS gene mapped on chromosome Xp22.3. We describe here the prenatal detection of a male fetus affected with STS deficiency as a result of an undetectable unconjugated estriol in the second-trimester maternal serum screening. Microdeletion of the STS gene was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of cultured amniotic fluid.

Using a 21-in. cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor (2048 x 2560 x 8bits), six radiologists interpreted 12 images with interstitial lung disease under six conditions of CRT luminance (50 and 400 cd/m(2)) and room illuminance (20, 120 and 480lx), and 10 radiologists interpreted 25 images with pulmonary nodules under nine conditions of CRT luminance (50, 200 and 500 cd/m(2)) and room illuminance (20, 120 and 480lx). Observer's performance for interstitial disease was relatively better at 120lx. Four hundred and eighty lux illuminance with 50 cd/m(2) CRT luminance, which degraded the detectability of pulmonary nodule significantly (p0.05), should be avoided for clinical use.

A 75-year-old woman was diagnosed with esophageal cancer with difficulty in swallowing. She had a past history of rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, interstitial pneumonia, angina pectoris (with coronary artery bypass surgery) and arrhythmia (with pacemaker implantation). She refused surgery, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not performed because of the high risk accompanied with multiple comorbidities. She received proton therapy at another hospital and the primary lesion shrank. Bone metastasis in the thoracic vertebrae was diagnosed 10 months after diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and zoledronic acid were administered for back pain. Oxycodone was also administered but discontinued due to nausea. After strontium-89 ((89)Sr) chloride administration, her back pain was relieved. (89)Sr was administered five times every 3 months, and the pain did not worsen until her death due to pneumonia 2 years after diagnosis of esophageal cancer. (89)Sr was effective for pain from bone metastasis of esophageal cancer, and its repeated administration was safe.

Primary lung cancers have varying prognoses, even for tumors ≤3cm in diameter. Thus, a thorough evaluation is necessary for therapeutic planning. Two imaging biomarkers have been shown to be useful for predicting primary lung cancer prognosis: maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and the consolidation/tumor (C/T) ratio defined as the maximum diameter of consolidation within a tumor to the maximum tumor diameter on thin-section computed tomography (TSCT). We compared these biomarkers for predicting post-surgical recurrence in patients with small lung cancers.Clinical records, post-operative pathologic findings, and pre-operative PET/CT and TSCT images were reviewed. Solitary primary lung cancers of ≤3cm in diameter after surgical resection were selected for analysis. SUVmax and C/T ratios were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox hazards ratios were used to identify independent predictors of lung cancer recurrence from among age, gender, surgical procedure, lesion size, C/T ratio, and SUVmax.A total of 169 patients (114 males and 55 females; age range: 34-87 years) with solitary lung cancers were evaluated. The median post-operative follow-up period was 42 months. Twenty-eight patients had cancer recurrence with significantly higher SUVmax (p0.001) and C/T ratios (p0.001) than patients without recurrence. Disease-free survival was significantly reduced for SUVmax of ≥2.5 vs. SUVmax of2.5 (p0.001) or for a C/T ratio of ≥50% vs. a C/T ratio of50% (p=0.030). For 19 patients with C/T ratios of50%, none had a post-operative recurrence. A Cox hazards ratio model showed that only SUVmax was an independent predictor of recurrence (hazards ratio=1.324; p0.001).SUVmax on FDG-PET/CT was a significant imaging biomarker relevant to the prognosis of patients with lung cancers, and was superior to the C/T ratio on TSCT for predicting postoperative recurrence, particularly for solid type lung cancer.

Background The ratio of the maximum diameter of consolidation to the maximum tumor diameter (C/T ratio) on thin-section computed tomography (TSCT) and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) are often used as preoperative independent variables to evaluate the invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma. We investigated the associations between these independent variables and pathologic invasiveness in pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Methods We selected patients with peripheral lung adenocarcinomas, definitively diagnosed by surgical resection, with diameters of ≤ 30 mm over a 4-year period ending in December 2010. The association between 3 independent variables (tumor size, SUVmax, and C/T ratio) and pathologic prognostic factors was evaluated using logistic analysis. Results We evaluated a total of 163 primary lung adenocarcinomas in 148 patients (93 males and 55 females; age range: 34 to 84 years). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, SUVmax and the C/T ratio were significantly associated with tumor invasiveness (odds ratio [OR] = 1.227; p = 0.025 and OR = 1.019; p = 0.008, respectively). Tumor size was not associated with invasiveness (OR = 1.003; p = 0.925). For solid type adenocarcinomas, only SUVmax was significantly associated with invasiveness (OR = 1.558; p = 0.003). For subsolid type adenocarcinomas, only the C/T ratio was significantly associated with invasiveness (OR = 1.030; p = 0.009). Conclusions Both the C/T ratio and the SUVmax are significantly correlated with pathologic invasiveness in patients with small lung adenocarcinomas, while there was a difference between the 2 evaluations. Solid type adenocarcinomas with SUVmax values of ≥ 4.4 and subsolid type adenocarcinomas with C/T ratio ≥ 53% were so highly invasive.

Aortic intimal angiosarcoma is extremely rare, and the prognosis of patients with a tumor is unfavorable even if they have undergone surgery. We treated a patient with primary intimal angiosarcoma of the aortic arch who underwent an operation. The tumor originated from the inner wall of the aortic arch on the lesser curve. In order to remove the tumor completely, the entire aortic arch from the ascending to the middle of descending aorta was resected through an L-shape skin incision. On histologic examination, an undifferentiated intimal sarcoma was diagnosed. It grew into the aortic lumen while spreading along the aortic intima, focally infiltrating the media. The postoperative course was uneventful. Postoperative CT performed at 6, 12 and 18 months after surgery showed no local recurrence or metastasis. According to some reports endoarterectomy has been performed to treat this type of tumor, since the malignant cells are thought to be limited to the luminal surface. However, we favor aortic resections and graft interpositions rather than an endoarterectomy because the tumor could have invaded the media.

We report an 8-year-old girl with seizures induced by micturition. Her seizures were characterized by extension of upper extremities with preserved consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging and interictal electroencephalograms were normal. Ictal electroencephalogram showed low voltage fast waves without clear focal features followed by frontal dominant rhythmic multiple spikes. Subtraction ictal single photon emission computed tomography revealed a significant increase in blood flow in the mesial frontal area.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an association found between overall survival of patients with pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and pretreatment [(18)F]-2-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake, which are assessed by positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT). Next, we asked whether (18)F-FDG uptake is correlated with overall survival in patients with pharyngeal SCC who underwent radical treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy in the multivariate analysis with adjustments for the clinical stage, primary site and treatment group.Forty-nine patients who were newly diagnosed as resectable pharyngeal SCC underwent pretreatment (18)F-FDG-PET/CT. We used the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as (18)F-FDG uptake. Overall survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate survival analysis was analyzed by log-rank test, and multivariate survival analysis was performed by a Cox proportional hazards model.Patients with SUVmax of the primary site ≥8 significantly exhibited shorter overall survival in univariate analysis (p0.04). Moreover, SUVmax of the primary site ≥8 was a significant prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis (p0.03).These results suggested that SUVmax of the primary site obtained by pretreatment (18)F-FDG-PET/CT assessment is an important prognostic factor in patients with pharyngeal SCC.

The purpose of this study was to assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and additional (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Data on 40 patients with LARC, who were treated with NAC and underwent MRI and FDG-PET/CT before and after NAC, were analyzed retrospectively. Surgery was performed at a median of 6 weeks after NAC and the images were compared with the histological findings. The tumor regression grade 3/4 was classified as a responder.Sixteen patients were pathological responders. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that MRI total volume after NAC (MRI-TV2) and ΔMRI-TV had the highest performance to assess responders (area under the ROC curve [AUC] 0.849 and AUC 0.853, respectively). The reduction rate of the maximum standardized uptake value (ΔSUVmax) was also an informative factor (AUC 0.719). There seems no added value of adding FDG-PET/CT to MRI-TV2 and ΔMRI-TV in assessment of NAC responders judging from changes in AUC (AUC of ΔSUVmax and MRI-TV2 was 0.844, and AUC of ΔSUVmax and ΔMRI-TV was 0.846).MRI-TV2 and ΔMRI-TV were the most accurate factors to assess pathological response to NAC. Although ΔSUVmax by itself was also informative, the addition of FDG-PET/CT to MRI did not improve performance. Patients with LARC who were treated by induction chemotherapy should receive an MRI examination before and after NAC to assess treatment response. A more than 70 % volume reduction shown by MRI volumetry may justify the omission of subsequent radiotherapy.