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Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Atrial inflammation and fibrotic remodelling underlie the pathophysiology of atrial cardiomyopathy, which is associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL). 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) has been used to detect inflammatory processes. Recent studies have revealed an increased FDG-uptake in the atria of patients with AF, but also in patients with diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis with ventricular inflammation. Purpose This study aimed to assess the capability of PET/CT to detect and quantify the degree of atrial inflammation (FDG-uptake) in a population with dedicated cardiac FDG-PET/CT. Methods We investigated 101 patients suspected of sarcoidosis (57±12 years, 72% male) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scan with dedicated cardiac specific preparation (heparin infusion, 12 hours fasting, and high-fat low-carbohydrate diet). We excluded patients with active ventricular cardiac sarcoidosis or undergoing high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (prednisolone ≥20mg/day or prednisolone combined with other immunotherapy like methotrexate). We measured the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in atrial myocardium and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) in blood pool and calculated the target-to-background ratio (TBR) of SUVmax in atrial myocardium to SUVmean in blood pool. All medical records, ECG data on arrhythmia type and diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis (with absence of ventricular involvement) were used for the analysis. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed based on the criteria established in 2006 by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. The collected data were sorted according to presence of arrhythmia and systemic sarcoidosis and TBR of each group were compared. Results AF or AFL was found in 30/101 patients. Systemic sarcoidosis was found in 37/101 patients. Patients with known AF/AFL had significantly increased TBR within the atrial tissue compared to those without AF/AFL: (median: 1.26, 1st-3rd quartile: 1.20-1.33) versus (median: 1.22, 1st-3rd quartile: 1.14-1.25; p = 0.004; figure A). Arrhythmia-associated atrial inflammation was consistently observed, independently of presence of concomitant systemic sarcoidosis (figure B). Patients with both atrial arrhythmias and systemic sarcoidosis had the highest atrial inflammation level, as identified by TBR (figure B). Conclusion Development of atrial fibrillation or flutter is associated with an increased atrial FDG-uptake as metabolic marker of atrial inflammation. The level of atrial inflammation is further enhanced by additional presence of systemic sarcoidosis.

SummaryAim: In radioiodine therapy (RIT) of benign thyroid-disorders empirical half-lives (HLemp) may be used to calculate therapeutic dose. In this study the effective half-life (HLf as well as potential influence factors were retrospectively determined in order to better estimate HLemp.Methods: Data from patients undergoing RIT from 01/09 to 04/14 were analysed (empirically estimated HLeff stratified by metabolic state and diagnosis). Inclusion criteria were: Benign thyroid-disorders, singular capsule administration and ≥ 6 dosimetry time-points (i. e. > 72 h inpatient stay). The effects of metabolic state, previous thy- reostatic medication and sex on HLeff were assessed by non-parametric ANOVA. The effects of target-volume and patient-age were assessed by regression analysis and nonparametric correlation (Spearman).Results: Data of 1,498 patients were analyzed: Graves’ Disease (GD), n = 286; multinodular goiter/disseminated autonomy (AMG/DA), n = 751; autonomous thyroid nodules (ATN), n = 421; euthyroid goiter (EG), n = 40. Mean HLeff (days ± SD) was 5.4 ± 1.5 in GD, 6.6 ± 1.2 in AMG/DA, 5.5 ± 1.6 in ATN and 6.9 ± 0.7 in EG. HLeff differed by metabolic state in GD, AMG/DA, and ATN, whereas neither thyreos- tatic medication nor sex were relevant. Moreover, target-volume (all diagnoses) and age (ATN and GD only) were associated with HLeft although the effect was small (R2 < 3.8%).Conclusion: When using standard HLeff for RIT, diagnosis and metabolic state should be considered for dose-calculations in RIT. Despite partial significance, the effects of target-volume and patient-age are small and a correction of HLeff, for these factors doesn’t appear to be necessary in a routine setting.

Background Implementation of PET/CT in diagnosis of primary prostate cancer (PCa) requires a profound knowledge about the tracer, preferably from a quantitative evaluation. Direct visual comparison of PET/CT slices to whole prostate sections is hampered by considerable uncertainties from imperfect coregistration and fundamentally different image modalities. In the current study, we present a novel method for advanced voxel-wise comparison of histopathology from excised prostates to pre-surgical PET. Resected prostates from eight patients who underwent PSMA-PET/CT were scanned (ex vivo CT) and thoroughly pathologically prepared. In vivo and ex vivo CT including histopathology were coregistered with three different methods (manual, semi−/automatic). Spatial overlap after CT-based registration was evaluated with dice similarity (DSC). Furthermore, we constructed 3D cancer distribution models from histopathologic information in various slices. Subsequent smoothing reflected the intrinsically limited spatial resolution of PSMA-PET. The resulting histoPET models were used for quantitative analysis of spatial histopathology-PET pattern agreement focusing on p values and coefficients of determination (R 2). We examined additional rigid mutual information (MI) coregistration directly based on PSMA-PET and histoPET. Results Mean DSC for the three different methods (ManReg, ScalFactReg, and DefReg) were 0.79 ± 0.06, 0.82 ± 0.04, and 0.90 ± 0.02, respectively, while quantification of PET-histopathology pattern agreement after CT-based registration revealed R 2 45.7, 43.2, and 41.3% on average with p

Early differential diagnosis of parkinsonism is of paramount therapeutic and prognostic importance. In the present review, the diagnostic value of routinely used nuclear medicine procedures is presented and critically discussed. The [(123)I]FP-CIT single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is the method of choice for differentiation between neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative parkinsonism. The [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([(18)F]FDG-PET) method provides a very high diagnostic accuracy for differentiating between Parkinson's disease (PD) and atypical Parkinsonian syndromes (APS), which is clearly superior to the accuracy of [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT, [(123)I]IBZM SPECT and [(123)I]MIBG scintigraphy. Furthermore, [(18)F]FDG-PET is the only of the aforementioned techniques that also allows a reliable differentiation between APS subgroups (e.g., multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration). Current studies are investigating the probable value of [(18)F]FDG-PET for risk stratification of dementia in PD.

Zusammenfassung Ziel: Für die Korrektur des Effektes der im Körpergewebe gestreuten oder absorbierten Photonen (Schwächungskorrektur) existieren bei der Positronen-Emissionstomographie (PET) verschiedene methodische Ansätze. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht den Einfluß der kalten (KT), heißen (PIT), segmentierten Transmission (ST) sowie eines rechnerischen Verfahrens (RV) auf die Schwächungskorrektur anhand der absoluten Bestimmung des regionalen zerebralen Glukosemetabolismus (rMRGIu). Methodik: 6 Patienten mit unterschiedlichen zerebralen Erkrankungen wurden mit einem ECAT Exact 922/47 unter Ruhebedingungen untersucht. Die durch die KT, PIT, RV und ST schwächungskorrigierten Daten wurden dann zur Beurteilung des regionalen Glukosemetabolismus in 16 ROIs (regions of interest) absolut quantifiziert. Ergebnisse: Bis auf drei Regionen (temporookzipital links und rechts sowie parietookzipital rechts) konnte kein signifikanter Unterschied des mit Hilfe der absoluten Quantifizierung in 16 ROIs ermittelten Glukosemetabolismus zwischen der KT und dem RV festgestellt werden. Im Gegensatz zum RV wurde sowohl bei der PIT als auch bei der ST in allen 16 ROIs ein signifikant niedrigerer Wert der regionalen zerebralen Glukoseutilisation gegenüber der KT nachgewiesen. Aufgrund dieser Resultate ergibt sich sowohl in der linken als auch in der rechten Hirnhälfte eine kontinuierliche Abnahme der metabolischen Werte (rMRGIu) in der Reihenfolge KT, RV, PIT und ST. Der globale, zerebrale Glukosemetabolismus zeigte keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen der KT und dem RV (p = 0,2489), während mit PIT (p = 0,03) und ST (p = 0,03) ein signifikant erniedrigter Glukosemetabolismus gegenüber der-KT nachzuweisen war. Schlußfolgerung: Bei den für die zerebralen PET-Studien am Patienten durchgeführten Schwächungskorrekturverfahren läßt sich bis auf drei Regionen quantitativ kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen KT und RV nachweisen. Die rMRGIu der durch PIT und ST schwächungskorrigierten Bilder sind signifikant niedriger als in KT korrigierten Aufnahmen. Um eine zerebrale PET-Akquisition zu verkürzen, erscheint für die klinische Routine das RV als Alternative zur KT am besten geeignet.

Imaging of presynaptic dopamine transporters (DAT) by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and [(123)I]FP-CIT is an established method for differentiating between neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative parkinsonism. Whereas a region-of-interest (ROI) analysis is the method of choice for analyzing [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT studies, visual image interpretations can also provide highly accurate results. The present study was undertaken to validate a visual reading system for parametric volume of distribution (DVR) [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT images that combines the quantitative nature of ROI analyses and the simplicity of visual readings.A 9-step linear visual rating template for semi-quantitative DVR ratings of caudate nucleus and putamen was developed (VRDVR). The conventional 4-step visual reading system that is mainly based on the [(123)I]FP-CIT uptake pattern was used for comparison (VRP method). Six independent observers retrospectively rated the [(123)I]FP-CIT scans of 30 consecutive parkinsonism and tremor patients (N.=16 neurodegenerative, N.=14 non-neurodegenerative) using VRDVR and VRP. In addition, a highly trained investigator performed manual ROI analyses.The ROI analysis provided complete separation of both patient groups by comparing the lower DAT binding of both putamina (i.e., putamen contralateral to clinically most affected side in neurodegenerative parkinsonism). Using VRP, the two most experienced observers correctly classified all patients while 20 false-positive ratings occurred in the less experienced observers (mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUCROC] of all observers 0.93±0.07). The VRDVR ratings of the two most experienced observers did not overlap between patient groups, although at different VRDVR score cut-offs. Using the same VRDVR score cut-off for all observers, only six false-negative and one false-positive ratings occurred in total (AUCROC 0.99±0.01). Inter-observer agreement was good for VRP and VRDVR. Moreover, semi-quantitative VRDVR and quantitative ROI analyses showed a strong correlation in all observers (Spearman's rho, 0.85-0.91).The proposed VRDVR method offers a very promising visual analysis method for [(123)I]FP-CIT SPECT studies in parkinsonism. The accuracy of VRDVR readings was found to be superior to conventional VRP, while it provided a diagnostic accuracy in less experienced observers that is comparable to manual ROI analyses by a highly trained investigator.

In order to decrease surgery-related morbidity, we evaluated the reliability of the evaluation of lymph node metastasis in patients with uterine corpus cancer by positron-emission tomography (PET) with 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) before surgical staging.Patients with newly diagnosed uterine corpus cancer scheduled for surgical staging, including lymphadenectomy, underwent PET imaging within 30 days before surgery. PET results and postoperative histopathology were compared for each patient and each nodal site. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV/NPV) as well as accuracy of FDG-PET in predicting nodal disease was determined by joined meta-analysis of the present data and the data available in the literature.Of 21 patients examined, 13 patients were eligible to enter this pilot study. Only one patient had lymph node metastasis, which was preoperatively detected by FDG-PET scan. Additionally, another patient was considered to have lymph node metastasis according to increased focal FDG uptake; however, all lymph nodes were free of malignant disease upon final pathology. In contrast, all other patients without lymph node metastasis upon final pathology showed negative preoperative FDG-PET scans. The meta-analysis yielded a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of 0.53, 0.91, 0.57, 0.90 and 0.84, respectively.In patients with uterine corpus cancer, FDG-PET had an insufficient positive predictive value in detecting lymph node metastases, indicating that this method cannot replace surgical staging. However, due to its high NPV, FDG-PET might be beneficial in selected patients who are poor candidates for surgical staging.

Neuroimaging has in recent years greatly contributed to our understanding of a wide range of aspects of central neurological diseases. These include the classification and localization of disease (e.g., in headache), the understanding of pathology (e.g., in Parkinson's disease), mechanisms of reorganization (e.g., in stroke), and the subclinical progress of disease (e.g., in degenerative diseases). Apart form presurgical mapping, clinical applications of fMRI are limited. However, functional imaging enables the formulation of neurobiological hypotheses that can be tested clinically and is suited to test classical clinical hypotheses about how the brain works. Understanding the mechanisms and the site of pathology, e.g., in cluster headaches, will lead and has led to new therapeutic strategies. New methodological developments for neuroscientific applications are aimed at the integration of functional and morphological connectivity through a combination of magnetic resonance techniques (fMRI, DTI) and electrophysiological (EEG, MEG) recordings. In addition to stimulus-dependent activations, resting state activity has found increasing interest, for example, in sleep research and various psychiatric diseases (e.g., schizophrenia, borderline).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Interictal hypometabolism has lateralizing value in cases of temporal lobe epilepsy and positive predictive value for seizure-free outcome after surgery to treat epilepsy. Alterations in regional cerebral metabolism can also be inferred from measurements of regional cerebral perfusion. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of detecting cerebral blood flow (CBF) asymmetries in the mesial temporal lobes using continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion MR imaging, which is a noninvasive method for calculating regional CBF. METHODS: Twelve patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent preoperative evaluation for temporal lobectomy and 12 normal control participants were studied retrospectively. Absolute and normalized mesial temporal CBF measurements were compared between the patient and control groups. Lateralization based on a perfusion asymmetry index was compared with metabolic ((18)[F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) and hippocampal volumetric asymmetry indices and with clinical lateralization. RESULTS: Mesial temporal CBF was more asymmetric in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy than in normal control participants, although asymmetric mesial temporal CBF was also found in normal participants, with the left side dominant. Ipsilateral mesial temporal CBF was significantly decreased compared with contralateral mesial temporal CBF in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Global CBF measurements were significantly decreased in patients compared with control participants. Asymmetry in mesial temporal blood flow in patients persisted after normalization to global CBF. Lateralization using continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion MR imaging asymmetry index significantly correlated with lateralization based on (18)[F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography hypometabolism, hippocampal volumes, and clinical evaluation. CONCLUSION: Continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion MR imaging can detect interictal asymmetries in mesial temporal lobe perfusion in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. This technique is readily combined with routine structural assessment and potentially offers an inexpensive and noninvasive means of screening for asymmetries in interictal mesial temporal lobe function.

There are several approaches for correcting the effects of photon scatter or absorption by body tissues on positron emission tomography (PET). We examined the influence of cold, hot and segmented transmission as well as of a mathematical procedure on attenuation correction using regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rMRGlu).6 patients with different cerebral diseases were examined under resting conditions using an ECAT Exact 922/47. The attenuation-corrected data (corrected by means of cold, hot and segmented transmission as well as a mathematical procedure) were then quantified absolutely for assessment of regional glucose metabolism in 16 regions of interest (ROIs).Using absolutely quantified glucose metabolism in 16 ROIs, no significant differences were found between cold transmission and the mathematical procedure except for three regions (left and right temporal occipital and right parietal occipital). Unlike the mathematical procedure, both hot and segmented transmission showed a significantly lower value for regional glucose utilization in all 16 ROIs than did cold transmission. The left and the right hemisphere both showed metabolic values (rMRGlu) in the same decreasing order: cold transmission, the mathematical procedure, hot or segmented transmission. There was no significant difference between global cerebral glucose metabolism values for cold transmission and the mathematical procedure (p = 0.25) while those for hot (p = 0.03) and segmented transmission (p = 0.03) did show a significant difference.Except for 3 regions (temporo-occipital left, temporo-occipital right and parieto-occipital right) attenuation correction procedures used for brain PET studies on patients show no significant quantitative differences between cold transmission and the mathematical procedure. rMRGlu of images corrected for attenuation using hot and segmented transmission is significantly lower than of attenuation corrected images where cold transmission was employed. For clinical routine examinations, the mathematical procedure seems the best alternative to cold transmission for a faster brain PET acquisition.