The Role of [99mTc]Tc-Sestamibi in Functional Imaging of the Iodine-Loaded Thyroid Gland.

Due to high iodine loading from iodinated contrast media, the thyroid uptake of common radiopharmaceuticals ([99mTc]NaTcO4 and [123I]NaI) can be influenced up to 2 mo after administration. In such cases, and generally when differential diagnosis between productive and destructive thyrotoxicosis is necessary, [99mTc]Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy could be an option. This case highlights the role of [99mTc]Tc-sestamibi in the evaluation of thyrotoxicosis in a patient with a blocked thyroid gland as a result of stable iodine saturation.

The role of serum osteoprotegerine in metastatic prostate cancer - a case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplastic diseases in men. Early control of the disease progression contributes significantly to survival rates and patients' quality of life. Osteoprotegerin is a dimeric glycoprotein, which affects bone metabolism and inhibits osteoclastogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of osteoprotegerin in the serum of prostate cancer patients with or without skeletal metastases. METHODS: The expression of serum osteoprotegerin, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, has been studied in 82 patients with locally controlled prostate cancer, in 49 patients with metastatic bone disease and in a control group of 41 healthy males. At sampling time 65/131 of included patients were newly diagnosed, while 66/131 patients were already under hormonal therapy. All eligible prostate cancer patients had histologically confirmed malignancy. Serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was determined by an immunoradiometric assay. We investigated the expression of osteoprotegerin in hormone-dependent and hormone-refractory prostate cancer and its relation to disease progression. RESULTS: Among the 131 patients with prostate cancer, higher osteoprotegerin and PSA concentrations have been observed in metastatic bone patients' sera (p <0.001). ROC analysis between the metastatic and locally controlled prostate cancer patients has shown a statistically significant area curve (p <0.001) and a cut-off limit of 89.6 pg/ml. Moreover, 15.3 % of patients became hormone-resistant, with osteoprotegerin values significantly increased compared with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that elevated levels of serum osteoprotegerin in patients with prostate cancer reflect the bone metastatic extent and may potentially be used in metastatic patients' follow-ups. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2): 133-138.

[Estimation of fetal dose during diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures especially in child bearing Greek women].

Medical uses of radiation have grown rapidly over the past decade in Hellas. A part of these may concern Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine procedures implemented in pregnant patients. The potential detriment from ionizing radiation to embryo/fetus is related to the fetal dose and the stage of pregnancy at which exposure occurs. The purpose of this review is to inform about the risk from radiation to the embryo/fetus, to provide a data base of fetal doses in early pregnancy for nuclear medicine procedures in Hellas which are determined by National and European protocols and laws and to suggest actions that should be considered in order to optimize the diagnostic procedure keeping the fetal dose as low as reasonably achievable maintaining a good diagnostic result for the pregnant. Average fetal dose for most nuclear medicine procedures in Hellas varies between 0,3 and 18 mGy doses which can not justify the termination of pregnancy.

[Effective doses in nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures in Greece].

Medical uses of radiation have grown rapidly over the past decade in Hellas. A part of these concern diagnostic Nuclear Medicine procedures. Effective dose which is the risk weighted effective whole-body dose provides an indicator of potential detriment from ionizing radiation. The purpose of this review is to provide a data base of effective doses for nuclear medicine procedures in Hellas which are determined by National and European protocols and laws. Average effective dose for most nuclear medicine procedures in Hellas varies between 0.3 and 25 mSv which can be compared to the annual effective dose from background radiation of about 2.8 mSv.