Desenmascarando la polimialgia reumática, papel de la Medicina Nuclear / Decoding polymyalgia rheumatica, the role of Nuclear Medicine Imaging

La polimialgia reumática (PMR) es una enfermedad inflamatoria de las articulaciones que se presenta en pacientes mayores de 50 años con dolor y rigidez matutina prolongada en las cinturas del hombro y la cadera y en el cuello. La falta de hallazgos clínicos específicos, signos de laboratorio, biomarcadores y métodos de imagen establecidos dificulta el diagnóstico de los pacientes con esta enfermedad. La 18F-FDG PET/TC es una técnica de imagen funcional que constituye una herramienta consolidada en Oncología y que también ha demostrado su utilidad en el campo de las enfermedades inflamatorias. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar evidencia bibliográfica sobre el uso de métodos de imagen molecular como la PET/TC para el diagnóstico precoz, la evaluación de la actividad de la enfermedad y la respuesta terapéutica en la PMR. Al mismo tiempo, se consideran las ventajas, las desventajas y las contraindicaciones de otros métodos (AU)

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory joint disease that presents in patients older than 50 years with prolonged morning pain and stiffness in the shoulder and hip joints and neck. The lack of specific clinical findings, laboratory signs, biomarkers and established imaging methods makes it difficult to diagnose patients with this disease. 18F-FDG PET/CT is a functional imaging technique that is an established tool in oncology and has also proven useful in the field of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this paper is to present literature evidence on the use of molecular imaging methods such as PET/CT for early diagnosis, assessment of disease activity and therapeutic response in PMR. At the same time, the advantages, disadvantages and contraindications of other methods are considered (AU)

Decoding polymyalgia rheumatica, the role of Nuclear Medicine Imaging.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory joint disease that presents in patients older than 50 years with prolonged morning pain and stiffness in the shoulder and hip joints and neck. The lack of specific clinical findings, laboratory signs, biomarkers and established imaging methods makes it difficult to diagnose patients with this disease. 18F-FDG PET/CT is a functional imaging technique that is an established tool in oncology and has also proven useful in the field of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this paper is to present literature evidence on the use of molecular imaging methods such as PET/CT for early diagnosis, assessment of disease activity and therapeutic response in PMR. At the same time, the advantages, disadvantages and contraindications of other methods are considered.

Un reto multidisciplinar: tratamiento con fósforo-32 en el carcinoma de páncreas localmente avanzado / A multidisciplinary challenge: Therapy with phosphorus-32 for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

El cáncer de páncreas es una enfermedad de pronóstico precario, siendo su supervivencia global la que menos ha mejorado en los últimos 40 años entre todos los cánceres. El adenocarcinoma de páncreas localmente avanzado, sin metástasis a distancia, pero con una afectación vascular limitante, constituye casi un tercio de estos pacientes. En este grupo se concentran gran parte de los esfuerzos investigadores para introducir tratamientos que permitan un aumento de las tasas de rescate quirúrgico y/o de la supervivencia, con 2 objetivos fundamentales: el del control local y el de la prevención de la progresión sistémica. El tratamiento intratumoral con micropartículas de fósforo-32, guiado por ecoendoscopia y combinado con quimioterapia estándar puede tener beneficios significativos y clínicamente relevantes en estos pacientes y, por tanto, una opción valiosa de tratamiento en una enfermedad en la que existe una necesidad urgente de desarrollar nuevas terapias que nos ayuden a mejorar los resultados (AU)

Pancreatic cancer is a disease with a poor prognosis, and overall survival has improved the least in the last 40 years of all cancers. Locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma, without distant metastasis but with limiting vascular involvement, constitutes almost one third of these patients. This group is the focus of most research efforts to introduce treatments to increase surgical salvage rates and/or survival, with two main objectives: local control and prevention of systemic progression. Intratumoural treatment with phosphorus-32 microparticles, guided by echoendoscopy and combined with standard chemotherapy may have significant and clinically relevant benefits in these patients, and therefore a valuable treatment option in a disease where there is an urgent need to develop new therapies to help improve outcomes (AU)

A multidisciplinary challenge: Therapy with phosphorus-32 for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a disease with a poor prognosis, and overall survival has improved the least in the last 40 years of all cancers. Locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma, without distant metastasis but with limiting vascular involvement, constitutes almost one third of these patients. This group is the focus of most research efforts to introduce treatments to increase surgical salvage rates and/or survival, with two main objectives: local control and prevention of systemic progression. Intratumoural treatment with phosphorus-32 microparticles, guided by echoendoscopy and combined with standard chemotherapy may have significant and clinically relevant benefits in these patients, and therefore a valuable treatment option in a disease where there is an urgent need to develop new therapies to help improve outcomes.

Aportaciones de la medicina nuclear en la enfermedad musculoesquelética tumoral maligna en niños / Contributions of nuclear medicine to malignant musculoskeletal tumor disease in children

Un diagnóstico de cáncer es perturbador a cualquier edad, pero especialmente cuando el paciente es un niño. Solo se puede diagnosticar lo que se sospecha, solo se sospecha lo que se conoce o, al menos, se conoce su existencia, pero los tumores musculoesqueléticos son infrecuentes y, por tanto, muy difíciles de diagnosticar o tratar. Probablemente por su infrecuencia, por la complejidad de las imágenes radiológicas, por la apariencia histopatológica, así como por las serias consecuencias debido a biopsias y tratamientos inadecuados, la patología tumoral musculoesquelética necesita un manejo clínico que debe ser llevado a cabo por un grupo de especialistas con formación específica, que permita un adecuado diagnóstico, la introducción de terapias adyuvantes, así como un tratamiento quirúrgico, haciéndose hoy imprescindible un tratamiento multidisciplinar. Los estudios de imagen proporcionan información esencial sobre la naturaleza de cada lesión, su tamaño, su localización anatómica, el efecto sobre el hueso o los tejidos blandos circundantes y la afectación de las articulaciones adyacentes y las estructuras neurovasculares. En este artículo los autores analizan los avances de las técnicas de medicina nuclear (gammagrafías, PET/TC y SPECT/TC) y su utilidad en la estadificación de tumores musculoesqueléticos malignos pediátricos, así como en la valoración de la respuesta, el seguimiento y el diagnóstico de recidiva (AU)

A diagnosis of cancer is frightening at any age, but especially when the patient is a child. Only what is suspected can be diagnosed, only what is known or at least known to exist is suspected, but musculoskeletal tumors are infrequent and therefore very difficult to diagnose or treat. Probably due to their infrequency, the complexity of the radiological images, histopathological appearance, as well as the serious consequences due to inadequate biopsies and treatments, musculoskeletal tumor pathology requires clinical management that must be carried out by a group of specialists with specific training, allowing an adequate diagnosis, introduction of adjuvant therapies, as well as surgical treatment, making multidisciplinary treatment essential today. Imaging studies provide essential information on the nature of each lesion, its size, its anatomical location, the effect on the surrounding bone or soft tissues and the involvement of adjacent joints and neurovascular structures. In this article the authors will discuss the advances in nuclear medicine techniques (scintigraphy, SPECT/CT and PET/CT) and their usefulness in the staging of pediatric malignant musculoskeletal tumors, as well as in the assessment of response, follow-up, and diagnosis of recurrence (AU)

Contributions of nuclear medicine to malignant musculoskeletal tumor disease in children.

A diagnosis of cancer is frightening at any age, but especially when the patient is a child. Only what is suspected can be diagnosed, only what is known or at least known to exist is suspected, but musculoskeletal tumors are infrequent and therefore very difficult to diagnose or treat. Probably due to their infrequency, the complexity of the radiological images, histopathological appearance, as well as the serious consequences due to inadequate biopsies and treatments, musculoskeletal tumor pathology requires clinical management that must be carried out by a group of specialists with specific training, allowing an adequate diagnosis, introduction of adjuvant therapies, as well as surgical treatment, making multidisciplinary treatment essential today. Imaging studies provide essential information on the nature of each lesion, its size, its anatomical location, the effect on the surrounding bone or soft tissues and the involvement of adjacent joints and neurovascular structures. In this article the authors will discuss the advances in nuclear medicine techniques (scintigraphy, SPECT/CT and PET/CT) and their usefulness in the staging of pediatric malignant musculoskeletal tumors, as well as in the assessment of response, follow-up, and diagnosis of recurrence.

Nuclear Medicine in the diagnosis of pathologies of the spine: role of hybrid imaging. / Medicina nuclear en el diagnóstico de las afecciones de la columna vertebral: papel de la imagen híbrida.

Clinical problems in the human spine are still common in our society, often causing pain and can also limit movement. Back pain is a very common clinical entity, although difficult to diagnose due to its multifactorial nature. There are multiple processes that can alter the structure of the spine, injure vertebrae and/or the surrounding tissue. For the study of the spine, image diagnosis is essential, and within this, molecular hybrid techniques play an important role by providing us with an image of functional and morphological fusion. Among these, SPECT/CT is key in the diagnosis of traumatic and stress pathology, allowing us to locate hidden vertebral fractures, and is also very useful in degenerative and post-surgical pathology. On the other hand, PET/CT with 18F-FDG also plays an important role in the management and monitoring of infectious and oncological processes. This review describes the application of these hybrid techniques in the different pathologies of the spine and the findings of their images, being very useful for the diagnostic assessment and therapeutic management of the patient.

Revisión del papel de la Medicina Nuclear en el diagnóstico de la infección musculoesquelética / Role of Nuclear Medicine in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal infection: a review

Las enfermedades inflamatorias e infecciosas osteoarticulares pueden tener graves consecuencias para el paciente si no se diagnostican a tiempo. En las últimas décadas, diferentes modalidades de la Medicina Nuclear han permitido estudiar la fisiopatología de estos procesos y desempeñan un importante papel hoy en día en el diagnóstico, caracterización y monitorización de las enfermedades infecciosas musculoesqueléticas. Por lo tanto, es esencial que todos los especialistas de Medicina Nuclear tengan una visión de las ventajas y desventajas de cada método y saber cómo usarlos correctamente en el diagnóstico del paciente. Este artículo destaca el papel de la Medicina Nuclear en la estandarización del abordaje diagnóstico en pacientes con enfermedades infecciosas/inflamatorias, en particular en osteomielitis periférica, artritis séptica, infecciones de prótesis articulares, pie diabético infectado e infecciones de la columna vertebral. Los autores presentan las pruebas con radionúclidos más comunes, con sus ventajas e indicaciones clínicas, para lograr un diagnóstico adecuado de la infección y la inflamación

Inflammatory and infectious osteoarticular diseases can cause serious consequences for the patient if they are not diagnosed on time. In the last decades, different modalities of nuclear medicine have allowed to study the physiopathology of these processes, and nowadays, they play an important role in diagnosis, characterization and monitoring of musculoskeletal infectious diseases. Therefore, it is essential that every nuclear medicine physician have a vision of the advantages and disadvantages of each method and know how to use them correctly in the diagnosis of the patient. This article highlights the role of nuclear medicine in standardizing the diagnostic approach in patients with infectious/inflammatory diseases, in particular in peripheral osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, prosthetic joint infections, infected diabetic foot and spinal infections. The authors reveal the role of the most common radionuclides tests, with their advantages and clinical indications, to achieve an adequate diagnosis of infection and inflammation

Role of Nuclear Medicine in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal infection: a review. / Revisión del papel de la Medicina Nuclear en el diagnóstico de la infección musculoesquelética.

Inflammatory and infectious osteoarticular diseases can cause serious consequences for the patient if they are not diagnosed on time. In the last decades, different modalities of nuclear medicine have allowed to study the physiopathology of these processes, and nowadays, they play an important role in diagnosis, characterization and monitoring of musculoskeletal infectious diseases. Therefore, it is essential that every nuclear medicine physician have a vision of the advantages and disadvantages of each method and know how to use them correctly in the diagnosis of the patient. This article highlights the role of nuclear medicine in standardizing the diagnostic approach in patients with infectious/inflammatory diseases, in particular in peripheral osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, prosthetic joint infections, infected diabetic foot and spinal infections. The authors reveal the role of the most common radionuclides tests, with their advantages and clinical indications, to achieve an adequate diagnosis of infection and inflammation.

[Implementation of a quality management system according to the UNE-UN-ISO 9001:2008 standard in a nuclear medicine department]. / Implantación de un sistema de gestión de calidad según norma UNE-UN-ISO 9001:2008 en un servicio de medicina nuclear.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process of implementing a quality management system according to UNE-EN-ISO 9001:2008 standard in a Nuclear Medicine Department. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In February 2008, the committee on internal quality of the Department was established, naming a responsible physician. The general operating plan was drawn up, following the requirements established by the ISO 9001:2008 standard. It defined the scope of the standard, defining, preparing and transcribing the various activities of our Department. Four training sessions were carried out. RESULTS: A total of nine general and two specific procedures were documented in which all the activities performed in our Department were included. Personnel records of each worker were created, including their profiles and training plan. A record of the equipment and service providers was created, as well as issues with the latter. Satisfaction surveys were obtained from external (patients) and internal customers (faculty applicants). Targets for improvement and activity markers were established. Two audits were performed to complete the process, one internal and one external. The Department was accredited in April 2010. CONCLUSION: The quality accreditation process is a tool that requires reflection on how we do things and how they can be improved. It makes it possible to measure what we do, to analyze and introduce improvement measures, and therefore, to achieve a higher level of quality in the service we provide our customers. The involvement of the Department workers with a commitment to team performance was essential.

Normal blood glucose level and (18)F-FDG PET/CT.

Patient preparation for FDG PET studies is perhaps more critical and more complex than for any other commonly performed imaging procedure. We report a patient with normal blood glucose level prior to the execution of a PET study in which FDG uptake was virtually zero in internal organs and was very extense in large muscle groups. The patient recognizes ingestion several minutes before the test. Ten days later, a repeated PET scan with normal blood glucose level, showed a normal organs distribution of FDG.

Valores normales de glucemia y 18F-FDG PET/CT / Normal blood glucose level and 18F-FDG PET/CT

La preparación de un estudio de FDG PET es probablemente de las más críticas dentro de los estudios de imagen. Presentamos el caso de una paciente que presentaba valores normales de glucemia previos a un estudio con PET, en el que la captación de la FDG fue prácticamente nula en órganos internos y muy extensa en los grandes grupos musculares. La paciente reconoció posteriormente una ingesta minutos antes de la prueba. El estudio con PET fue repetido 10 días después, también en normoglucemia, obteniendo una distribución normal de la FDG(AU)

Patient preparation for FDG PET studies is perhaps more critical and more complex than for any other commonly performed imaging procedure. We report a patient with normal blood glucose level prior to the execution of a PET study in which FDG uptake was virtually zero in internal organs and was very extense in large muscle groups. The patient recognizes ingestion several minutes before the test. Ten days later, a repeated PET scan with normal blood glucose level, showed a normal organs distribution of FDG(AU)

[Eight year history of neuroblastoma in an adult patient. Value of 123I-MIBG and 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-octreotide scintigraphy]. / Neuroblastoma de 8 años de evolución en paciente adulto: valor de la gammagrafía con 123I-MIBG y con 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-octreótido.

A case of a 30 year old male with an eight year history of neuroblastoma and whose general health was good is presented. After his last check-up, which included a CT scan and 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy, a 123I-MIBG and 111In-DTPA-D-Pheoctreotide scintigraphy was performed and provided us with complementary data that contributed to a more precise diagnosis of the location and extension of the neuroblastoma and to the biological features of the tumor. Thus, this report deals with an adult neuroblastoma patient whose general health is good in whom the exact extension of the lesion was determined by a combination of diagnostic imaging techniques.