Incidental Intense Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (FAPI) Uptake in Bilateral Gluteal Myositis Ossificans: A Case Report.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG) is a widely adopted imaging modality for detecting hypermetabolic lesions. However, emerging positron-emitting tracers, such as radiopharmaceuticals featuring fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitors (FAPI) labeled with [18F] or [68Ga], have opened new avenues in nuclear medicine. This case report focuses on the unique behavior of [68Ga]-FAPI in bilateral gluteal myositis ossificans, an infrequent condition characterized by soft tissue ossification. A 45-year-old woman with gastric adenocarcinoma underwent subtotal gastrectomy and received neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy; [68Ga]-FAPI PET revealed metastatic processes and unexpected [68Ga]-FAPI avid intramuscular ossifications in the pelvic and bilateral thigh muscles. Even though there was no history of trauma, the patient was diagnosed with myositis ossificans, a condition marked by non-cancerous ectopic ossifications. Diagnosis relies on history, radiology, and/or histology. FAPI imaging, increasingly used for inflammatory and infectious diseases, can exhibit uptake in benign conditions, including those involving bones and joints. This case report is the first to document incidental bilateral [68Ga]-FAPI uptake in bilateral gluteal myositis ossificans. The robust [68Ga]-FAPI activity in myositis ossificans highlights the importance of considering myositis ossificans in the context of soft tissue calcifications with intense [68Ga]-FAPI uptake.

Long-Term Survival Analysis and Prognostic Factors of Arabic Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A 20-Year Observational Study at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) Involving 528 Patients.

DTC accounts for the majority of endocrine tumors. While the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing globally over the past few decades, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally shows an excellent prognosis, except in cases with aggressive clinicopathological features. This study aimed to assess the 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of 528 Arabic patients diagnosed with primary DTC from 1998 to 2021. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze the impact of various factors on both OS and PFS. An univariable survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves. The 5- and 10-year OS for patients with DTC have exceeded 95%. Additionally, PFS showed very good rates (ranging between 96.5 and 85% at 5 and 10 years, respectively). Age, male gender, risk of recurrence, and distant metastasis were identified as the main negative prognostic factors for both OS and PFS, while RAI treatment was found to be a significant factor in improving OS. Moreover, adherence to the King Hussein Cancer Center's (KHCC) CPG demonstrated significant improvement in PFS. These findings highlight common prognostic factors and favorable outcomes in Arabic patients with DTC treated at a tertiary cancer center using standard of care approaches.

Beyond CT: A Case Analysis of Serial [18F]FDG PET/CT for Assessment of Necrosis and Early Recurrence in Colorectal Liver Metastases.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy, with the liver being the most frequent site of metastases. [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has emerged as a valuable tool in detecting and evaluating liver metastases and extrahepatic disease. Herein, we present a case of a 76-year-old male with colorectal cancer associated with lung and liver metastases. The patient received 12 chemoimmunotherapy cycles and was then put on maintenance cetuximab; serial [18F]FDG PET/CT scans were utilized to evaluate treatment response. The patient exhibited a positive response to chemoimmunotherapy, with regression of rectal disease and resolution of pulmonary metastatic nodules. Serial [18F]FDG PET/CT scans unveiled three distinct necrotic patterns. The case report advocates that [18F]FDG PET/CT plays an important role in evaluating colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) response to treatment, identifying transient necrosis, early recurrence, and emphasizing the limitations of post-treatment CT scans in identifying early CRLM recurrence. Integrating functional imaging, particularly [18F]FDG PET/CT, promises for management monitoring and surveillance of CRLM patients.

The outcomes of severe COVID-19 pneumonia managed with supportive care in Palestine: an experience from a developing country.

INTRODUCTION: About 14% of COVID-19 patients experience severe symptoms and require hospitalization. Managing these patients could be challenging for limited-resource countries, such as Palestine. This study aimed to evaluate hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients' treatment outcomes managed with supportive care and steroids. METHODOLOGY: This was a single-center observational retrospective cohort study that enrolled COVID-19 patients admitted to the "Martyrs medical military complex- COVID Hospital" in Palestine. The managing physicians manually collected data through chart reviews, including patients' characteristics, complications, outcomes, and different management modalities. Continuous and categorical variables between those who were discharged alive and who died were compared using t-test and Chi-squares test, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, 334 patients were included in this study. Median (IQR) age was 62(11) years, 49.1% were males, and 29.6% were ICU status patients. The median (IQR) PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 76 (67), and 67.6% of these patients had moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, and 4.8% of the patients received invasive mechanical ventilation. Most of the patients (78.7%) had at least one comorbidity, and 18.3% developed at least one complication. The overall mortality was 12.3% (95% CI 8.9-16.2%), and the median (IQR) length of hospital stay was 11 (8) days. Age (aOR 1.05, p = 0.08), smoking (aOR 4.12, p = 0.019), IMV (aOR 27.4, p < 0.001) and PaO2/FiO2 ratio (aOR 1.03, p < 0.001) were found to predict higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Supportive care for patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in a Palestinian hospital with limited resources was associated with in-hospital mortality of 12.3%.

Therapeutic monitoring of antiepileptic drugs: Recommendations to improve care of patients with epilepsy in the Palestinian practice.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can play a major role in optimizing pharmacotherapy of epilepsy. This study was conducted to explore views and opinions of clinicians who care for patients with epilepsy (PWE) in Palestine and to develop consensus-based recommendations with regard to importance, justification, technical, and analytical issues of TDM of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). METHODS: The study was conducted in three phases: (1) the published literature was thoroughly searched for an initial list of items relevant to TDM of AEDs, (2) the list was supplemented by items provided by key experts (n = 8) through semi-structured in-depth interviews, (3) views and opinions of clinicians (n = 20) on TDM of AEDs were explored, and (4) a two-round Delphi technique was followed among a panel of experts (n = 27) to develop consensus-based recommendations to guide TDM of AEDs in Palestine. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved on items related to importance (8 items) of TDM of AEDs, clinical justifications of TDM of AEDs (19 items), guidelines for optimal TDM of AEDs (11 items), TDM of some AEDs (21 items), TDM practice (24 items), and some technical and analytical issues in TDM of AEDs (13 items). CONCLUSION: Consensus-based recommendations that might be used in guiding TDM of AEDs in Palestine were developed. Future studies are still needed to investigate if these consensus-based recommendations can improve healthcare of PWE in Palestine.