Comparison of 18F-FDG positron emission tomography and computed tomography in patients with colorectal carcinoma and lymphoma: our initial clinical experience.

Findings obtained by fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and computed tomography (CT) were compared in patients with malignant lymphoma and colorectal carcinoma. In 14 malignant lymphoma patients, 16 18F-FDG PET procedures were performed to assess chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy outcome (remission). One patient with clinically overt relapse of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma underwent PET to assess disease dissemination prior to prescribing second-line chemotherapy. Two patients were submitted to PET on two occasions. PET pointed to residual disease in six of 14 patients and was inconclusive in one patient. These patients underwent computed tomography (CT), some of them before and others after PET examination. Then PET and CT findings were compared and therapeutic response, i.e. disease remission was assessed. The signs of residual disease were present in four and absent in nine patients, whereas inconclusive findings in terms of residual disease were recorded in one patient. Although our initial clinical experience was acquired in quite a small number of patients, CT modified clinical evaluation of residual disease in two patients and should be included along with PET in diagnostic work-up of these patients.

Clinical importance of significant asimptomatic bacteriuria in newborns and infants during early postnatal period.

The aim of the study was to detect newborns at risk for developing renal impairment, and to point out the importance of significant asimptomatic bacteriuria in perinatal period and early infancy. Severe urinary tract anomalies are very often accompanied only by asimptomatic bacteriuria in perinatal period. Three urinalysis ware done after delivery. 212 newborns with significant asimptomatic bacteriuria underwent ultrasound examination, and were followed up to three months. Those with normal findings and with passing bacteriuria in the first 2 months were excluded. Group of 52 newborns underwent radioisotope examination. Frequency of urinary tract anomalies in newborns was 34.6%. Increased risk for renal impairment had children with urinary tract anomalies in close family, urinary tract infection or bacteriuria, EPH gestosis and prepartal symptoms of febrile infection in mother, children with IUGR, strangulated umbilical cord, prolonged jaundice and attacks of peripheral cyanosis in perinatal period.

[The value of Tc99m-DMSA renal scintigraphy in evaluation of severity of parenchymal lesions in children with acute urinary tract infection]. / Vrijednost Tc99m-DMSA scintigrafije bubrega u djece s akutnom uroinfekcijom u procjeni tezine parenhimskih lezija.

INTRODUCTION: Most authors would agree that renal parenchymal defects (scars, hypoplasia, dysplasia) in children are a major risk factor for chronic renal failure, and for development of systemic hypertension in later years. The pathophysiologic changes in acute pyelonephritis include tubulointerstitial inflammation/pus with impairment of the renal microcirculation due to compression of the glomeruli, small peritubular capillaries and vasa recta by interstitial edema. The resulting ischemia has been postulated as one of the mechanisms for the decreased accumulation of DMSA in the areas of pyelonephritis. DMSA scanning has a sensitivity of up to 99%, and specificity of up to 91% for the detection of acute pyelonephritis. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to investigate the value of Tc99m-DMSA scan in children with acute urinary tract infection, to estimate the degree of parenchymal changes, and to assess the relationship with vesicoureteral reflux. PATIENTS: We reviewed 116 infants aged 0-15 years, 100 (86.2%) female and 16 (13.8%) male, who were hospitalized for urinary tract infection during a 5-year period (1996-2000). The mean age at diagnosis was 3.7 years. RESULTS: Escherichia colli was isolated in 52 (44.8%) urine cultures. All patients underwent ultrasonography, which was normal in 57 (49.1%) infants. Tc99m-DMSA was performed after two weeks of therapy. The renal parenchymal pathology was defined as a focal or multifocal defect of low degree in 33 (28.4%), and of high degree in 35 (30%) children. Multifocal defects were mostly found in patients aged < 3 years, and focal lesions in those aged > 3 years. Renal scars were detected in 41 (35.3%) infants with first urinary tract infection. CONCLUSION: We recommend that ultrasound, DMSA and radionuclide cystouretherogram be routinely performed in case of first urinary tract infection in infants aged < 1 year, and voiding cystourethrogram with US and DMSA in those aged > 1 year.