One Fell Swoop: Septic Muscle Embolism and Central Venous Catheter Infection Imaged with [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

We describe the case of a 43-year-old female with hereditary hemochromatosis, previously without cardiac issues, who presented with a severe fever (>40 to 41 °C) to our hospital. Initial assessments, including transthoracic echocardiography, showed no typical signs of infective endocarditis. A contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed a hypodense area in the right subscapular muscle, alongside pleural thicknesses. Due to the critical condition, a central venous catheter (CVC) was implanted for immediate intravenous treatment. Subsequent blood cultures, positive for Staphylococcus aureus, and transesophageal echocardiography led to a diagnosis of multivalvular infective endocarditis (MIE). Subsequently, the patient underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG), which detected increased tracer incorporation in the muscle lesion, CVC, and pleural thicknesses. The final diagnosis was CVC infection and septic embolism to the subscapular muscle in a patient with pleuritis. This case showcases the critical role of [18F]FDG PET/CT as whole-body imaging modality in diagnosing and managing complex infective cases.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Imaging of Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus Extending into the Right Atrium in a Patient with Cholangiocarcinoma Treated with 90Y-Microspheres.

We present a case of a 42-year-old male patient affected by unresectable, chemorefractory cholangiocarcinoma, with prior placement of biliary stent. Because of the absence of extrahepatic metastases, he was submitted to liver-direct therapy with 90Y-microspheres. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) performed before the procedure showed intense tracer uptake in the hepatic lesion and along the biliary stent. The patient underwent radioembolization with 90Y-resin spheres (1.1 GBq). 18F-FDG PET-CT, acquired 6 weeks after the procedure, showed no response of the hepatic lesion and the appearance of an area of markedly increased uptake extending through the inferior vena cava into the right atrium, confirmed as extensive tumor thrombus at the enhanced multislice CT subsequently performed. 18F-FDG PET-CT proved to be a useful imaging tool not only for the evaluation of metabolic response but also for the early detection of extrahepatic progression after 90Y-radioembolization.

Usefulness of 18F Florbetaben in Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Types of Dementia.

In the last decade, several radiolabeled compounds have been developed for the imaging in vivo of amyloid pathology by means of Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Among these, 18F Florbetaben appear to be one of the most reliable for its high affinity for amyloid plaques in brain and its radio-chemical properties that make it usable in common clinical routine. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the application in vivo of 18F Florbetaben, describing for first the physiopathological basis of amyloid pathology. Afterwards, the chemical characteristics of this radiolabeled compound will be described, with a particular attention to the synthesis process and the kinetic in vivo. An overview on the imaging protocols and image interpretation will be provided as well and, as a last aspect, the results of the main studies performed in subjects with advanced and early AD will be summarized.

Evaluation of recurrent disease in the re-staging of colorectal cancer by 18F-FDG PET/CT: Use of CEA and CA 19-9 in patient selection.

The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in assessing the recurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) with regard to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9). 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in 100 patients for the re-staging of CRC. Therapy was discontinued prior to the examination. The mean (± standard deviation) CEA value (measured ~30 days prior to PET/CT examination) was 23.71 (±107) ng/ml, whereas the CA 19-9 value was 72 (±190.3) U/ml. Differences in CEA and CA 19-9 values in patients with scans that were positive or negative for recurrence were analyzed by means of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. ROC curves were used for the calculation of the sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT for the CEA and CA 19-9 levels. The results of the 18F-FDG PET/CT were found to be associated with the CEA level (P=0.001), but not with the CA 19-9 level (P=0.43). PET/CT was positive for recurrence in 60 patients (60.0%), whose mean CEA and CA 19-9 values were 33.07±136.7 ng/ml and 75.24±192.3 U/ml, respectively. PET/CT was negative for recurrence in 40 patients (40.0%), whose mean CEA and CA 19-9 values were 10.15±30 ng/ml and 67.76±190 U/ml, respectively. On the basis of ROC curve analysis, the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity was achieved for CEA levels of 3.5 ng/ml [sensitivity, 80%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 67-89%; and specificity, 60%; 95% CI, 45-78%]. The study concluded that the detection of recurrence by 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients treated for CRC is associated with CEA, but not CA 19-9 serum levels. Moreover, 18F-FDG PET/CT should be recommended in patients with suspected CRC recurrence even when they present with CEA levels below the normal cut-off.

Do CSF levels of t-Tau, p-Tau and ß1₋42 amyloid correlate with dopaminergic system impairment in patients with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease? A ¹²³I-FP-CIT study in the early stages of the disease.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships among cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of t-Tau, p-Tau and Aß1₋42 amyloid peptide and (123)I-FP-CIT uptake. METHODS: The study included 58 subjects (31 men and 27 women, age 67 ± 9 years) with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease diagnosed according to the United Kingdom Parkinson Disease Society Brain Bank criteria. All subjects underwent a CSF assay 28 ± 3 days before (123)I-FP-CIT SPECT scanning. The relationships were evaluated by means of linear regression analysis and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: Striatal (123)I-FP-CIT was positively related to both t-Tau and p-Tau CSF values with low levels of t-Tau and p-Tau being related to a low uptake of (123)I-FP-CIT. In particular, differences with higher statistical significance were found for the striatum that is contralateral to theside mainly affected on clinical examination (P<0.001) [corrected].No significant relationships were found between Aß1₋42 amyloid peptide and (123)I-FP-CIT binding. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that the presynaptic dopaminergic system is more involved in Parkinson disease patients with lower t-Tau and p-Tau CSF values while values of Aß1₋42 amyloid peptide seems not to be related to nigrostriatal degeneration in our series.

Rare lymphoid malignancies of the breast: report of two cases illustrating potential diagnostic techniques.

Two cases of lymphoid malignancy involving the breast are herein presented. Both patients were admitted with a palpable breast mass. Ultrasound demonstrated hypoechoic, ill-defined lesions of the breast in both patients; mammogram also showed spiculated breast densities. Both patients underwent core biopsy, which revealed lymphomatous cells. Total-body evaluation was also performed by computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealing no other fluorodeoxyglucose-avid foci in the first case and supra and subdiaphragmatic disease in the second one.