Diagnostic sensitivity of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging using a pumping cardiac phantom with inserted variable defects.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic sensitivity of various SPECT MPI procedures was assessed using a pumping cardiac phantom with variable defects inserted in the myocardial wall of the left ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS: A diagnostic evaluation of 142 myocardial defects was performed. A diagnosis blinded to prior-known conditions was compared to the known defects severity (transmural, subendocardial) and defects position within the myocardial wall of the left ventricle (apical, anterior, inferior) for three body types (average male, large male, large female). Non-attenuation corrected, attenuation corrected and gated SPECT MPI were performed. The diagnostic sensitivity was improved when applying attenuation correction or gating techniques to identify subendocardial defects in the inferior, anterior and apical segments of the myocardial wall of the left ventricle for all three body types. Transmural defects could be identified without any attenuation correction or gating. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic sensitivity was improved when applying AC or GSPECT techniques.

The updated ESTRO core curricula 2011 for clinicians, medical physicists and RTTs in radiotherapy/radiation oncology.

INTRODUCTION: In 2007 ESTRO proposed a revision and harmonisation of the core curricula for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and RTTs to encourage harmonised education programmes for the professional disciplines, to facilitate mobility between EU member states, to reflect the rapid development of the professions and to secure the best evidence-based education across Europe. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Working parties for each core curriculum were established and included a broad representation with geographic spread and different experience with education from the ESTRO Educational Committee, local representatives appointed by the National Societies and support from ESTRO staff. RESULTS: The revised curricula have been presented for the ESTRO community and endorsement is ongoing. All three curricula have been changed to competency based education and training, teaching methodology and assessment and include the recent introduction of the new dose planning and delivery techniques and the integration of drugs and radiation. The curricula can be downloaded at http://www.estro-education.org/europeantraining/Pages/EuropeanCurricula.aspx. CONCLUSION: The main objective of the ESTRO core curricula is to update and harmonise training of the radiation oncologists, medical physicists and RTTs in Europe. It is recommended that the authorities in charge of the respective training programmes throughout Europe harmonise their own curricula according to the common framework.

Dynamic heart phantom for the quality control of SPECT equipment.

A nuclear imaging of heart is a noninvasive procedure that reveals the cardiac structure and physiology enabling evaluation of cardiac function. According to the regulations published by the Polish Government and the Polish Ministry of Health, the nuclear medicine departments must follow the new legislation which has imposed quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) of equipment and medical testing procedures as compulsory. The foremost reason to perform QC tests of medical imaging equipment, using ionizing radiation, is to assure the provision of the best possible diagnostic service to the patient with the least radiological hazard. One of the most common ways of testing in nuclear medicine is using phantoms. The aim of this study was to design and perform a dynamic heart phantom. The heart phantom was designed according to directive of the ICRU Report 48. It consists of a pump, tubes, cardiac volume and a membrane simulating left ventricle. The pump compresses and decompresses membrane. The pumping frequency can be changed from 60 to 200 bpm. The phantom cardiac volume should be filled with radiopharmaceutical. The elaborated dynamic heart phantom is used for QC of imaging system in nuclear medicine department. The QC measurements were performed with the phantom filled with 45-50 MBq of (99m)Tc-MIBI solution and placed in water filled anthropomorphic torso phantom. The dynamic heart phantom can also be used to simulate all types of the myocardial infarctions and help to choose the best geometry of the measurement.

Comparative diagnostic value of the breath test and the urine test with 14C-urea in the detection of the Helicobacter pylori infection.

Among 92 patients with chronic gastritis we conducted a synchronous diagnosis of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection using a culture and a serological test (IFP), in conjunction with breath and urine tests involving (14)C-urea (BTU-C14 and UTU-C14). The infection was confirmed by isolation in 71 persons (77.2%), the presence of specific IgG in the blood serum was found in 75 (81.5%). In comparison, the BTU-C14 indicated a group of 77 people (83.7%) as infected, and the UTU-C14 a group of 76 (82.6%). In order to determine the diagnostic value (sensitivity, specificity and efficiency) of the latter tests, the results were compared with those of the culture and of the serological tests. It was found that the BTU-C14 test used showed a 100% sensitivity, a 89.5% specificity and a 97.9% efficiency. The UTU-C14 test showed a 100.0% sensitivity, a 94.4% specificity and a 98.9% efficiency in the detection of the H. pylori infection.