Clinical and Translational Imaging : Reviews in Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Purpose: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and chest computed tomography (CT) scan are main diagnostic modalities of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is still no consensus on which of these methods is superior to the other. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was designed to answer to the question whether CT scan can be used in diagnosis of COVID-19 or not. Methods: Searches were performed in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until the end of April 2020...

Purpose: The aim of this case series is to illustrate possible [18F]-FDG uptake patterns associated to COVID-19. Methods: Retrospective assessment of all Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans performed for any clinical / oncological reason from 1st April 2020 to 30th April 2020. Results of PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 were retrieved for all patients with lung consolidations and/or peripheral ground glass opacities characterized by increased metabolism to evaluate any possible association with the viral infection...

Introduction: To summarize and comment the available surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine (NM) departments. Methods: Recent surveys about the impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine (NM) departments have been searched on available scientific database. Results: Three surveys have been found and commented. Some differences among the surveys should be kept in mind. All studies agreed that COVID-19 had a relevant impact on NM departments...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Purpose: Copper-mediated radiofluorination (CMRF) is emerging as the method of choice for the formation of aromatic C-18 F bonds. This minireview examines proof-of-concept, pre-clinical, and in-human imaging studies of new and established imaging agents containing aromatic C-18 F bonds synthesized with CMRF. An exhaustive discussion of CMRF methods is not provided, although key developments that have enabled or improved upon the syntheses of fluorine-18 imaging agents are discussed. Methods: A comprehensive literature search from April 2014 onwards of the Web of Science and PubMed library databases was performed to find reports that utilize CMRF for the synthesis of fluorine-18 radiopharmaceuticals, and these represent the primary body of research discussed in this minireview...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Purpose: Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) characterises tissue microstructure and provides proxy measures of myelination, axon diameter, fibre density and organisation. This may be valuable in the assessment of the roots of the brachial plexus in health and disease. Therefore, there is a need to define the normal DTI values. Methods: The literature was systematically searched for studies of asymptomatic adults who underwent DTI of the brachial plexus...

Purpose: To evaluate the current literature on technical feasibility and diagnostic value of PET/MRI in management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods: A systematic literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database identified studies that evaluated the role of simultaneous PET/MRI for the evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors in human subjects. Exclusion criteria included studies lacking simultaneous PET/MRI, absence of other than attenuation-correction MRI pulse sequences, and case reports...

Radiotheragnostics represents the systematic integration of diagnostic imaging and therapeutics using radionuclides targeting specific characteristics of tumor biology. Radioiodine (131 I) is the classic radiotheragnostic agent used for the diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) based on sodium-iodine symporter expression in normal and neoplastic thyroid tissue. Application of radiotheragnostics principles in thyroid cancer involves using pre-ablation diagnostic scans (Dx Scans) for detection of iodine-avid regional and distant metastatic disease and patient-individualized targeted 131 I therapy with goal of maximizing the benefits of the first therapeutic 131 I administration...

Purpose: Early and accurate diagnosis of Bladder cancer (BCa) will contribute extensively to the management of the disease. The purpose of this review was to briefly describe the conventional imaging methods and other novel imaging modalities used for early detection of BCa and outline their pros and cons. Methods: Literature search was performed on Pubmed, PMC, and Google scholar for the period of January 2014 to February 2018 and using such words as "bladder cancer, bladder tumor, bladder cancer detection, diagnosis and imaging"...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Purpose: To provide an overview on positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Results: Different classes of tau tracers such as flortaucipir, THK5317, and PBB3 have been developed and utilized in previous clinical studies. In AD, the topographical distribution of tracer binding follows the known distribution of neurofibrillary tangles and is closely associated with neurodegeneration as well as the clinical phenotype of dementia...

Purpose: We aim to provide an overview of the conventional single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and emerging positron emission tomography (PET) catecholamine analogue tracers for assessing myocardial nerve integrity, in particular focusing on 18 F-labeled tracers. Results: Increasingly, the cardiac sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is being studied by non-invasive molecular imaging approaches. Forming the backbone of myocardial SNS imaging, the norepinephrine (NE) transporter at the sympathetic nerve terminal plays a crucial role for visualizing denervated myocardium: in particular, the single-photon-emitting NE analogue 123 I-meta-Iodobenzylguanidine (123 I-mIBG) has demonstrated favorable results in the identification of patients at a high risk for cardiac death...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Purpose: Cyst infections are a common complication in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Diagnosing these infections often remains challenging. Conventional imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and standard magnetic resonance imaging have several drawbacks and disadvantages. The purpose of this pictorial essay was to illustrate and discuss the potential value of 18 F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT in diagnosing cyst infection in ADPKD...

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of 99mTc-MAA uptake in extrahepatic organs during 90Y radioembolization therapy planning. Methods: This retrospective case series of 70 subjects who underwent 99mTc-MAA hepatic artery perfusion studies between January 2014 and July 2016 for 90Y radioembolization therapy planning at our institution involved direct image review for all subjects, with endpoints recorded: lung shunt fraction, extrahepatic radiotracer uptake, time from MAA injection to imaging...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: There is increasing interest in focal therapy (male lumpectomy) of localized low-intermediate risk prostate cancer. Focal therapy is typically associated with low morbidity and provides the possibility of retreatment. Imaging is pivotal in stratification of men with localized prostate cancer for active surveillance, focal therapy or radical intervention. This article provides a concise review of focal therapy and the evolving role of imaging in this clinical setting. METHODS: We performed a narrative and critical literature review by searching PubMed/Medline database from January 1997 to January 2017 for articles in the English language and the use of search keywords "focal therapy", "prostate cancer", and "imaging"...

PURPOSE: This paper provides a review on molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prostate cancer detection and its applications in fusion targeted biopsy of the prostate. METHODS: Literature search was performed through the PubMed database using the keywords "prostate cancer", "MRI/ultrasound fusion", "molecular imaging", and "targeted biopsy". Estimates in autopsy studies indicate that 50% of men older than 50 years of age have prostate cancer...

Purpose: Improvement of the therapeutic approaches in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) by the introduction of targeted therapies requires appropriate diagnostic tools, which allow sufficient assessment of therapeutic response, including differentiation of true progression from pseudoprogression due to myxoid degeneration or intratumoral hemorrhage. In this literature review the impact and limitations of different imaging modalities used in GIST therapy monitoring are discussed. Methods: PubMed and Cochrane library search were performed using appropriate keywords...