Shelvin Kumar Vadi

18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT Complementing the Role of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Providing Comprehensive Diagnostic Workup in Prostate Cancer Patients With Suspected Relapse Following Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorocholine (FCH) PET/CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) of pelvis in restaging prostate cancer (PC) patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods Twenty PC patients who had undergone RP and had BCR were recruited in this study. All the patients underwent whole-body FCH PET/CT and DCE-MRI of the pelvis. An overall pattern of recurrent disease was analyzed, and diagnostic accuracy for the detection of pelvic disease recurrence by the 2 modalities was evaluated by taking histopathologic analysis as the criterion standard. The whole-body FCH PET/CT images were also analyzed separately for the presence of any extra lesion(s). Results The initial mean Gleason score was 6.3 ± 1.53 (range, 4–9). The mean prostate-specific antigen levels at the time of relapse were 1.9 ± 2.87 ng/mL (range, 0.24–13.2 ng/mL). MRI findings were positive for primary tumor recurrence in the prostate bed in 6 patients (6/20 [30.0%]), pelvic lymph node metastases in 4 patients (4/20 [20.0%]), and for pelvic skeletal metastases in 2 patients (2/20 [10.0%]), respectively. On the other hand, FCH PET/CT results were positive in the corresponding sites in 7 (7/20 [35.0%]), 9 (9/20 [45.0%]), and 2 patients (2/20 [10.0%]), respectively. 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT and MRI showed comparable results in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for PC characterization. The whole-body FCH PET/CT was found to be useful in identifying unknown distant metastases in a significant proportion of patients. Conclusions The correlative whole-body FCH PET/CT and pelvic DCE-MRI offer a complementary and comprehensive diagnostic workup for better management of PC patients with BCR following RP.

18F-FDG PET/CT detects Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Masquerading as Primary Breast Malignancy

We present the case of a 36-year-old woman who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT with suspicion of a primary breast malignancy. However, PET/CT detected an occult renal cell carcinoma with metastases to the thyroid, breast, lungs and lymph nodes. Thyroid and breast metastases are atypical metastatic sites of renal cell carcinoma. Breast metastases from extra mammary tissue are extremely rare, more so from renal cell carcinoma. Histopathologic confirmation of the breast lesions is imperative to avoid unnecessary mastectomy and imaging can help in raising the suspicion of metastatic involvement versus primary breast malignancy.

Groove Pancreatitis Masquerading as Pancreatic Carcinoma—Detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT

Groove pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis that affects the groove area adjacent to the second part of the duodenum. Clinical and biochemical features often overlap with other subsets of chronic pancreatitis, while the imaging features resemble that of carcinoma of the head of pancreas. We present a 38-year-old man with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of weight who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT to rule out a pancreatic malignancy. PET/CT imaging features of groove pancreatitis are distinct from the other subsets of chronic pancreatitis, such as alcoholic and autoimmune pancreatitis, and helpful in the diagnosis and planning further management of the patient.

Can 99mTc-labeled RBC-equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography be an adjunct imaging biomarker for marrow hyperplasia in beta-thalassemia major patients?

Beta-thalassemia major (TM) is a hereditary disorder characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis owing to anomalies in beta-chain of hemoglobin and the peripheral anemia results in ineffective expansion and hyperplasia of the bone marrow. These patients require multiple tests to monitor the adequacy of blood transfusion and iron overload. Tc-labeled red blood cellequilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (Tc RBC-ERNA) in these patients is used for monitoring of left ventricular ejection function (LVEF), along with prospect for whole-body marrow imaging as an indicator for adequacy of transfusion. CASE SUMMARY

Bladder leiomyoma: A rare differential and a potential pitfall in the evaluation for a bladder mass in 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18FDG PET/CT) has shown an increasing role in the evaluation of urinary bladder cancer, though benign pathological processes of the urinary bladder can also result in increased FDG uptake. Leiomyomas of urinary bladder are benign mesenchymal neoplasms and a very rare bladder tumor comprising <0.5% of all bladder tumors. Here, we present the low-grade 18FDG uptake in urinary bladder leiomyoma on PET/CT done for the clinical suspicion of bladder cancer, which can be a rare differential for bladder carcinoma.

Potential Adjunctive Role of Radiosynovectomy in Primary Synovial Osteochondromatosis of the Knee: A Case Report

Primary synovial osteochondromatosis (PSOC) is a rare but clinically significant cause of morbidity especially in the male population. Surgery is the primary treatment of choice, but the recurrence rate is reported to be high. Moreover, the presence of widespread loose bodies makes it a cumbersome procedure. The complete removal of the disease is tough at times and results in early recurrence. Radiosynovectomy is an established technique for treating various joint arthropathies. The role of radiosynovectomy in case of PSOC has not yet been explored. This case report described the case of a young male with PSOC of the knee joint who was treated with radiosynovectomy for pain relief. The patient reported complete relief from the pain along with significant improvement in joint mobility. The post-therapy three-phase bone scan also validated the reduction in joint inflammation. The patient was taken for surgical removal of the redundant loose bodies after a significant improvement in the pain and reduction in inflammation. Post-therapy radiation fibrosis of the synovium also helped in the en bloc removal of the disease. The role of radiosynovectomy in PSOC needs to be further explored concerning its potential role as an adjuvant to surgical procedures.

Role of 99mTc-sestamibi gated SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging in the management of patients with myocardial bridging and its correlation with coronary angiography

Myocardial bridging (MB)-a congenital coronary abnormality in its severe form leads to myocardial edema, fibrosis, and ischemia due to coronary artery compression during systole and early part of the diastole. This study evaluated the hemodynamic significance of MB by detecting severity and extent of perfusion abnormality using 99mTc-sestamibi (MIBI) gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), its correlation with coronary angiography and role in patients management. Five patients with complaints of atypical chest pain, exertional angina, or dyspnea underwent stress/rest 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT MPI. The gated stress and rest SPECT/CT images on 17 segment model using quantitative gated-SPECT (QGS) softwarewere analyzed and compared with coronary angiography. Four out of five patients showed reversible perfusion defect in the left anterior descending (LAD) territory segments involved with myocardial bridging (3 patients had already proven MB; while MB was detected in 1 patient after MPI). The fifth patient with MB in the distal LAD revealed normal myocardial perfusion. All the patients were conservatively managed either due to small reversible perfusion defects or normal study except one patient. The gated SPECT/CT MPI of five patients with MB in the present study revealed their perfusion status, information on myocardial wall thickening, contractility, and ejection fraction. <Learning objective: Myocardial bridging may be one of the underlying causes for angina or sudden death even in absence of cardiovascular risk factors. The proven or clinical suspicious myocardial bridging in patients with typical/atypical chest pain and low probability of atherosclerosis should be evaluated with gated SPECT/CTMPI. It helps in detection of coronary artery disease along with severity and extent of myocardial ischemia for their further management.>.

18F-FDG PET/CT in Diagnostic and Prognostic Evaluation of Patients With Suspected Recurrence of Chondrosarcoma

Purpose The aim of the study was to analyze the diagnostic and prognostic utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT to predict the disease-specific survival (DSS) with FDG uptake and tumor grade in recurrent chondrosarcoma. Methods Retrospective analysis of FDG PET/CT findings in 31 previously treated patients (46 studies) with mean follow-up period of 40.7 ± 23.9 months (range, 3–77 months) from the date of first PET/CT study was done. Kaplan-Meier DSS analysis was made with respect to tumor grade, FDG uptake at the recurrent primary sites, and a combination of grade and FDG uptake as parameters. Results Recurrence (local and distant) was shown in 28 (60.8%) of 46 FDG PET/CT studies with sensitivity and specificity of 88.9% and 78.9%, respectively. The median SUVmax at the recurrent primary sites differed significantly (P = 0.008) among 3 tumor grade groups, with higher median SUVmax in higher grades. There was significant difference in median SUVmax among different grade groups except between grade II and grade III. Recurrent primary site SUVmax cutoff at 6.15 derived from the receiver operating characteristic curve yielded significant difference (P < 0.001) in mean DSS time. Significant difference in survival was noted between 3 different tumor grade groups (P = 0.016). The combination of SUVmax and grade improved the survival prediction than with grade alone. Conclusions In recurrent chondrosarcoma, the recurrent primary site FDG uptake and grade were found to be reliable prognostic factors with respect to DSS. PET/CT in recurrence setting has the potential to predict tumor grade and survival and may assist in clinical management.