Browsing by Author "Šobić-Šaranović, Dragana (57202567582)"

The new positron emission tomography (PET/CT) methods for neuroendocrine tumors detection are presented and compared with classic, conventional methods. Conventional methods use a gamma scintillation camera for patients with neuroendocrine tumor imaging, after intravenous injection of one of the following radiopharmaceuticals: 1) somatostatin analogues labeled with indium-111 (111In-pentetreotide) or technetium-99m (99mTc-EDDA/HYNIC-TOC); 2) noradrenaline analogue labeled with iodine-131 or -123 (131I/123I-MIBG); or 3)99mTc(V)-DMSA. Contemporary methods use PET/CT equipment for patients with neuroendocrine tumor imaging, after intravenous injection of pharmaceuticals labeled with positron emitters [fluorine-18 (18F), galium-68 (68Ga), or carbon-11 (11C)]: 1) glucose analogue (18FDG); 2) somatostatin analogue (68Ga-DOTATOC/68Ga-DOTATATE/68Ga-DOTANOC); 3) aminoacid precursors of bioamines: [a) dopamine precursor18F-DOPA (6-18F-dihydroxyphenylalanine), b) serotonin precursor11C-5HTP (11C-5-hydroxytryptophan)]; or 4) dopamine analogue 18F-DA (6-18F-fluorodopamine). Conventional and contemporary (PET/ CT) somatostatin receptor detection showed identical high specificity (92%), but conventional had very low sensitivity (52%) compared to PET/CT (97%). It means that almost every second neuroendocrine tumor detected by contemporary method cannot be discovered using conventional (classic) method. In metastatic pheochromocytoma detection contemporary (PET/ CT) methods (18F-DOPA and18F-DA) have higher sensitivity than conventional (131I/123I-MIBG). In medullary thyroid carcinoma diagnostics contemporary method (18F-DOPA) is more sensitive than conventional 99mTc(V)-DMSA method, and is similar to 18FDG, computed tomography and magnetic resonance. In carcinoid detection contemporary method (18F-DOPA) shows similar results with contemporary somatostatin receptor detection, while for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors it is worse. To conclude, contemporary (PET/CT) methods for somatostatin receptor detection (68Ga-DOTATOC/-NOC/-TATE) in neuroendocrine tumors are much more sensitive (almost twice) and more accurate than conventional. Therefore the classical methods should be urgently replaced by contemporary methods.

Introduction Positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) using fluorine-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG PET/CT) is a hybrid diagnostic method based on the cell’s glucose uptake detection, which correlates with the degree of disease activity. While other diagnostic procedures fail to evaluate functional tissue,18F-FDG PET/CT can be helpful in discovering active disease in patients with vascular graft infection. Methods This cohort retrospective study included 22 patients (17 male, five female; aged 61.7 ± 16.1) with suspected vascular graft infection. Blood analyses and CT were performed in all patients. Degree of glucose uptake was evaluated visually and semiquantitatively using maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax). Findings were considered positive if focal fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation was greater in vascular graft projection than other parts of the blood vessel and liver. Results The sighs of active disease were found in 19 patients (86%) (16 male, three female) at the level of implanted vascular grafts: Six aortobifemoral (27%), four aortoiliac (18.2%), four of abdominal aorta (18.2%), two of thoracic aorta (9.1%), two femoral (9.1%), one femoropopliteal (4.5%) (SUVmax 7.9 + 2.4). Two patients were considered true and one false negative- due to antibiotic usage, which reduces FDG uptake. PET/CT helped in treatment alteration of 12 patients, seven (31.8%) started new medicament therapy, five (22.7%) had a surgical graft replacement. Overall sensitivity of this method is 95%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 66.6%, accuracy 95.4%. Conclusion18F-FDG PET/CT is a useful diagnostic method in detection of active vascular graft infection with high diagnostic accuracy, which is important in avoiding unnecessary surgery and appropriate therapy planning. © 2019, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.

AIM: To assess the clinical role of monoclonal immunoscintigraphy for the detection of metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Monoclonal immunoscintigraphy was performed in patients operated on for colorectal adenocarcinoma suspected of local recurrence and metastatic disease. The results were compared with conventional diagnostics. RESULTS: Immunoscintigraphic investigation was done in 53 patients. Tumor recurrence occurred in 38 patients, and was confirmed by other diagnostic modalities in 35. In 15 patients, immunoscintigraphic findings were negative, and confirmed in 14 with other diagnostic methods. Comparative analysis confirmed good correlation of immunoscintigraphic findings and the results of conventional diagnostics and the level of tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen. Statistical analysis of parameters of radiopharmaceutical groups imacis, indimacis and oncoscint presented homogenous characteristics all of three radiopharmaceuticals. The analysis of immunoscintigraphic target focus was clearly improved using tomography. CONCLUSION: Immunoscintigraphy is highly specific and has a good predictive value in local recurrence of colorectal cancer. © 2011 Baishideng. All rights reserved.

Aim: Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease associated with increased glucose uptake. The hypothesis of this study assumes that 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) may improve specificity and sensitivity in the diagnosis of myocarditis and referral for endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), adding additional information for post-discharge risk stratification. The aim of the study is to assess the diagnostic and prognostic feasibility of FDG-PET/CT in comparison to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) (alone or in combination) in patients with clinically suspected myocarditis undergoing EMB. Methods: Fifty hospitalized patients with clinically suspected myocarditis who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be enrolled in a prospective, observational, multicentre, cohort study (NCT04085718). The primary endpoint is the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis of myocarditis. The main secondary endpoints include correlation of FDG-PET/CT imaging with CMR, echocardiography, and EMB results. The patients will undergo the following evaluations: clinical examination, blood tests (including biomarkers of fibrosis and anti-heart autoantibodies (AHA)), ECG, 24 h Holter ECG, echocardiography, CMR, as well as resting single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to assess possible myocardial perfusion defects, cardiac FDG-PET/CT and right ventricular EMB. After 6-months a follow-up visit will be performed (including 24 h Holter ECG, echocardiography and CMR). Investigators evaluating individual studies (CMR, SPECT, FDG-PET/CT and EMB) are to be blinded to the other tests' results. Conclusion: We believe that FDG-PET/CT alone or in combination with CMR may be a useful tool for improving diagnostic accuracy in patients with clinically suspected myocarditis. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Background/Aims: The aim of the study was the evaluation of the clinical validity of immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc labeled antibodies for the detection of metastases and recurrences of colorectal carcinomas. Methodology: We examined 17 patients with colorectal carcinomas. Scintigraphy was performed with anti-CEA MoAb 99mTc-BW 431/26. Results: Recurrences of carcinomas were detected and confirmed by surgery in 6 patients, recurrences with liver metastasis in 5 patients, and only liver metastases in 3 patients. Planar immunoscintigraphy was positive in 5/8 patients with liver metastases and 8/11 patients with recurrences, whereas in 1/8 liver metastases and 3/11 recurrences were detected only by tomography. In two patients with metastases in the abdominal lymph nodes immunoscintigraphic findings both on planar scintigraphy and tomoscintigraphy were false negative. Conclusions: Immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc labeled antibodies can be useful in the diagnosis of recurrences and metastases of colorectal carcinoma, viability assessment after radiotherapy and in the choice of the adequate surgical treatment. © H.G.E. Update Medical Publishing S.A.

The aim of this study was the detection of helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and estimation of this infection relationship with age, gender, blood groups and Rhesus factor, as well as the assessment of the accuracy of the method. A total of 227 patients with gastritis were examined. Blood ABO groups and Rh positivity were determined using standard tests. Infection by HP was proved by 14C-urea breath test and gastric biopsy. Patients were aged 20-81 years (X=51.7 years) and the presence of HP was not related to the age (P >0.05). From the total number of patients, 25/69 males and 68/158 females were HP positive. There was no significant difference between genders and HP infection (P>0.05). From the 227 investigated patients, 69 (30%) belonged to blood group O, 96 (42%) to A, 40 (18%) to B and 22 (10%) to AB. HP was detected in 27/69 patients with blood group O, 45/96 patients with blood group A, 16/40 patients with blood group B and 5/22 patients with blood group AB. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the incidence of HP infection between these groups (proving that HP infection did not depend upon the blood groups). Also, there was no significant correlation between the presence of particular blood group in HP + patients related to the reported frequency of the blood groups in Serbian population (0- 38%, A-42%, B-15%, AB-5%). HP was found in 16/36 Rh- and in 77/191 Rh+ patients without statistical difference (P>0.05). Also, there was no significant correlation of the presence of the Rh factor in the HP positive patients to the frequency of the Rh factor in the Serbian population (84% Rh+ and 16% Rh-). The basic value of the HP+ test was slightly, but not significantly lower in comparison to the HP- patients (P>0.05). On the contrary, test values showed a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in HP+ and HP- patients. In conclusion, in adults HP infection does not depend upon the patient's age, gender, blood group type or Rh factor. In clinical terms, there were 93 true positive (TP), 129 true negative (TN), 5 false negative (FN) and 0 false positive (FP) patients. Sensitivity of the method was 94.9%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 96.3% and accuracy 97.8%.

Background: Until now, a proper biomarker(s) to evaluate sarcoidosis activity has not been recognized. The aims of this study were to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the two biomarkers of sarcoidosis activity already in use (serum angiotensin converting enzyme - ACE and serum chitotriosidase) in a population of 430 sarcoidosis patients. The activities of these markers were also analyzed in a group of 264 healthy controls. Methods: Four hundred and thirty biopsy positive sarcoidosis patients were divided into groups with active and inactive disease, and groups with acute or chronic disease. In a subgroup of 55 sarcoidosis patients, activity was also assessed by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) scanning. Both serum chitotriosidase and ACE levels showed non-normal distribution, so nonparametric tests were used in statistical analysis. Results: Serum chitotriosidase activities were almost 6 times higher in patients with active sarcoidosis than in healthy controls and inactive disease. A serum chitotriosidase value of 100 nmol/mL/h had the sensitivity of 82.5% and specificity of 70.0%. A serum ACE activity cutoff value of 32.0 U/L had the sensitivity of 66.0% and the specificity of 54%. A statistically significant correlation was obtained between the focal granulomatous activity detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT and serum chitotriosidase levels, but no such correlation was found with ACE. The levels of serum chitotriosidase activity significantly correlated with the disease duration (P<0.0001). Also, serum chitotriosidase significantly correlated with clinical outcome status (COS) categories (ρ=0.272, P=0.001). Conclusions: Serum chitotriosidase proved to be a reliable biomarker of sarcoidosis activity and disease chronicity. © 2016 Spasoje Popević et al.

Background: Until now, a proper biomarker(s) to evaluate sarcoidosis activity has not been recognized. The aims of this study were to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the two biomarkers of sarcoidosis activity already in use (serum angiotensin converting enzyme - ACE and serum chitotriosidase) in a population of 430 sarcoidosis patients. The activities of these markers were also analyzed in a group of 264 healthy controls. Methods: Four hundred and thirty biopsy positive sarcoidosis patients were divided into groups with active and inactive disease, and groups with acute or chronic disease. In a subgroup of 55 sarcoidosis patients, activity was also assessed by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) scanning. Both serum chitotriosidase and ACE levels showed non-normal distribution, so nonparametric tests were used in statistical analysis. Results: Serum chitotriosidase activities were almost 6 times higher in patients with active sarcoidosis than in healthy controls and inactive disease. A serum chitotriosidase value of 100 nmol/mL/h had the sensitivity of 82.5% and specificity of 70.0%. A serum ACE activity cutoff value of 32.0 U/L had the sensitivity of 66.0% and the specificity of 54%. A statistically significant correlation was obtained between the focal granulomatous activity detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT and serum chitotriosidase levels, but no such correlation was found with ACE. The levels of serum chitotriosidase activity significantly correlated with the disease duration (P<0.0001). Also, serum chitotriosidase significantly correlated with clinical outcome status (COS) categories (ρ=0.272, P=0.001). Conclusions: Serum chitotriosidase proved to be a reliable biomarker of sarcoidosis activity and disease chronicity. © 2016 Spasoje Popević et al.