The positive prediction of single photon emission computed tomography/ computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in the outcome of intervention for cervical facet pain

BACKGROUND CONTEXTPrevious studies have reported that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) do not predict response to facet blocks. However, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) uptake within facet joints has been shown to correlate with pain relief after intervention in the lumbar spine. There is minimal data regarding the predictive value of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for neck pain.PURPOSEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of SPECT/CT in patients with axial neck pain for the identification of specific facet joints that would benefit from diagnostic and therapeutic facet joint steroid injections and/or medial branch block/RFA treatments.STUDY DESIGNA retrospective cohort study.PATIENT SAMPLEOne hundred seventy-nine patients at a single institution pain center with neck pain and a SPECT/CT scan between 2009 and 2015. One hundred twelve patients had no prior intervention at the level of interest and met inclusion criteria.OUTCOME MEASURESPain reduction at 50% and 80% thresholds within 24 hours of facet intervention. Concordance of facet intervention with the focus of maximal uptake on SPECT/CT scan.METHODSAll patients were referred to our institution's Center for Pain Medicine and were treated with facet interventions. The site of facet intervention was determined by pain center providers based on their clinical examination and interpretation of images. Groups were formed based on whether the facet intervention included the level of maximal uptake on SPECT/CT scan. A positive response to intervention was defined at both 50% and 80% thresholds for reduction in pain within 24 hours of facet injection with steroid and local anesthetic or medial branch block with local anesthetic only. These were the facet interventions used for our data collection. A Chi-square statistic was used to analyze categorical data and a Student's t-test was used to analyze non-categorical data. SPSS (IBM Corp. IBM SPSS Version 24.0) was used for all analyses.RESULTSOf our 112 patients, Group 1 consisted of 89 with an intervention occurring at the level with increased uptake on SPECT/CT. Group 2 consisted of 23 patients with an intervention at a level without uptake on SPECT/CT. Demographic data did not significantly differ between cohorts. A Chi-square test of independence demonstrated that intervention at a level concordant with SPECT/CT was significantly correlated with self-reported pain relief thresholds of both 50% and 80% (p=.0002).CONCLUSIONSFacet interventions based on SPECT/CT scan uptake were more successful in pain reduction than those which were not. This suggests a role for SPECT/CT in diagnosing therapeutic targets for neck pain.Level of Evidence3     

Prediction of sentinel lymph node status using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) imaging of breast cancer

Purpose

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) improves the anatomical identification of sentinel lymph nodes (SNs). We aimed to evaluate the possibility of predicting the SN status using SPECT/CT.

Methods

SN mapping using a SPECT/CT system was performed in 381 cases of clinically node-negative, operable invasive breast cancer. We evaluated and compared the values of SN mapping on SPECT/CT, the findings of other modalities and clinicopathological factors in predicting the SN status.

Results

Patients with SNs located in the Level I area were evaluated. Of the 355 lesions (94.8 %) assessed, six cases (1.6 %) were not detected using any imaging method. According to the final histological diagnosis, 298 lesions (78.2 %) were node negative and 83 lesions (21.7 %) were node positive. The univariate analysis showed that SN status was significantly correlated with the number of SNs detected on SPECT/CT in the Level I area (P = 0.0048), total number of SNs detected on SPECT/CT (P = 0.011), findings of planar lymphoscintigraphy (P = 0.011) and findings of a handheld gamma probe during surgery (P = 0.012). According to the multivariate analysis, the detection of multiple SNs on SPECT/CT imaging helped to predict SN metastasis.

Conclusions

The number of SNs located in the Level I area detected using the SPECT/CT system may be a predictive factor for SN metastasis.

     

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is accurate for high-grade prostate cancer bone staging when compared to bone scintigraphy

IntroductionIn this study, we compared ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and bone scintigraphy accuracies for the detection of bone metastases for primary staging in high-grade prostate cancer (PCa) patients to determine if ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT could be used alone as a staging modality.MethodsMen with localized high-grade PCa (n=256, Gleason 8–10, International Society of Urological Pathology [ISUP] grades 4 or 5) were imaged with bone scintigraphy and ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT. We compared, on a per-patient basis, the accuracy of the two imaging modalities, taking inter-modality agreement as the standard of truth (SOT).Results¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT detected at least one bone metastasis in 33 patients compared to only 26 with bone scan. Of the seven false-negative bone scintigraphies, four (57.1%) were solitary metastases (monometastatic), three (42.9%) were oligometastatic (2–4 lesions), and none were plurimetastatic (>4 lesions). Compared to SOT, ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT showed higher sensitivity and accuracy than bone scintigraphy (100% vs. 78.8%, and 98.7% vs. 98.2%) for the detection of skeletal lesions.Conclusions¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT appears similar or better than conventional bone scans to assess for bone metastases in patients newly diagnosed with high-grade PCa. Since intraprostatic FDG uptake is also a biomarker for failure of radical prostatectomy and that FDG-PET/CT has been shown to be accurate in detecting PCa lymph node metastasis, FDG-PET/CT has the potential to be used as the sole preoperative staging modality in high-grade PCa.     

The diagnostic value of single photon-emission computed tomography bone scans combined with CT (SPECT-CT) in diseases of the foot and ankle

BackgroundA radionuclide bone scan with single photon-emission computed tomography and CT (SPECT-CT) is a new imaging modality which combines highly detailed CT with the functional information from a triple phase radionuclide bone scan. Little has been published about its diagnostic accuracy and usefulness in foot and ankle pathology. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether bone scans with SPECT-CT provide a useful contribution to the management of patients with foot and ankle pain, and whether it results in changes to clinical management.MethodsA retrospective study involving 50 patients was conducted between March 2010 and April 2011. SPECT-CT was requested in cases where definitive clinical diagnosis could not be achieved after clinical examination and plain radiography. Pathology as highlighted on SPECT-CT was taken as the definitive diagnosis in these patients and was treated accordingly. Patients were subsequently seen in the follow up clinic to evaluate the outcome of their treatment.ResultsIn 11 patients (22%), the provisional clinical diagnosis matched with the findings of the SPECT-CT and no change in treatment was necessary. In 39 patients (78%) the findings of the SPECT-CT did not correlate exactly with the initial clinical diagnosis and led to a modified treatment plan. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of SPECT-CT in this series was 94%, 95.45%, 83.3%, 97.6% and 71.43% respectively.ConclusionsSPECT-CT is a useful investigation tool in foot and ankle pathologies. The present study shows a high diagnostic accuracy and we recommend its use in cases with diagnostic uncertainty.     

Clinical value of (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate that single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) could reflect the clinical severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine the clinical usefulness of SPECT as a sensitive imaging method detecting early OA. METHODS: Sixty knees of thirty OA patients were examined with (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone SPECT, the intensity of uptake was graded and the sites of uptake were localized. One hundred millimeter visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index scores and physical examination were assessed. Simple radiograph and musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US) were performed, and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades were determined. The relationships between clinical findings, simple radiographic findings, US findings and the intensity of uptake in SPECT were analyzed. RESULTS: There were increased uptakes in 91.7% of the knees, and patella and medial tibial condyle were the most common sites of the uptakes. Symptomatic knees had significantly higher intensity of uptake than asymptomatic knees. Uptake intensity of medial compartment in SPECT well correlated with clinical findings, such as VAS, WOMAC scores, and physical examination, as well as US findings. Even in the symptomatic knees without abnormal radiographic findings, the increased uptake was observed in SPECT. CONCLUSION: In patients with knee OA, SPECT findings are well correlated with clinical findings, such as pain scores and physical examinations, and SPECT appears to be a sensitive tool for early detection of knee OA. SPECT information could be useful for determining clinical severity of knee OA and for diagnosing early OA more effectively.     

18F-FDGPET/CT与传统影像检查寻找骨转移瘤原发灶的比较

[目的]比较18F-FDG PET/CT与传统影像检查(胸片、彩超、CT及MRI等)为骨转移瘤患者寻找原发灶的临床价值.[方法]回顾性分析37例于2008年5月～2010年6月间本中心收治的经病理证实的骨转移瘤患者的病例资料,并随访其后续的诊治情况.以病理结果或临床随访作为原发灶确认标准.并将PET/CT与传统影像检查对原发灶的检出情况进行比较.且对治疗方案的调整进行汇总.[结果]37例患者中,PET/CT提示原发灶28例,其中正确检出原发灶27例(73％),1例为假阳性;传统影像检查正确检出原发灶17例(46％),两者原发灶正确检出率的差异有显著性(x2=5.61,P=0.018).27例经PET/CT正确检出原发灶的病例中,17例(63％)采取了针对原发灶的治疗措施.此外9例PET/CT未提示原发灶的患者中,3例经病理证实为假阴性.[结论]与传统影像检查相比,18F-FDG PET/CT可更有效、更便捷的找出骨转移瘤患者原发灶,进而为制定更合理的治疗方案提供依据.     

99mTc-DMSA renal uptake in urological diseases measured from renal tomographic images using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

To determine renal function, 99mTc-DMSA renal uptake was measured from renal tomographic images obtained by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A total of 77 tests was conducted on 73 patients with various diseases in the kidneys and urinary tract to determine renal uptake. The correlation coefficient(r) between total renal volume and total renal uptake was 0.3509 and that between renal volume and uptake of 143 kidneys was 0.5433. In 62 patients whose creatinine clearance could be measured, the correlation coefficient between creatinine clearance and total renal volume was 0.2352, and that between creatinine clearance and total renal uptake was 0.8854, that is, creatinine clearance correlated well with renal uptake. Renal volume and uptake determined in 10 normal male and 10 normal female adults were 220 ml and 26.8% for the right kidney and 239 ml and 27.6% for the left kidney for the males and 206 ml and 26.4% (right) and 237 ml and 27.9% (left) for the females. This method, which requires no blood or urine collection, is very useful as an individual kidney function test to evaluate individual kidney function and to understand kidney function before and after operation in patients with renal and urinary diseases.     

Positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the initial staging of primary rectal cancer

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the role of ¹⁸flourodeoxyglucose positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the initial staging of primary rectal adenocarcinoma. Method A total of 20 patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum were assessed with both PET/CT and conventional staging (CT chest/abdomen/pelvis, MRI rectum). Discordance with conventional imaging and incidental findings on PET were recorded and the patients presented to a colorectal cancer multidisciplinary team to assess management changes. Patients were followed up so that discordant or incidental findings could be verified by intra‐operative examination, imaging or histology where possible. Results Positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography correctly identified the primary tumour in all 20 patients. Comparing PET/CT with conventional staging modalities, there were 11 discordant or incidental findings in nine patients (45%). This resulted in a potential change in stage in 30% (four patients downstaged and two upstaged). PET/CT suggested additional neoplastic pathology in three patients and excluded the same in two patients. The incidental neoplastic findings were of minor clinical significance and one was eventually deemed false positive. While PET/CT resulted in potential management changes in five patients (25%), no changes in surgical management occurred. When tumours were grouped according to conventional stage, PET/CT resulted in fewer changes in stage in stage I (0%), compared with stages II to IV (43%) (P = 0.08). Conclusion Positron‐emission tomography/computed tomography provides additional information to conventional staging in primary rectal cancer. This information produced minor management changes in this study and did not effect surgical management. PET/CT may be most appropriately used selectively in more advanced stages and where indeterminate findings exist with conventional staging.     

Combined single photon emission computerised tomography and conventional computerised tomography (SPECT/CT) in patellofemoral disorders: a clinical review

Patellofemoral disorders are common conditions seen in a knee clinic but can present a great diagnostic challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon. Combined single photon emission computerised tomography with conventional computer tomography (SPECT/CT) provides the clinician with precise anatomical and physiological information of the patellofemoral joint. We present a clinical review that highlights the value of SPECT/CT in patients with patellofemoral disorders, where other modalities such as radiographs, MRI, and conventional CT did not provide sufficient information. SPECT/CT has proven to be helpful for establishing the diagnosis and guidance for further treatment. SPECT/CT should be recognised as a valuable diagnostic tool in orthopaedic patients.     

Lung metastatic calcification in long-term dialysis patients, detected by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Background. Metastatic lung calcification (MLC) is an important complication in long-term dialysis patients, causing respiratory disturbance. We used single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in lung (L-SPECT) to detect the distribution of MLC. Methods. L-SPECT with ^99mtechnetium hydroxymethylenediphosphonate was performed in 59 patients who had been on maintenance dialysis for more than 5 years. The accumulation count ratios were calculated from counts in the upper lung field (UL), lower lung field (LL), basal lung field along the diaphragm (BASE), and the cardiac pool (POOL). Distribution patterns of radionuclide were classified into four groups. Pulmonary function tests and blood examinations were performed. Results. The median values for UL/POOL, LL/POOL, and BASE/POOL were 1.71, 1.85, and 2.21, respectively. On the SPECT images, 28 patients had positive lung accumulation, versus 7 on the planar images. Patterns and frequency were: group I (none or slight accumulation), 32.2%; group II (accumulation only in the basal lung field), 33.8%; group III (accumulation in the whole lower lung or above), 18.6%; and group IV (diffuse accumulation extending to the whole lung field), 15.2%. Intact osteocalcin level was 6.3 ± 5.3 ng/ml in groups III + IV (large group) vs 94.2 ± 184.3 in groups I + II (small group) (P < 0.01). The number of patients with declining diffusion capacity was 20.0% in the large group, vs 5.1% in the small group. All patients in group IV had an intact parathyroid hormone (i-PTH) level of under 65 pg/ml. Conclusions. L-SPECT is very useful for the early detection of MLC, the extension of which may reduce diffusion capacity. Diffuse calcification over the whole lung is considered to be related to a low-turnover bone state concomitant with low PTH level. Received: January 26, 2000 / Accepted: May 30, 2000     

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of preoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) imaging in penile carcinoma patients without palpable inguinal lymph nodes via single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) as compared to planar scintigraphy

Background

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy represents a well-established diagnostic tool for the assessment of lymphatic metastasis. Correct pre- and intraoperative visualization of SLN is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety and feasibility of the procedure. Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of preoperative SLN imaging via single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and planar scintigraphy in patients with penile carcinoma with nonpalpable inguinal lymph nodes.