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Lung Cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Dec 2021The role of PET and integrated PET-CT in the diagnostic workup of suspected malignant pleural effusions is unknown. Earlier systematic reviews (published 2014 and 2015)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The role of PET and integrated PET-CT in the diagnostic workup of suspected malignant pleural effusions is unknown. Earlier systematic reviews (published 2014 and 2015) both included pleural pathology without effusion, and reached contradictory conclusions. Five studies have been published since the latest review. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarise the evidence of PET and integrated PET-CT in predicting pleural malignancy in patients suspected of having malignant pleural effusions. A meta-analysis based on a systematic literature search in Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE and Clinicaltrials.gov was performed. Diagnostic studies evaluating the performance of PET or PET-CT in patients with suspected malignant pleural effusion, using pleural fluid cytology or histopathology as the reference test, and presenting sufficient data for constructing a 2x2 table were included. The quality of the studies was assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 score. Subgroup analyses on image modality, interpretation method and known malignancy status pre index-test application were planned. Seven studies with low risk of bias were included. The pooled ability to separate benign from malignant effusions varied with image modality, interpretation method and known malignancy status pre index-test application. In studies using PET-CT, visual/qualitative image analysis was superior to semi-quantitative with positive (LR + ) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 9.9 (4.5-15.3) respectively 0.1 (0.1-0.2). There was considerable heterogeneity among studies. In conclusion, visual/qualitative image analysis of integrated PET-CT seems to add relevant information in the work-up of suspected malignant pleural effusions with LR + and LR- close to rigorous pre-set cut-offs of > 10 and < 0.1. However, the quality of evidence was low due to inter-study heterogeneity, and inability to assess meta-bias. Clinical Trial Registration: The protocol was uploaded to the PROSPERO database (CRD42020213319) on the 13th of October 2020.
Topics: Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Pleural Effusion; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pleural Neoplasms; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 34775214
DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2021.10.018 -
American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy Sep 2023Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a valuable imaging modality widely used in the management of cancers. Its usage is well defined for most head and neck... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a valuable imaging modality widely used in the management of cancers. Its usage is well defined for most head and neck malignancies. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the utility of PET scan for sinonasal malignancies. This is highlighted by the latest international consensus statement on endoscopic skull base surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aims to clarify the role of PET scan in the management of sinonasal malignancies.
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases for research studies of interest. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) updated statement was used to guide the review.
RESULTS
In total, 1807 articles were assessed for eligibility. Thirty-nine original papers, published between 2004 and 2021, met inclusion criteria. Seven articles focused on the role of PET scan for inverted papilloma, 23 for sinonasal carcinoma, 4 for melanoma, and 3 for lymphoma, and finally, 3 articles focused on the use of specific PET scan tracers for sinonasal malignancies. Qualitative summaries for each potential role of PET scans were provided. In general, included studies were retrospective in nature with low level of evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
In general, and across all types of sinonasal malignancies, PET scan yielded positive results regarding detection and initial staging. It was also considered as the modality of choice for detection of distant metastases, except in the case of sinonasal lymphoma. PET scan's main limit resides in its inability to detect lesions in or close to the metabolic activity of the brain.
Topics: Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Retrospective Studies; Positron-Emission Tomography; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms; Lymphoma
PubMed: 37229633
DOI: 10.1177/19458924231177854 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2023Various papers have introduced the use of positron emission tomography (PET) with [Ga]Ga-radiolabeled fibroblast-activation protein inhibitor (FAPi) radiopharmaceuticals... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Various papers have introduced the use of positron emission tomography (PET) with [Ga]Ga-radiolabeled fibroblast-activation protein inhibitor (FAPi) radiopharmaceuticals in different subtypes of gastric cancer (GC). Our aim was to assess the diagnostic performance of this novel molecular imaging technique in GC with a systematic review and meta-analysis. A straightforward literature search of papers concerning the diagnostic performance of FAP-targeted PET imaging was performed. Original articles evaluating this novel molecular imaging examination in both newly diagnosed GC patients and GC patients with disease relapse were included. The systematic review included nine original studies, and eight of them were also eligible for meta-analysis. The quantitative synthesis provided pooled detection rates of 95% and 97% for the assessment of primary tumor and distant metastases, respectively, and a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 74% and 89%, respectively, for regional lymph node metastases. Significant statistical heterogeneity among the included studies was found only in the analysis of the primary tumor detection rate (I = 64%). Conclusions: Beyond the limitations of this systematic review and meta-analysis (i.e., all the included studies were conducted in Asia, and using [F]FDG PET/CT as a comparator of the index test), the quantitative data provided demonstrate the promising diagnostic performance of FAP-targeted PET imaging in GC. Nevertheless, more prospective multicentric studies are needed to confirm the excellent performances of FAP-targeted PET in this cluster of patients.
Topics: Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Stomach Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gallium Radioisotopes
PubMed: 37373285
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210136 -
Journal of Clinical Movement Disorders 2017Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder consisting of involuntary irregular, flowing movements of the trunk, neck or face. Although Huntington's disease is the most... (Review)
Review
Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder consisting of involuntary irregular, flowing movements of the trunk, neck or face. Although Huntington's disease is the most common cause of chorea in adults, chorea can also result from many other neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune conditions. While the pathophysiology of these different conditions is quite variable, recent advances in functional imaging have enabled the development of new methods for analysis of brain activity and neuronal dysfunction. In this paper we review the growing body of functional imaging data that has been performed in chorea syndromes and identify particular trends, which can be used to better understand the underlying network changes within the basal ganglia. While it can be challenging to identify whether changes are primary, secondary, or compensatory, identification of these trends can ultimately be useful in diagnostic testing and treatment in many of the conditions that cause chorea.
PubMed: 28649394
DOI: 10.1186/s40734-017-0056-0 -
JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging Nov 2023Quantification of pulmonary edema and congestion is important to guide diagnosis and risk stratification, and to objectively evaluate new therapies in heart failure.... (Review)
Review
Quantification of pulmonary edema and congestion is important to guide diagnosis and risk stratification, and to objectively evaluate new therapies in heart failure. Herein, we review the validation, diagnostic performance, and clinical utility of noninvasive imaging modalities in this setting, including chest x-ray, lung ultrasound (LUS), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine imaging methods (positron emission tomography [PET], single photon emission CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). LUS is a clinically useful bedside modality, and fully quantitative methods (CT, MRI, PET) are likely to be important contributors to a more accurate and precise evaluation of new heart failure therapies and for clinical use in conjunction with cardiac imaging. There are only a limited number of studies evaluating pulmonary congestion during stress. Taken together, noninvasive imaging of pulmonary congestion provides utility for both clinical and research assessment, and continued refinement of methodologic accuracy, validation, and workflow has the potential to increase broader clinical adoption.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Edema; Predictive Value of Tests; Lung; Ultrasonography; Heart Failure
PubMed: 37632500
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2023.06.023 -
Chinese Medical Journal May 2017Diagnosis of syphilis is difficult. Follow-up and therapy evaluation of syphilitic patients are poor. Little is known about positron emission tomography (PET) in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of syphilis is difficult. Follow-up and therapy evaluation of syphilitic patients are poor. Little is known about positron emission tomography (PET) in syphilis. This review was to systematically review usefulness of PET for diagnosis, disease extent evaluation, follow-up, and treatment response assessment in patients with syphilis.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and three Chinese databases (SinoMed, Wanfang, and CNKI) for English and Chinese language articles from inception to September 2016. We also collected potentially relevant studies and reviews using a manual search. The search keywords included the combined text and MeSH terms "syphilis" and "positron emission tomography". We included studies that reporting syphilis with a PET scan before and/or after antibiotic treatment. The diagnosis of syphilis was based on serological criteria or dark field microscopy. Outcomes include pre- and post-treatment PET scan, pre- and post-treatment computed tomography, and pre- and post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging. We excluded the articles not published in English or Chinese or not involving humans.
RESULTS
Of 258 identified articles, 34 observational studies were included. Thirty-three studies were single-patient case reports and one study was a small case series. All patients were adults. The mean age of patients was 48.3 ± 12.1 years. In primary syphilis, increased fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation could be seen at the site of inoculation or in the regional lymph nodes. In secondary syphilis with lung, bone, gastrointestinal involvement, or generalized lymphadenopathy, increased FDG uptake was the most commonly detected changes. In tertiary syphilis, increased glucose metabolic activity, hypometabolic lesions, or normal glucose uptake might be seen on PET. There were five types of PET scans in neurosyphilis. A repeated PET scan after treatment revealed apparent or complete resolution of the asymmetry of radiotracer uptake.
CONCLUSION
PET is helpful in targeting diagnostic interventions, characterizing disease extent, assessing nodal involvement, and treatment efficacy for syphilis.
Topics: Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Positron-Emission Tomography; Syphilis
PubMed: 28469107
DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.204940 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jan 2015Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a B-cell lymphoma accounting for 10% to 15% of all lymphoma in industrialised countries. It has a bimodal age distribution with one peak around... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a B-cell lymphoma accounting for 10% to 15% of all lymphoma in industrialised countries. It has a bimodal age distribution with one peak around the age of 30 years and another after the age of 60 years. Although HL accounts for fewer than 1% of all neoplasms worldwide, it is considered to be one of the most common malignancies in young adults and, with cure rates of 90%, one of the most curable cancers worldwide. Current treatment options for HL comprise more- or less-intensified regimens of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, depending on disease stage. [18F]-fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET, also called PET scanning) is an imaging tool that can be used to illustrate a tumour's metabolic activity, stage and progression. Therefore, it could be used as a standard interim procedure during HL treatment, to help distinguish between individuals who are good or poor early responders to therapy. Subsequent therapy could then be de-escalated in PET-negative individuals (good responders) or escalated in those who are PET-positive (poor responders). It is currently unknown whether such response-adapted therapeutic strategies are of benefit to individuals in terms of overall and progression-free survival, and the incidence of long-term adverse events (AEs).
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of interim [18F]-FDG-PET imaging treatment modification in individuals with HL.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; latest issue) and MEDLINE (from 1990 to September 2014) as well as conference proceedings (American Society of Hematology; American Society of Clinical Oncology; European Hematology Association; and International Symposium on Hodgkin Lymphoma) for studies. Two review authors independently screened search results.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FDG-PET-adapted therapy with non-adapted treatment in individuals with previously untreated HL of all stages and ages.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of trials. As none of the included studies provided HRs for OS, we described risk ratios (RRs) for this outcome and did not pool the data. As an effect measure we used hazard ratios (HRs) for progression-free survival (PFS). We described RRs for the dichotomous data on AEs. We also calculated 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
MAIN RESULTS
Our search strategies led to 308 potentially relevant references. From these, we included three studies involving 1999 participants. We judged the overall potential risk of bias as moderate. The studies were reported as RCTs; blinding was not reported, but given the study design it is likely that there was no blinding. One study was published in abstract form only; hence, detailed assessment of the risk of bias was not possible.Two trials compared standard treatment (chemotherapy plus radiotherapy) with PET-adapted therapy (chemotherapy only) in individuals with early-stage HL and negative PET scans. The study design of the third trial was more complex. Participants with early-stage HL were divided into those with a favourable or unfavourable prognosis. They were then randomised to receive PET-adapted or standard treatment. Following a PET scan, participants were further divided into PET-positive and PET-negative groups. To date, data have been published for the PET-negative arms only, making it possible to perform a meta-analysis including all three trials.Of the 1999 participants included in the three trials only 1480 were analysed. The 519 excluded participants were either PET-positive, or were excluded because they did not match the inclusion criteria.One study reported no deaths. The other two studies reported two deaths in participants receiving PET-adapted therapy and two in participants receiving standard therapy (very-low-quality evidence). Progression-free survival was shorter in participants with PET-adapted therapy (without radiotherapy) than in those receiving standard treatment with radiotherapy (HR 2.38; 95% CI 1.62 to 3.50; P value < 0.0001). This difference was also apparent in comparisons of participants receiving no additional radiotherapy (PET-adapted therapy) versus radiotherapy (standard therapy) (HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.07 to 3.23; P value = 0.03) and in those receiving chemotherapy but no radiotherapy (PET-adapted therapy) versus standard radiotherapy (HR 3.00; 95% CI 1.75 to 5.14; P value < 0.0001) (moderate-quality evidence). Short-term AEs only were assessed in one trial, which showed no evidence of a difference between the treatment arms (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.54 to 1.53; P value = 0.72) (very-low-quality evidence). No data on long-term AEs were reported in any of the trials.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
To date, no robust data on OS, response rate, TRM, QoL, or short- and long-term AEs are available. However, this systematic review found moderate-quality evidence that PFS was shorter in individuals with early-stage HL and a negative PET scan receiving chemotherapy only (PET-adapted therapy) than in those receiving additional radiotherapy (standard therapy). More RCTs with longer follow ups may lead to more precise results for AEs, TRM and QoL, and could evaluate whether this PFS advantage will translate into an overall survival benefit.It is still uncertain whether PET-positive individuals benefit from PET-based treatment adaptation and the effect of such an approach in those with advanced HL.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Chemoradiotherapy; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Male; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Selection Bias
PubMed: 25572491
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010533.pub2 -
Stroke Aug 2019Background and Purpose- The clinical utility of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in evaluating carotid artery plaque vulnerability remains unclear. Two tracers... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Background and Purpose- The clinical utility of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in evaluating carotid artery plaque vulnerability remains unclear. Two tracers of recent interest for carotid plaque imaging are F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) and F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association between carotid artery F-FDG or F-NaF uptake and recent or future cerebral ischemic events. Methods- A systematic review of Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, and the Cochrane library was conducted from inception to December 2017 for articles evaluating PET tracer uptake in recently symptomatic versus asymptomatic carotid arteries, and articles evaluating carotid uptake in relation to future ischemic events. Cerebral ischemic events were defined as ipsilateral strokes, transient ischemic attacks, or amaurosis fugax. We quantitatively pooled studies by a random-effects model when 3 or more studies were amenable for analysis. We assessed the standardized mean difference between tracer uptake in the symptomatic versus asymptomatic carotid artery using Cohen's d metric. Results- After screening 4144 unique articles, 13 prospective cohort studies assessing carotid artery F-FDG uptake in patients with recent cerebral ischemia were eligible for review. Eleven cohorts of 290 subjects scanned with F-FDG were eligible for meta-analysis. We found that carotid arteries ipsilateral to recent ischemic events had significantly higher F-FDG uptake than asymptomatic arteries (Cohen's d =0.492; CI=0.130-0.855; P=0.008) as well as significant heterogeneity (Cochran's Q =31.5; P=0.0005; I=68.3%). Meta-regression was not performed due to the limited number of studies in the analysis. Only 2 studies investigating F-NaF PET imaging, and another 2 articles investigating ischemic event recurrence were found. Conclusions- Recent ipsilateral cerebral ischemia may be associated with increased carotid F-FDG uptake on PET imaging regardless of degree of carotid stenosis, although significant heterogeneity was found, and these results should be interpreted with caution. Emerging evidence suggests a similar association may be present with F-NaF plaque uptake. More studies are warranted to provide definitive conclusions on the utility of F-FDG or F-NaF in carotid plaque evaluation before investigating carotid PET as a diagnostic tool for cerebral ischemic events.
Topics: Brain Ischemia; Carotid Stenosis; Humans; Neuroimaging; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Positron-Emission Tomography
PubMed: 31272325
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.023987 -
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Jan 2024Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been the subject of several studies in recent decades as a promising molecular target for prostate cancer (PCa), in fact it... (Review)
Review
Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been the subject of several studies in recent decades as a promising molecular target for prostate cancer (PCa), in fact it is considered an excellent molecular target for both PCa imaging (both for staging and follow-up), by means of PET/CT and for radioligand therapy. Its interesting molecular features have enabled the development of a new diagnostic and therapeutic approach for PCa, called "theranostics." Considering the abundance of PSMA-based probes that have appeared so far in the literature, the present work focuses the attention on radiopharmaceuticals with increasing clinical application, highlighting advantages and disadvantages in terms of different metabolization and excretion processes, pharmacokinetic, binding affinity and variable internalization rate, tumor-to-background ratio, residence times and toxicity profile.
Topics: Male; Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Prostatic Neoplasms; Radiopharmaceuticals; Precision Medicine; Gallium Radioisotopes
PubMed: 37992520
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115966 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Oct 2015To meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
AIM
To meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the evaluation of primary tumor in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBCa).
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search of studies published through 30(th) June 2014 regarding the role of (18)F-FDG PET and PET/CT in the evaluation of primary gallbladder cancer (GBCa) was performed. All retrieved studies were reviewed. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of (18)F-FDG PET or PET/CT in the evaluation of primary GBCa were calculated. The area under the summary receiving operator characteristics curve (AUC) was calculated to measure the accuracy of these methods. Sub-analyses considering the device used (PET vs PET/CT) were carried out.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies comprising 495 patients who underwent (18)F-FDG PET or PET/CT for suspicious GBCa were selected for the systematic review. The meta-analysis of 13 selected studies provided the following results: sensitivity 87% (95%CI: 82%-92%), specificity 78% (95%CI: 68%-86%). The AUC was 0.88. Improvement of sensitivity and specificity was observed when PET/CT was used.
CONCLUSION
(18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT demonstrated to be useful diagnostic imaging methods in the assessment of primary tumor in GBCa patients, nevertheless possible sources of false-negative and false-positive results should be kept in mind. PET/CT seems to have a better diagnostic accuracy than PET alone in this setting.
Topics: Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Humans; Multimodal Imaging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Predictive Value of Tests; Radiopharmaceuticals; Reproducibility of Results; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 26523112
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i40.11481