Journal of nuclear medicine technology最新文献

The radionuclide ventriculoperitoneal shunt evaluation study is a simple test that involves injecting a small volume of radionuclide into the shunt reservoir and then observing its disappearance using dynamic γ-camera imaging. Although it seems simple, there are several potential pitfalls that can result in a misinterpreted or uninterpretable study. This paper is a detailed description of how to avoid the pitfalls and also how to interpret the results.

We performed a ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT scan on a 25-mo-old female patient who presented with opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome and had negative initial anatomic imaging. The scan showed a somatostatin receptor-overexpressing cervical tumor in favor of a cervical neuroendocrine tumor, with subsequent histopathologic findings of ganglioneuroblastoma.

Our objective was to demonstrate, through computer simulations, radiation exposure levels from a ⁹⁰Y contamination event during radioembolization procedures to calculate the radiation doses from various contamination scenarios. We also provide reasonable safety protocols to prevent contamination and minimize radiation exposure during decontamination. Methods: Simulations were performed using the computer code VARSKIN+, version 1.0, to determine the amount of radiation exposure resulting from different contamination scenarios. Results: The annual radiation dose limit to the skin and the lens of the eye was exceeded within 23 s of exposure to a 44-MBq droplet. Double layers of surgical gloves and level 3 gowns provided some attenuation of radiation from ⁹⁰Y contamination by reducing the dose rate by 39% and 44%, respectively. Two layers of surgical gloves offered the best ratio of radiation protection without compromising dexterity. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that radiation exposures during ⁹⁰Y spills or contamination events can be considerable. Interventional radiology and nuclear medicine personnel must be mindful of the risks, follow strategies to prevent spills, and be familiar with recommended decontamination procedures for spills in the interventional radiology suite.

The GPT-3.5-powered ChatGPT was released in late November 2022 powered by the generative pretrained transformer (GPT) version 3.5. It has emerged as a readily accessible source of patient information ahead of medical procedures. Although ChatGPT has purported benefits for supporting patient education and information, actual capability has not been evaluated. Moreover, the March 2023 emergence of paid subscription access to GPT-4 promises further enhanced capabilities requiring evaluation. Methods: ChatGPT was used to generate patient information sheets suitable for gaining informed consent for 7 common procedures in nuclear medicine. Responses were generated independently for both GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 architectures. Specific procedures were selected that had a long-standing history of use to avoid any bias associated with the September 2021 learning cutoff that constrains both GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 architectures. Each information sheet was independently evaluated by 3 expert assessors and ranked on the basis of accuracy, appropriateness, currency, and fitness for purpose. Results: ChatGPT powered by GPT-3.5 provided patient information that was appropriate in terms of being patient-facing but lacked accuracy and currency and omitted important information. GPT-3.5 produced patient information deemed not fit for the purpose. GPT-4 provided patient information enhanced across appropriateness, accuracy, and currency, despite some omission of information. GPT-4 produced patient information that was largely fit for the purpose. Conclusion: Although ChatGPT powered by GPT-3.5 is accessible and provides plausible patient information, inaccuracies and omissions present a risk to patients and informed consent. Conversely, GPT-4 is more accurate and fit for the purpose but, at the time of writing, was available only through a paid subscription.

We present 2 cases of metastatic castration-resistant prostate carcinoma with discordant lesions on dual-tracer PET/CT (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT), which on subsequent histopathologic evaluation revealed second primary malignancies of combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. These case illustrations emphasize the need to evaluate discordant lesions on dual-tracer PET/CT, which can lead to early diagnosis of second primary malignancies and thereby can provide better management in these patients.

Due to high iodine loading from iodinated contrast media, the thyroid uptake of common radiopharmaceuticals ([^99mTc]NaTcO₄ and [¹²³I]NaI) can be influenced up to 2 mo after administration. In such cases, and generally when differential diagnosis between productive and destructive thyrotoxicosis is necessary, [^99mTc]Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy could be an option. This case highlights the role of [^99mTc]Tc-sestamibi in the evaluation of thyrotoxicosis in a patient with a blocked thyroid gland as a result of stable iodine saturation.