Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging最新文献

Purpose: VSBONE^® BSI (VSBONE), an automated bone scan index (BSI) measurement system was updated from version 2.1 (ver.2) to 3.0 (ver.3). VSBONE ver.3 incorporates deep learning of the skeletal structures of 957 new women, and it can be applied in patients with breast cancer. However, the performance of the updated VSBONE remains unclear. This study aimed to validate the diagnostic accuracy of the VSBONE system in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: In total, 220 Japanese patients with breast cancer who underwent bone scintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were diagnosed with active bone metastases (n = 20) and non-bone metastases (n = 200) according to the physician's radiographic image interpretation. The patients were assessed using the VSBONE ver.2 and VSBONE ver.3, and the BSI findings were compared with the interpretation results by the physicians. The occurrence of segmentation errors, the association of BSI between VSBONE ver.2 and VSBONE ver.3, and the diagnostic accuracy of the systems were evaluated.

Results: VSBONE ver.2 and VSBONE ver.3 had segmentation errors in four and two patients. Significant positive linear correlations were confirmed in both versions of the BSI (r = 0.92). The diagnostic accuracy was 54.1% in VSBOBE ver.2, and 80.5% in VSBONE ver.3 (P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy of VSBONE was improved through deep learning of the female skeletal structures. The updated VSBONE ver.3 can be a reliable automated system for measuring BSI in patients with breast cancer.

Objective: This study aims to assess the value of radiomics features integrated with clinical characteristics for estimating Ki67 expression in patients with breast cancer (BC).

Methods: In total, 114 patients with BC performed ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scans. Patients were randomly assigned to a training set (n = 79, 55 cases of Ki67 + and 24 cases of Ki67-) and a validation set (n = 35, 24 cases of Ki67 + and 11 cases of Ki67-). Thirteen clinical characteristics and 704 radiomics features were extracted, and 4 clinical and 8 radiomics features were selected. Three models were developed, including the clinical model, the radiomics model, and the combined model. Model performance was evaluated using the ROC curve, and clinical utility was assessed through decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results: The N stage, tumor morphology, SUVmax, and the longest diameter significantly differed between Ki67 + and Ki67- groups (all P < 0.05). Eight radiomics features were selected for the radiomics model. The area under the curve of the combined model in the training and test group was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82∼0.97) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.64∼0.99), respectively. The combined model significantly outperformed both the radiomics model and the clinical model alone (P < 0.05). The DCA curve demonstrated the superior clinical utility of the combined model compared to the clinical model and radiomics model.

Conclusions: PET/CT image-based radiomics features combined with clinical features have the potential to predict Ki67 expression in BC.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13139-024-00896-9.

Purpose: For several decades, bone scintigraphy (BS) has been used as a diagnostic tool for arthritis in patients with synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome. Artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic supporting systems are effective in BS. The bone scan index (BSI) on BS with AI diagnostic support systems has been used for bone tumors. However, its application in arthritis has not been validated. The current study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of BSI using an AI diagnostic supporting system for arthritis in patients with SAPHO syndrome.

Methods: The regional BSI (rBSI) of arthritis uptake around the sternoclavicular and sternocostal joints on BS in patients with SAPHO syndrome was calculated using an AI diagnostic supporting system (VSBONE BSI®). For comparison, patients with degenerative changes on BS in the same region were evaluated. rBSI was calculated using the same process.

Results: This study included 43 patients with SAPHO syndrome and 48 with degenerative changes. The rBSIs with the diagnostic supporting system were 0.19 ± 0.19 in patients with SAPHO syndrome and 0.043 ± 0.056 in those with degenerative changes. Patients with SAPHO syndrome had significantly higher rBSIs than those with degenerative changes (P < 0.001). A cutoff value of 0.030 for rBSI in the region of interest had a sensitivity of 0.98 and specificity of 0.63 for differentiating arthritis from degenerative changes (area under the curve: 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.81-0.92).

Conclusion: The objective evaluation of arthritis using rBSI calculated with an AI diagnostic supporting system may be useful.

Purpose: Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a member of the bombesin G-protein-coupled receptor family, is introduced as the promising target for the diagnosis and therapy of various tumors. This study aimed to develop a novel diagnostic agent of [^113mIn]In-AMBA for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of GRPR expressing tumors.

Methods: ^113mIn was provided from an in-house made ¹¹³Sn/^113mIn generator in the chloride form. [^113mIn]In-AMBA was prepared in the optimal conditions and the stability was checked in PBS buffer and human serum, Then the binding affinity and internalization of the radiolabeled compound were investigated in PC3 cell lines at 120 min. the biodistribution of the radiolabeled peptide was studied in normal rats.

Results: [^113mIn]In-AMBA was prepared with radiochemical purity (RCP) > 98% under the optimal labeling conditions. The compound indicated significant stability in PBS buffer and human serum (> 95% at 180 min post preparation). High binding affinity (51% at 60 min) and internalization (64% at 120 min) of the radiolabeled compound towards PC3 cell lines were also observed. The major accumulation of the compound was seen in kidneys, and other GRPR-expressing tissues.

Conclusion: The biodistribution of the labeled compound in normal rats indicated rapid elimination of the complex from the blood, and considerable accumulation in the GRPR-expressing organ of pancreas, in complete agreement with similar labeled compounds. [^113mIn]In-AMBA can be a suitable candidate for SPECT imaging of GRPR-expressed tumors.

Background: Penile Cancer is a rare and aggressive disease. Related to complex metabolic processes.

Objective: This study investigates the effectiveness of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT as a noninvasive method in evaluating penile cancer patients, focusing on the correlation between tissue expression of key tumor markers involved in glucose metabolism and proliferation, and the uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG.

Methods: Fifty-one patients were selected and underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT-based staging. Semiquantitative analysis was performed using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) and volumetric SUV (SUV_2SD). Tissue expression analysis of GLUT-1, hexokinase-II, Ki67, p16, and p53 was performed by tissue microarray. PCR evaluated HPV DNA.

Results: Warty SCC showed the highest SUV value and significant differences in SUV_max (p=0.015). Higher SUV_max and SUV_2SD values were observed in grade 3 tumors. In typical invasive SCC, grade 3, HPV+, p16-negative, p53-negative, GLUT-1 i-3, and HK-II i-3 tumors showed a higher mean SUV. The Ki-67 value significantly differed for grade 3 tumors (p=0.001) and HK-II i-1 tumors (p=0.036). Ki-67 positivity was also higher in HPV-, p16 i-2, p53 i-3, and GLUT-1 i-3 tumors; none of the differences were statistically significant.

Conclusions: The study highlights correlations between the uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG and the expression of markers associated with glycolytic metabolism in penile cancer. It suggests a potential trend where increased expression of glucose transport markers is linked to higher histological grades and Ki-67 expression. There were no significant differences regarding HPV positivity, demonstrating the complexity of penile cancer molecular biology and need more studies with a higher number of patients.

Graphical abstract:

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13139-024-00877-y.

Objectives: To assess the trends and disparities in the utilization of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in Korea between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on disease classification, patient demographics, and regional distribution.

Methods: This national surveillance retrospective study uses data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database, which includes all FDG PET/CT examinations conducted in Korea from 2018 to 2022. Disease classifications, cancer types, age groups, gender, and geographic regions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Utilization rates per 100,000 population were calculated for regional comparisons.

Results: FDG PET/CT utilization increased by 25.4%, from 174,885 examinations in 2018 to 219,377 in 2022. Older age groups (60 years and above) accounted for the majority of examinations, with males undergoing more examinations than females. Oncology remained the primary indication, with lung, colorectal, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma leading in examination numbers. The number of examinations performed on patients aged 60 and above increased at a higher rate compared to those under 60. Significant geographic disparities were found, with Seoul reporting the highest utilization rate (1,114.3 examinations per 100,000 population), while Gyeongbuk exhibited much lower rate (26.2 examinations per 100,000 population).

Conclusions: This study highlights the growing utilization of FDG PET/CT in Korea, particularly among older adults, with significant gender differences in cancer types. The findings also reveal disparities in FDG PET/CT utilization across regions, indicating varying access to advanced imaging technology.