Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Giammarile

Publications and source records attributed to F Giammarile.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Diffuse bone marrow uptake [123I]MIBG in neuroblastoma: an "MIBG super scan" case report.

We present the case of a 3-year-old child with neuroblastoma metastatic to the bone marrow. [123I]MIBG total body scintigraphy revealed a diffuse pattern of intense fixation throughout the skeleton. This was analogous to the "super scan" described with 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy when extensive metastatic or metabolic bone disease is present. Essentially, a high bone-to-soft tissue ratio was found without uptake in the liver, kidney and bladder, owing to a "steal" mechanism caused by the avid bone metastases.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Upper clavicular and cardiac meta-[123I]iodobenzylguanidine uptake in children.

In order to clarify some of the particularities and pitfalls of the MIBG thoracic scan, we report our experience with 5 children with Stage III or IV neuroblastoma who presented equivocal scans. The physiological thoracic distribution of MIBG in children differs from that in adults and has to be taken in account in the accurate interpretation of the scans.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Somatostatin receptor imaging: a preliminary experience in forty-nine patients.

We report our experience with the 111In-pentetreotide scanning of 47 adult patients presenting with neuroendocrine tumors (n = 38) or malignant pheochromocytomas or related tumors (n = 9), and 2 children with metastatic neuroblastomas. A dynamic study was performed after i.v. administration of 50-190 MBq of 111In-pentetreotide followed by a whole body scan at 1.5-4 hours and at 24 hours. Where indicated, tomoscintigraphy or a dual isotope bone, liver or kidney scan was performed in order to improve the anatomical definition. Lesions were visualized in the earliest phases of the examination but contrast was enhanced on delayed images due to an improved signal to background ratio. In 9/49 patients, octreotide scan (OS) detected unknown tumors sites. On the other hand, the lesion uptake of 111In-pentetreotide varied, and not all the sites shown by other imaging modalities were visualised, probably due to differences in membrane receptor expression. In conclusion, OS can be useful in the diagnosis, follow-up and therapeutic management of neuro-endocrine tumors. Further investigations are required to assess the role of OS in other pathologies. Short title: Somatostatin receptor imaging.

Adolescent↗

Three-phase radionuclide bone imaging and magnetic resonance imaging detection of occult knee fractures in athletes.

Twelve athletes presenting acute knee injury with normal radiological findings underwent both three-phase radionuclide bone imaging (TPBI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The association of these highly sensitive diagnostic procedures detected occult fractures in all patients. The areas of signal intensity alterations on MRI corresponded to those of increased radionuclide uptake in blood pool images. However, the same areas seemed to be more extended on delayed TPB images. TPBI yielded early diagnostic information about lesion sites and functional activities, while MRI provided better anatomical definition and specific information about associated soft tissue lesions and served to establish the correct therapeutic approach and follow-up.

Adolescent↗

[Sclerotherapy of thyroid cysts with tetracycline hydrochloride].

In order to verify sclerotherapy efficiency in solitary thyroid cysts, needle aspiration of the cyst followed by instillation of tetracycline hydrochloride into the cyst cavity was performed in 110 patients; in thirty of these the aspirations was ultrasonically guided. A tight dressing on the neck was applied for 48 hours in order to maintain pressure on the cyst cavity. All patients were treated with L-T4 in TSH-suppressive doses. In a few patients (< 155), the tetracycline instillation caused local pain, lasting less than two hours. In no case, did cytological examination of the sediment of the aspirated fluid reveal any evidence of malignant cells. In 82 patients (84.54% of the 97 controlled patients), the last ultrasonic follow-up (performed at 3, 6, 9, 12 or 24 months) showed a decrease in lesion size. In particular, 16 patients (16.50%) had a complete cyst disappearance, 41 patients (42.17%) had a volume reduction of the cyst between 85 and 65%, and in 25 patients (25.77%) the reduction was more than 25%. In the remaining 15 patients (15.46%) a second treatment was performed, 3 of them also required a third treatment but in all these cases, the results seemed to be less satisfactory. The distinction in cyst size seemed to indicate that in the case of a large cyst (> 36 mm diameter), the treatment gives better results (92% success rate against 82% of the other patients). In conclusion, we are able to affirm that needle aspiration of the thyroid cyst with instillation of tetracycline hydrochloride is a simple, well tolerated and low cost technique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Nuclear magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography: diagnostic potential in tissue characterization].

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) are among the most advanced methodologies providing, with different physical approaches, diagnostic images of the body. In this framework, NMR and PET are particularly well known, not only for the high quality of their present results, but also for the expectations of further developments at clinical and diagnostic level. Common feature of NMR and PET is the capability of associating the anatomical image with information on the physico-chemical and/or biochemical properties of tissues. NMR imaging (MRI) is in fact based upon the acquisition of signals, whose intensities indirectly but closely depend upon particular physico-chemical and biophysical properties of biological tissues. NMR spectroscopy (MRS) and PET allow, on the other hand, quantitative studies on metabolic reactions, as they occur in intact tissues, in vivo and in situ. This review is aimed at summarizing the basic principles of tissue characterization by NMR and PET and discussing their perspectives of clinical application. Emphasis will be given to the special requirements of tissue characterization by these methodologies, referring to the need of improving accuracy and precision of measurements, as well as at evaluating, on a quantitative basis, the performance of the equipment.

Chemical Phenomena↗

[Magnetic resonance study of renal function. Preliminary evaluation].

The amount of functioning renal parenchyma can be estimated by MRI by considering the ratio between the mean intensities of cortical and medullar zones of the kidney. Fifty-six patients and 5 healthy volunteers were studied by MRI in our department. Scanning was performed with a superconductive magnet system operating at 0.5 Tesla. Pulse sequence was Spin-Echo with TR 300/TE 30 ms. The cortico-medullary ratio (CMR) and differentiation (CMD) were standardized and related with creatine blood levels. CMR data ranged from 1.05 to 3.00, while CMD data ranged from 0.04 to 0.50. High values (good cortico-medullary contrast) were observed in subjects with normal renal function. Patients with renal diseases had low CMR and CMD, proportionally to the degree of renal failure, as proved by laboratory findings. Our preliminary study seems to demonstrate that MRI is an useful technique in the follow-up of patients with chronic renal disease.

Creatinine↗