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Purpose The radionuclide bone scan is the cornerstone of skeletal nuclear medicine imaging. Bone scintigraphy is a highly sensitive diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses a radiotracer to evaluate the distribution of active bone formation in the skeleton related to malignant and benign disease, as well as physiological processes. Methods The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) has written and approved these guidelines to promote the use of nuclear medicine procedures of high quality. Conclusion The present guidelines offer assistance to nuclear medicine practitioners in optimizing the diagnostic procedure and interpreting bone scintigraphy. These guidelines describe the protocols that are currently accepted and used routinely, but do not include all existing procedures. They should therefore not be taken as exclusive of other nuclear medicine modalities that can be used to obtain comparable results. It is important to remember that the resources and facilities available for patient care may vary.

The aim of this guideline is to provide minimum standards for the performance and interpretation of (18)F-NaF PET/CT scans. Standard acquisition and interpretation of nuclear imaging modalities will help to provide consistent data acquisition and numeric values between different platforms and institutes and to promote the use of PET/CT modality as an established diagnostic modality in routine clinical practice. This will also improve the value of scientific work and its contribution to evidence-based medicine.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error. The name and affiliation of “Frédéric Paycha” needs to be corrected. Given in this article is the correct author name and affiliation.

According to reports, re-staging of patients suffering from prostate cancer by positron emission tomography (PET) using C-11-choline has failed to produce positive findings at a PSA level of < 5 ng/ml. Hence, the purpose of our study has been to determine whether this is true also for PET/CT using F-18-fluorocholine (FCH PET/CT) or whether it is possible to obtain true positive results by FCH PET/CT even at lower PSA levels. In 34 patients with prostate cancer who had undergone initial therapy (radical prostatectomy n = 31, radiotherapy n = 3), a PET/CT scan was performed using F-18-fluorocholine (FCH) during follow-up in case of demonstrable or rising PSA levels. Current PSA levels were determined in all patients at the time of examination. Median PSA in FCH positive patients was 6.1 ng/ml (mean PSA 17.1 ng/ml), median PSA in FCH negative patients was 2.3 ng/ml (mean PSA 3.4 ng/ml), respectively (p < 0.05). In eight of 17 examinations (47%) with PSA < 5 ng/ml, at least one FCH-positive focus was detected. So far the findings could be confirmed by correlating imaging methods (CT and/or MR), biopsy/histology and the course of the disease, respectively, in seven of the eight FCH-positive cases with PSA < 5 ng/ml, so that a true positive FCH PET/CT finding was obtained all in all in seven of 17 (41%) examinations with PSA < 5 ng/ml. In four of these seven FCH PET-positive patients with PSA < 5 ng/ml, adjuvant hormonal therapy was administered at the time of the examination or prior to the examination. In re-staging patients with prostate cancer, FCH PET/CT is able to yield true positive findings even at PSA < 5 ng/ml. Therefore, FCH PET/CT should not be restricted to patients with PSA > 5 ng/ml.

The aim of this guideline is to provide minimum standards for the performance and interpretation of super(18)F-NaF PET/CT scans. Standard acquisition and interpretation of nuclear imaging modalities will help to provide consistent data acquisition and numeric values between different platforms and institutes and to promote the use of PET/CT modality as an established diagnostic modality in routine clinical practice. This will also improve the value of scientific work and its contribution to evidence-based medicine.

The aim of this guideline is to provide minimum standards for the performance and interpretation of 18 F-NaF PET/CT scans. Standard acquisition and interpretation of nuclear imaging modalities will help to provide consistent data acquisition and numeric values between different platforms and institutes and to promote the use of PET/CT modality as an established diagnostic modality in routine clinical practice. This will also improve the value of scientific work and its contribution to evidence-based medicine.

The aim of this guideline is to provide minimum standards for the performance and interpretation of ^sup 18^F-NaF PET/CT scans. Standard acquisition and interpretation of nuclear imaging modalities will help to provide consistent data acquisition and numeric values between different platforms and institutes and to promote the use of PET/CT modality as an established diagnostic modality in routine clinical practice. This will also improve the value of scientific work and its contribution to evidence-based medicine.

Table of contents A1 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in staging and restaging of Prostate Cancer Patients: comparative study with 18F-Choline PET/CT W Langsteger, A Rezaee, W Loidl, HS Geinitz, F Fitz, M Steinmair, G Broinger, L Pallwien-Prettner, M Beheshti A2 F18 Choline PET – CT: an accurate diagnostic tool for the detection of parathyroid adenoma? L Imamovic, M Beheshti, G Rendl, D Hackl, O Tsybrovsky, M Steinmair, K Emmanuel, F Moinfar, C Pirich, W Langsteger A3 [18F]Fluoro-DOPA-PET/CT in the primary diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma A Bytyqi, G Karanikas, M Mayerhöfer, O Koperek, B Niederle, M Hartenbach A4 Variations of clinical PET/MR operations: An international survey on the clinical utilization of PET/MRI T Beyer, K Herrmann, J Czernin A5 Standard Dixon-based attenuation correction in combined PET/MRI: Reproducibility and the possibility of Lean body mass estimation I Rausch, P Rust, MD DiFranco, M Lassen, A Stadlbauer, ME Mayerhöfer, M Hartenbach, M Hacker, T Beyer A6 High resolution digital FDG PET/MRI imaging for assessment of ACL graft viability K Binzel, R Magnussen, W Wei, MU Knopp, DC Flanigan, C Kaeding, MV Knopp A7 Using pre-existing hematotoxicity as predictor for severe side effects and number of treatment cycles of Xofigo therapy A Leisser, M Nejabat, M Hartenbach, G Kramer, M Krainer, M Hacker, A Haug A8 QDOSE – comprehensive software solution for internal dose assessment Wencke Lehnert, Karl Schmidt, Sharok Kimiaei, Marcus Bronzel, Andreas Kluge A9 Clinical impact of Time-of-Flight on next-generation digital PET imaging of Yttrium-90 radioactivity following liver radioembolization CL Wright, K Binzel, J Zhang, Evan Wuthrick, Piotr Maniawski, MV Knopp A10 Snakes in patients! Lessons learned from programming active contours for automated organ segmentation M Blaickner, E Rados, A Huber, M Dulovits, H Kulkarni, S Wiessalla, C Schuchardt, RP Baum, B Knäusl, D Georg A11 Influence of a genetic polymorphism on brain uptake of the dual ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate [11C]tariquidar M Bauer, B Wulkersdorfer, W Wadsak, C Philippe, H Haslacher, M Zeitlinger, O Langer A12 Outcome prediction of temporal lobe epilepsy surgery from P-glycoprotein activity. Pooled analysis of (R)-[11C]-verapamil PET data from two European centres M Bauer, M Feldmann, R Karch, W Wadsak, M Zeitlinger, MJ Koepp, M-C Asselin, E Pataraia, O Langer A13 In-vitro and in-vivo characterization of [18F]FE@SNAP and derivatives for the visualization of the melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 M Zeilinger, C Philippe, M Dumanic, F Pichler, J Pilz, M Hacker, W Wadsak, M Mitterhauser A14 Reducing time in quality control leads to higher specific radioactivity of short-lived radiotracers L Nics, B Steiner, M Hacker, M Mitterhauser, W Wadsak A15 In vitro 11C-erlotinib binding experiments in cancer cell lines with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations A Traxl, Thomas Wanek, Kushtrim Kryeziu, Severin Mairinger, Johann Stanek, Walter Berger, Claudia Kuntner, Oliver Langer A16 7-[11C]methyl-6-bromopurine, a PET tracer to measure brain Mrp1 function: radiosynthesis and first PET evaluation in mice S Mairinger, T Wanek, A Traxl, M Krohn, J Stanek, T Filip, M Sauberer, C Kuntner, J Pahnke, O Langer A17 18F labeled azidoglucose derivatives as “click” agents for pretargeted PET imaging D Svatunek, C Denk, M Wilkovitsch, T Wanek, T Filip, C Kuntner-Hannes, J Fröhlich, H Mikula A18 Bioorthogonal tools for PET imaging: development of radiolabeled 1,2,4,5-Tetrazines C Denk, D Svatunek, T Wanek, S Mairinger, J Stanek, T Filip, J Fröhlich, H Mikula, C Kuntner-Hannes A19 Preclinical evaluation of [18F]FE@SUPPY- a new PET-tracer for oncology T Balber, J Singer, J Fazekas, C Rami-Mark, N Berroterán-Infante, E Jensen-Jarolim, W Wadsak, M Hacker, H Viernstein, M Mitterhauser A20 Investigation of Small [18F]-Fluoroalkylazides for Rapid Radiolabeling and In Vivo Click Chemistry C Denk, D Svatunek, B Sohr, H Mikula, J Fröhlich, T Wanek, C Kuntner-Hannes, T Filip A21 Microfluidic 68Ga-radiolabeling of PSMA-HBED-CC using a flow-through reactor S Pfaff, C Philippe, M Mitterhauser, M Hartenbach, M Hacker, W Wadsak A22 Influence of 24-nor-ursodeoxycholic acid on hepatic disposition of [18F]ciprofloxacin measured with positron emission tomography T Wanek, E Halilbasic, M Visentin, S Mairinger, B Stieger, C Kuntner, M Trauner, O Langer A23 Automated 18F-flumazenil production using chemically resistant disposable cassettes P Lam, M Aistleitner, R Eichinger, C Artner A24 Similarities and differences in the synthesis and quality control of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE, 177Lu -HA-DOTA-TATE and 177Lu-DOTA-PSMA (PSMA-617) H Eidherr, C Vraka, A Haug, M Mitterhauser, L Nics, M Hartenbach, M Hacker, W Wadsak A25 68Ga- and 177Lu-labelling of PSMA-617 H Kvaternik, R Müller, D Hausberger, C Zink, RM Aigner A26 Radiolabelling of liposomes with 67Ga and biodistribution studies after administration by an aerosol inhalation system U Cossío, M Asensio, A Montes, S Akhtar, Y te Welscher, R van Nostrum, V Gómez-Vallejo, J Llop A27 Fully automated quantification of DaTscan SPECT: Integration of age and gender differences F VandeVyver, T Barclay, N Lippens, M Troch A28 Lesion-to-background ratio in co-registered 18F-FET PET/MR imaging – is it a valuable tool to differentiate between low grade and high grade brain tumor? L Hehenwarter, B Egger, J Holzmannhofer, M Rodrigues-Radischat, C Pirich A29 [11C]-methionine PET in gliomas - a retrospective data analysis of 166 patients N Pötsch, I Rausch, D Wilhelm, M Weber, J Furtner, G Karanikas, A Wöhrer, M Mitterhauser, M Hacker, T Traub-Weidinger A30 18F-Fluorocholine versus 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose for PET/CT imaging in patients with relapsed or progressive multiple myeloma: a pilot study T Cassou-Mounat, S Balogova, V Nataf, M Calzada, V Huchet, K Kerrou, J-Y Devaux, M Mohty, L Garderet, J-N Talbot A31 Prognostic benefit of additional SPECT/CT in sentinel lymph node mapping of breast cancer patients S Stanzel, G Pregartner, T Schwarz, V Bjelic-Radisic, B Liegl-Atzwanger, R Aigner A32 Evaluation of diagnostic value of TOF-18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with suspected pancreatic cancer S Stanzel, F Quehenberger, RM Aigner A33 New quantification method for diagnosis of primary hyperpatahyroidism lesions and differential diagnosis vs thyropid nodular disease in dynamic scintigraphy A Koljević Marković, Milica Janković, V Miler Jerković, M Paskaš, G Pupić, R Džodić, D Popović A34 A rare case of diffuse pancreatic involvement in patient with merkel cell carcinoma detected by 18F-FDG MC Fornito, D Familiari A35 TSH-stimulated 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of recurrent/metastatic radioiodine-negative differentiated thyroid carcinomas in patients with various thyroglobuline levels P Koranda, H Polzerová, I Metelková, L Henzlová, R Formánek, E Buriánková, M Kamínek A36 Breast Dose from lactation following I131 treatment WH Thomson, C Lewis A37 A new concept for performing SeHCAT studies with the gamma camera WH Thomson, J O’Brien, G James, A Notghi A38 Whole body F-18-FDG-PET and tuberculosis: sensitivity compared to x-ray-CT H Huber, I Stelzmüller, R Wunn, M Mandl, F Fellner, B Lamprecht, M Gabriel A39 Emerging role 18F-FDG PET-CT in the diagnosis and follow-up of the infection in heartware ventricular assist system (HVAD) MC Fornito, G Leonardi A40 Validation of Poisson resampling software WH Thomson, J O’Brien, G James A41 Protection of PET nuclear medicine personnel: problems in satisfying dose limit requirements J Hudzietzová, J Sabol, M Fülöp

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the reliability of the new nonspecific tumor-searching tracer tetrofosmin in the postoperative follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) during TSH suppressive thyroid hormone treatment. Whole-body scintigraphy was performed in 114 patients under TSH suppressive L-T4 treatment 20 min after intravenous injection of 370 MBq 99mTc-tetrofosmin by means of a dual-head gamma camera followed by three-dimensional SPECT in case of suspicious tracer uptake. The results of serum thyroglobulin, ultrasonography of the neck, 131I whole-body scintigraphy, chest radiograph, transmission CT or MRI, and bone scintigraphy were also available. A group of 68 patients without thyroid remnants who were tumor free and had no history of metastases or tumor recurrence showed a negative 99mTc-tetrofosmin whole-body scan. Another 24 patients (papillary carcinoma pT1NOMO) were also in complete remission, but had sonographically proven remnants (echonormal). Sixteen of them (67%) exhibited 99mTc-tetrofosmin accumulation in the thyroid bed, which corresponded excellently to the localization of the remnant. The third group comprises seven cases of local recurrence confirmed by histopathology after reoperation or by cytology after fine-needle aspiration where tetrofosmin scintigraphy clearly revealed relapse of malignancy in all cases. A total of 17 patients had distant metastases (11 pulmonary, 3 bone, 2 bone and pulmonary, 1 bone and soft tissue) discovered by different modalities, resulting in 44 lesions to be evaluated. Of the 23 radioiodine negative metastases, 17 were detected by tetrofosmin (74%), whereas all 21 radioiodine accumulating lesions also showed tetrofosmin positive scans. The overall sensitivity of 99mTc-tetrofosmin in detecting distant metastatic lesions was 86%. Four additional cases with radioiodine-negative disseminated lung metastases showed diffuse pulmonary tetrofosmin uptake. Technetium-99m-tetrofosmin is a promising tracer to detect malignant recurrence and distant metastases in the follow-up of DTC without the necessity of thyroid hormone withdrawal.

Objectives The bombesin derivative RM2 is a GRPr antagonist with strong binding affinity to prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, the impact of [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for the detection of primary PCa was compared with that of [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Methods This phase I/II study was conducted in 30 biopsy-positive PCa subjects. The patients were stratified into high (10 patients), intermediate (10 patients), and low risk (10 patients) for extraglandular metastases as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria (NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, 2016 ). The prostate gland was classified in 12 anatomic segments for data analysis of the imaging modalities as well as histopathologic findings. The segment with the highest radiotracer uptake was defined as the “index lesion.” All cases were scheduled to undergo prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node (LN) dissection in intermediate- and high-risk patients. Intraprostatic and pelvic nodal [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 and [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT findings were correlated with mpMRI and histopathologic results. Results Of the 312 analyzed regions, 120 regions (4 to 8 lesions per patient) showed abnormal findings in the prostate gland. In a region-based analysis, overall sensitivity and specificity of [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 PET-CT in the detection of primary tumor were 74% and 90%, respectively, while it was 60% and 80% for [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT and 72% and 89% for mpMRI. Although the overall sensitivity of [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 PET-CT was higher compared to that of [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT and mpMRI, the statistical analysis showed only significant difference between [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT in the intermediate-risk group ( p  = 0.01) and [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and mpMRT in the high-risk group ( p  = 0.03). In the lesion-based analysis, there was no significant difference between SUVmax of [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 and [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT in the intraprostatic malignant lesions ([ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2: mean SUVmax: 5.98 ± 4.13, median: 4.75; [ 18 F]FCH: mean SUVmax: 6.08 ± 2.74, median: 5.5; p  = 0.13). Conclusions [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 showed promising PET tracer for the detection of intraprostatic PCa in a cohort of patients with different risk stratifications. However, significant differences were only found between [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and [ 18 F]FCH PET-CT in the intermediate-risk group and [ 68 Ga]Ga-RM2 PET-CT and mpMRT in the high-risk group. In addition, GRP-R-based imaging seems to play a complementary role to choline-based imaging for full characterization of PCa extent and biopsy guidance in low- and intermediate-metastatic-risk PCa patients and has the potential to discriminate them from those at higher risks. Key Points • [ 68 Ga ] Ga-RM2 is a promising PET tracer with a high detection rate for intraprostatic PCa especially in intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. • GRPr-based imaging seems to play a complementary role to choline-based or PSMA-based PET/CT imaging in selected low- and intermediate-risk PCa patients for better characterization and eventually biopsy guidance of prostate cancer disease.