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Aortitis is a rare adverse event associated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is widely used to diagnose G-CSF-associated aortitis. However, the usefulness of gallium scintigraphy for the diagnosis of G-CSF-associated aortitis is unknown. We herein report a set of pre- and post-treatment gallium scintigrams of a patient with G-CSF-associated aortitis. During the diagnosis, gallium scintigraphy revealed hot spots on the arterial walls that appeared inflamed on CECT. Both the CECT and gallium scintigraphy findings disappeared. Gallium scintigraphy can be a supportive diagnostic tool for G-CSF-associated aortitis, especially in patients with an impaired renal function or allergy to iodine contrast.

Purpose: We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a clinically available deep learning-based computer-assisted diagnosis software for detecting unruptured aneurysms (UANs) using magnetic resonance angiography and assessed the functionality of the convolutional neural network (CNN) final layer score for distinguishing between UAN and infundibular dilatation (ID)., Materials and Methods: EIRL brain aneurysm (EIRL&#95;BA) was used in this study. The subjects were 117 UAN and/or ID cases including 100 UAN lesions (average sizes of 2.56 ± 1.45 mm) and 40 ID lesions (average sizes of 1.75 ± 0.41 mm) in any of internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior communicating artery, and 123 normal controls. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of EIRL&#95;BA were determined for UAN and ID or UAN only. Furthermore, the relationship between the lesion category and score was examined using a linear regression analysis model, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess whether the scores represent UAN-like characteristics., Results: EIRL&#95;BA showed a total of 203 candidates (an average of 1.73/case) in UAN and/or ID cases and 98 candidates (an average of 0.80/case) in normal controls. For diagnosing either UAN/ID, EIRL&#95;BA showed an overall sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 84.2%, and accuracy of 83.7%, resulting in the positive likelihood ratio of 5.0. For diagnosing UAN only, the overall sensitivity of 89.0, specificity of 82.6%, and accuracy of 83.2% resulting in the positive likelihood ratio of 5.1. In a linear regression analysis, the scores significantly increased in the candidates' first and second ranks in UAN (p < 0.05) but not in ID. An ROC analysis using the score for diagnosing UAN showed an area under the curve of 0.836., Conclusion: EIRL&#95;BA is applicable for detecting small UAN, and the CNN's final layer scores may be an effective index for discriminating UAN and ID and representing the likelihood of UAN., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: To date, the usefulness of parathyroid hormone [PTH (1-34)] in distraction osteogenesis has been reported in several studies. We aimed to determine the optimal timing of PTH (1-34) administration in a rabbit distraction osteogenesis model., Methods: The lower hind leg of a Japanese white rabbit was externally fixed, and tibial osteotomy was performed. One week after the osteotomy, bone lengthening was carried out at 0.375 mm/12 h for 2 weeks. After 5 weeks, the lower leg bone was collected. Bone mineral density (BMD), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and mechanical tests were performed on the distracted callus. The rabbits were divided into three groups according to the timing of PTH (1-34) administration: 4 weeks during the distraction and consolidation phases (group D + C), 2 weeks of the distraction phase (group D), and the first 2 weeks of the consolidation phase (group C). A control group (group N) was administered saline for 4 weeks during the distraction and consolidation phases. Furthermore, to obtain histological findings, lower leg bones were collected from each rabbit at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after osteotomy, and tissue sections of the distracted callus were examined histologically., Results: The BMD was highest in group C and was significantly higher than group D. In pQCT, the total cross-sectional area was significantly higher in groups D + C, D, and C than group N, and the cortical bone area was highest in group C and was significantly higher than group D. In micro-CT, group C had the highest bone mass and number of trabeculae. Regarding the mechanical test, group C had the highest callus failure strength, and this value was significantly higher compared to group N. There was no significant difference between groups D and N. The histological findings revealed that the distracted callus mainly consisted of endochondral ossification in the distraction phase. In the consolidation phase, the chondrocytes were almost absent, and intramembranous ossification was the main type of ossification., Conclusion: We found that the optimal timing of PTH (1-34) administration is during the consolidation phase, which is mainly characterized by intramembranous ossification., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Breast positron emission tomography (PET) has had insurance coverage when performed with conventional whole-body PET in Japan since 2013. Together with whole-body PET, accurate examination of breast cancer and diagnosis of metastatic disease are possible, and are expected to contribute significantly to its treatment planning. To facilitate a safer, smoother, and more appropriate examination, the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine published the first edition of practice guidelines for high-resolution breast PET in 2013. Subsequently, new types of breast PET have been developed and their clinical usefulness clarified. Therefore, the guidelines for breast PET were revised in 2019. This article updates readers as to what is new in the second edition. This edition supports two different types of breast PET depending on the placement of the detector: the opposite-type (positron emission mammography; PEM) and the ring-shaped type (dedicated breast PET; dbPET), providing an overview of these scanners and appropriate imaging methods, their clinical applications, and future prospects. The name "dedicated breast PET" from the first edition is widely used to refer to ring-shaped type breast PET. In this edition, "breast PET" has been defined as a term that refers to both opposite- and ring-shaped devices. Up-to-date breast PET practice guidelines would help provide useful information for evidence-based breast imaging.

We present a novel report on the use of bone scintigraphy in pembrolizumab-induced inflammatory arthritis. A 70-year-old man with lung cancer complained about arthralgia after 7 courses of the pembrolizumab therapy. Tc-HMDP bone scintigraphy revealed symmetrically strong uptakes in the major distal joints of the upper and lower extremities, thereby clearly identifying them as the affected joints. The pattern of uptakes was not consistent with that of other pathophysiologies including bone metastases, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis. Tc-HMDP bone scintigraphy is more practical and cost-effective compared with PET to reveal the affected joints in pembrolizumab-induced inflammatory arthritis.

Background: We investigate the association with knee flexion range of motion (ROM) during the acute phases and that at 12 months after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We also clarified the cut-off ROM during the acute phases in predicting the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months., Methods: In this retrospective study, 193 patients with knee osteoarthritis (female:144 patients, age:73.2 ± 7.7 years) who underwent unilateral TKA at an orthopedic clinic were recruited. They underwent assessments of knee flexion ROM at 5 days, 1 month, and 12 months after TKA. The goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months after TKA was set at 120°. Single and logistic-regression analyses were performed with the dependent variables including the outcome of the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months, and the independent variables included knee flexion ROM at 5 days and 1 month, separately. We calculated the cut-off ROM at 5 days and 1 month for predicting the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months with receiver operating curve analysis., Results: Knee flexion ROM at 5 days and 1 month were significantly associated with the goal of that at 12 months (p < 0.01). The cut-off ROM were 85° at 5 days and 105° at 1 month separately., Conclusions: Our results suggest the importance of early improvement in knee flexion ROM after TKA, and that at 1 month postoperatively indicates the likelihood of achievement of the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months after TKA., Competing Interests: None., (2020, JAPANESE PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION.)

Objective: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a severe complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Performing self-calf massage may decrease the incidence of DVT. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether self-calf massage is effective for preventing DVT after TKA., Method: In all, 165 patients participated in the present study. Patients were randomized to one of two groups: the self-calf massage group or the control group. In the control group, patients started regular physical therapy. In the self-calf massage group, in addition to regular physical therapy, patients were instructed to massage their calf muscles 30 times from the distal to proximal side. This procedure was repeated three times and was completed in 2 mins during the 2 days following TKA. All patients were evaluated for DVT on postoperative day 3 using lower limb vein ultrasonography., Results: The incidence of DVT was significantly lower in the self-calf massage group than in the control group. Self-calf massage was associated with a lower incidence of DVT, whereas age and female sex were risk factors for DVT., Conclusion: This study showed that the self-calf massage may be beneficial for the prevention of DVT after TKA., Competing Interests: None., (2020, JAPANESE PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION.)

Background and Purpose: We previously reported the usefulness of iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ( 123 I-MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy for differentiation of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a cross-sectional multicentre study. The aim of this study was, by using reassessed diagnosis after 3-year follow-up, to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 123 I-MIBG scintigraphy in differentiation of probable DLB from probable AD., Methods: We undertook 3-year follow-up of 133 patients with probable or possible DLB or probable AD who had undergone 123 I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy at baseline. An independent consensus panel made final diagnosis at 3-year follow-up. Based on the final diagnosis, we re-evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of 123 I-MIBG scintigraphy performed at baseline., Results: Sixty-five patients completed 3-year follow-up assessment. The final diagnoses were probable DLB (n=30), possible DLB (n=3) and probably AD (n=31), and depression (n=1). With a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratios for differentiating probable DLB from probable AD, the sensitivity/specificity were 0.77/0.94 for early images using 2.51 as the threshold of early H/M ratio, and 0.77/0.97 for delayed images using 2.20 as the threshold of delayed H/M ratio. Five of six patients who were diagnosed with possible DLB at baseline and with probable DLB at follow-up had low H/M ratio at baseline., Conclusions: Our follow-up study confirmed high correlation between abnormal cardiac sympathetic activity evaluated with 123 I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy at baseline and the clinical diagnosis of probable DLB at 3-year follow-up. Its diagnostic usefulness in early stage of DLB was suggested., Trial Registration Number: UMIN00003419., Competing Interests: Competing interests: HeA, TAr and KW received honoraria for sponsored lectures from Fujifilm RI Pharma. TAs and SY received honoraria for sponsored lectures and research grant from Fujifilm RI Pharma Co and Nihon Medi-Physics. HF, SN, SO, JT and MYo received honoraria for sponsored lectures from Fujifilm RI Pharma and Nihon Medi-Physics. HH and KUt received honoraria for sponsored lectures from Nihon Medi-Physics. EI received honoraria for consultancies, sponsored lectures and presiding at lecture meetings from Nihon Medi-Physics. OI received honoraria for sponsored lectures and travel costs from Nihon Medi-Physics. KKo received honoraria for sponsored lectures, writing and editing from Fujifilm RI Pharma, and honoraria for sponsored lectures from Nihon Medi-Physics. HM received honoraria for sponsored lectures and travel costs from Fujifilm RI Pharma and Nihon Medi-Physics. KNakaj has collaborative research works with Fujifilm RI Pharma and received research funds for joint research and honoraria for lectures and writing. KNakas received sponsored scholarship and honoraria for presiding at meetings from Fujifilm RI Pharma and honoraria for presiding at lecture meetings from Nihon Medi-Physics. EM received research grant from Fujifilm RI Pharma and honoraria for sponsored lectures from Nihon Medi-Physics and Fujifilm RI Pharma. TT received honoraria for sponsored lectures and presiding at lecture meetings from Nihon Medi-Physics. KUr received research grant from Fujifilm RI Pharma and honoraria for sponsored lectures from Nihon Medi-Physics. MYa received honoraria for sponsored lectures and research grant from Fujifilm RI Pharma. JY received sponsored scholarship, honoraria for sponsored lectures and travel costs from Fujifilm RI Pharma, and honoraria for sponsored lectures and research grant from Nihon Medi-Physics. JK, HiA, EI, KKa, KM, YM, HN, YN, MS, AT and YW declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis tenosynovitis is difficult to discriminate from non-tuberculous tenosynovitis on the basis of radiological and pathological findings. CASE REPORT A 74-year-old woman with a 4-year history of rheumatoid arthritis was referred to our hospital to undergo treatment for uncontrollable tenderness and swelling in her right third metacarpophalangeal joint, right wrist, and left knee joint. In the previous year, she underwent surgery at a local hospital for the swelling in her right metacarpophalangeal joint, the information of which was not known precisely, but the swelling subsided in due course after an operation. We treated the patient with infliximab (monthly intravenous infusions of 150 mg), but 2 months later, she complained of exacerbation of the swelling in her right third metacarpophalangeal joint and right wrist, and fluid discharge that contained Mycobacterium intracellulare. After synovectomy and aggressive debridement in the palmar side of the right wrist, she was diagnosed as having granulomatous tenosynovitis caused by the M. intracellulare infection and abundant rice body formation in the right carpal tunnel area. We considered the rice bodies inside and outside the bursa, along with a history of tenosynovitis exacerbation after initiation of infliximab therapy (tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor [TNFi]), to be related to the M. intracellular infection. CONCLUSIONS Tenosynovitis caused by atypical mycobacteria is uncommon and usually affects the hand or wrist. Therefore, for early diagnosis, mycobacterial infection should be considered in cases of indolent chronic granulomatous tenosynovitis, especially in RA cases that recur after TNFi therapy is started.

Background: We investigated the effects of diabetes mellitus on knee range of motion, muscle strength, and functional outcome after total knee arthroplasty., Methods: A total of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes and 20 patients without diabetes matched for age, body mass index, knee range of motion, and muscle strength at baseline participated in this study. We examined knee range of motion and muscle strength and assessed functional activities using the new Knee Society Score questionnaire for each patient 1 month preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively., Results: Patients with diabetes had significantly lower knee flexion and smaller improvements in the new Knee Society Score than patients without diabetes., Conclusion: Our results suggest that clinicians should treat and monitor patients with diabetes closely to prevent restricted knee range of motion and poorer functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Changes over time in the callus during intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied in rabbit distraction osteogenesis models., Method: Models of distraction osteogenesis in Japanese white rabbits were created, and distraction osteogenesis (total length: 10.5 mm) was performed for 2 weeks. Simultaneously with the start of distraction, 30 rabbits received 4 weeks of subcutaneous administration of 30 μg/kg of PTH(1-34), teriparatide, (P-group: n = 15) or saline (N-group: n = 15) every other day. The tibias of five rabbits were dissected at 6, 8, and 10 weeks after surgery to perform bone mineral density (BMD), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and mechanical testing., Results: The mean BMD had no significant differences over time at 6, 8, and 10 weeks after surgery between the P-group and the N-group. On pQCT, the P-group had significant increases in total bone cross-sectional area of the callus compared to the N-group at 8 and 10 weeks after surgery. On mechanical testing, the P-group's absorption energy had not changed at 6 weeks after surgery compared to the N-group, but it had significantly increased at 8 weeks. At 10 weeks after surgery, the N-group's absorption energy rapidly increased, and the difference between the two groups disappeared., Conclusion: The intermittent administration of PTH(1-34), teriparatide, for 4 weeks every other day from the start of distraction had the potential to shorten the callus maturation period in the rabbit distraction osteogenesis models.

Background and Purpose: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) needs to be distinguished from Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of important differences in patient management and outcome. Severe cardiac sympathetic degeneration occurs in DLB, but not in AD, offering a potential system for a biological diagnostic marker. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy, in the ante-mortem differentiation of probable DLB from probable AD, of cardiac imaging with the ligand 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) which binds to the noradrenaline reuptake site, in the first multicenter study., Methods: We performed a multicenter study in which we used 123I-MIBG scans to assess 133 patients with clinical diagnoses of probable (n = 61) or possible (n = 26) DLB or probable AD (n = 46) established by a consensus panel. Three readers, unaware of the clinical diagnosis, classified the images as either normal or abnormal by visual inspection. The heart-to-mediastinum ratios of 123I-MIBG uptake were also calculated using an automated region-of-interest based system., Results: Using the heart-to-mediastinum ratio calculated with the automated system, the sensitivity was 68.9% and the specificity was 89.1% to differentiate probable DLB from probable AD in both early and delayed images. By visual assessment, the sensitivity and specificity were 68.9% and 87.0%, respectively. In a subpopulation of patients with mild dementia (MMSE ≥ 22, n = 47), the sensitivity and specificity were 77.4% and 93.8%, respectively, with the delayed heart-to-mediastinum ratio., Conclusions: Our first multicenter study confirmed the high correlation between abnormal cardiac sympathetic activity evaluated with 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy and a clinical diagnosis of probable DLB. The diagnostic accuracy is sufficiently high for this technique to be clinically useful in distinguishing DLB from AD, especially in patients with mild dementia.

This study aimed to determine gait ability at hospital discharge in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as an indicator of the risk of falling. Fifty-seven patients undergoing primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. Gait variability measured with accelerometers and physical function including knee range of motion (ROM), quadriceps strength, walking speed, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were evaluated preoperatively and at discharge from the hospital (1 month before and 5 days after surgery). All patients were discharged directly home at 5 days after surgery. Knee flexion of ROM, quadriceps strength, walking speed, and the TUG test results were significantly worse at hospital discharge than preoperatively (p < 0.001). However, gait variability was not significantly different before and after TKA. This result indicated that patients following TKA surgery could walk at hospital discharge as stably as preoperatively regardless of the decrease in physical function, including knee ROM, quadriceps strength, and gait speed after surgery.

Introduction: A physical 3-dimensional phantom that simulates PET/SPECT images of static regional cerebral blood flow in grey matter with a realistic head contour has been developed. This study examined the feasibility of using this phantom for evaluating PET/SPECT images., Methods: The phantom was constructed using a transparent, hydrophobic photo-curable polymer with a laser-modelling technique. The phantom was designed to contain the grey matter, the skull, and the trachea spaces filled with a radioactive solution, a bone-equivalent solution of K(2)HPO(4), and air, respectively. The grey matter and bone compartments were designed to establish the connectivity. A series of experiments was performed to confirm the accuracy and reproducibility of the phantom using X-ray CT, SPECT, and PET., Results: The total weight was 1997 ± 2 g excluding the inner liquid, and volumes were 563 ± 1 and 306 ± 2 mL, corresponding to the grey matter and bone compartments, respectively. The apparent attenuation coefficient averaged over the whole brain was 0.168 ± 0.006 cm(-1) for Tc-99 m, which was consistent with the previously reported value for humans (0.168 ± 0.010 cm(-1)). Air bubbles were well removed from both grey-matter and bone compartments, as confirmed by X-ray CT. The phantom was well adapted to experiments using PET and SPECT devices., Conclusion: The 3-dimensional brain phantom constructed in this study may be of use for evaluating the adequacy of SPECT/PET reconstruction software programs.

Field surveys on persistent organic pollutant (POP) bioaccumulation were conducted with oysters, clams and scallops whose consumption amount accounted for large shares in the total consumption of shellfish in Japan. There was no numerical difference in bioaccumulation characteristics between oysters, clams, scallops, Corbicula and Mytilus galloprovincialis. Therefore, it was clear that the bioaccumulation characteristics in oysters, clams and scallops, which are important for food, could be ascertained by using the monitoring results with Corbicula and M. galloprovincialis which are easily sampled in various water areas in the world. Non-cancer risk (hazard quotient, HQ) and cancer risk (excess cancer risk, ΔR) via shellfish ranged from 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁴ and from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁷, respectively, at sampling points, which showed the risks of POP exposure via shellfish to be low enough. However, concerning the intake of other food, the importance of dieldrin monitoring should be suggested in Japan. Based on these results, the effectiveness of primary risk assessment could be suggested for screening chemicals whose preferential monitoring is needed.

Parathyroid glands arise from the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches. Parathyroid lesions sometimes develop ectopically. The aim of this article is to illustrate the knowledge of pharyngeal apparatus development to assist with diagnostic localization of ectopic parathyroid lesions. We retrospectively reviewed charts of 23 patients who received a diagnosis of ectopic parathyroid lesions. The ectopic lesions were widely distributed; cranially lesions were located on the carotid bifurcation, caudally in the right paraaortic region, ventrally on the surface of the sternohyoid muscle, and dorsally in the paraesophageal region. In most cases, parathyroid tissues were associated with structures related to the third or fourth pharyngeal pouches that traveled to regions where the ectopic lesions ultimately developed. In a few cases, lesions were not associated with these pouches and might have developed from parathyroid tissue that migrated due to an anomalous pathway of parathyroid travel. When patients present without entopic lesions, the presence of ectopic lesions should be evaluated based on an understanding of the developmental mechanisms of parathyroid glands and the frequency with which ectopic lesions have been found in specific locations. Systematic diagnosis can minimize the frequency with which ectopic lesions are missed during clinical care and maximize their accurate localization.

Few experts can deal appropriately with metastatic bone tumors in the present situation. We developed a questionnaire about zoledronic acid for doctors with several specialties, and analyzed the differences in treatment strategy among various doctors retrospectively. Breast surgeons, have used zoledronic acid appropriately based on accurate knowledge, but it has been used inappropriately by doctors of other specialties due to lack of knowledge. Development of new treatment for metastatic bone tumors is awaited, but there is a possibility of inappropriate use as with zoledronic acid because of lack of knowledge and experience. So a medical team is necessary to provide the most recent knowledge of metastatic bone tumor and to enlighten other doctors.

This survey was performed in order to investigate the incidence of adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals in FY2006 in Japan. It was based on responses to questionnaires sent to nuclear medicine institutions. The reply was obtained from 975 institutions among 1263 to which the questionnaire had been sent. Thirty-two cases of adverse reactions were reported. A total of 1,189,127 radiopharmaceutical administrations was reported. The incidence of adverse reactions per 100,000 cases was 2.7. Three cases of defect products were reported, and the incidence of defect products per 100,000 cases was 0.3.

Objective: Standards for myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) adapted for a Japanese population were not available. The purpose of this study was to create standard files approved by the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine and to make known the characteristics of the myocardial perfusion pattern of this population., Methods: With the collaboration of nine hospitals, a total of 326 sets of exercise-rest myocardial perfusion images were accumulated from subjects with a low likelihood of cardiac diseases. The normal database included a (99m)Tc-MIBI/tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion study with 360 degrees (n = 80) and 180 degrees (n = 56) rotations, (201)Tl study with 360 degrees (n = 115) and 180 degrees rotations (n = 54) and a dual-isotope study with 360 degrees rotation (n = 27). The projection images were transferred by digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format and reconstructed and analyzed with polar maps., Results: The projection data from multiple centers were successfully transferred to a common format for SPECT reconstruction. When the average values were analyzed using a 17-segment model, myocardial counts in the septal segment differed significantly between 180 degrees and 360 degrees rotation acquisitions. Regional differences were observed between men and women in the inferior and anterior regions. A tracer difference between (99m)Tc and (201)Tl was also observed in some segments. The attenuation patterns differed significantly between subjects from the United States and those from Japan., Conclusions: Myocardial perfusion data that were specific for the Japanese population were generated. The normal database can serve a standard for nuclear cardiology work conducted in Japan.

This survey was performed in order to investigate the incidence of adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals in FY2005 in Japan. It was based on responses to questionnaires sent to nuclear medicine institutions. The reply was obtained from 1,007 institutions among 1,243 to which the questionnaire had been sent. Nineteen cases of adverse reactions were reported. A total of 1,264,098 radiopharmaceutical administrations was reported. The incidence of adverse reactions per 100,000 cases was 1.5. Three cases of defect products were reported, and the incidence of defect products per 100,000 cases was 0.2.

Objective: [corrected] To determine the prognostic value of FDG-PET after surgical resection in patients with ovarian carcinoma, we compared the results of FDG-PET and serum CA-125 level and prognosis of patients., Methods: Eighteen patients underwent a total of 32 FDG-PET examinations following surgery for ovarian carcinoma from October 2001 to December 2002 at our hospital (median follow-up period, 31 months). Age of the patients at the time of the initial FDG-PET examination ranged from 31 to 73 years (mean 52 years) and the period from surgery to the initial FDG-PET examination ranged from 5 to 109 months (mean 30 months). Serum CA-125 levels were determined on the occasion of each FDG-PET examination. Recurrent tumors were treated with surgery in 5 cases, radiotherapy in 2 cases, and chemotherapy in 9 cases., Results: The initial FDG-PET examinations revealed that 13 cases had positive and 5 cases had negative findings, which included 2 false positive cases. The survival rate for all patients at 1 year and 2 years after the initial examination was 82% and 63%, respectively. Two-year survival rates in patients with positive and negative FDG-PET findings were 51% and 83%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.19). Furthermore, 4 patients with normal CA-125 levels and 14 patients with elevated CA-125 levels showed 2-year survival rates of 100% and 51%, respectively, and they were not significantly different (p = 0.11). For all 32 examinations, the 2-year survival rates for patients with normal CA-125 levels (100%) were significantly higher (p = 0.025) than that for patients with elevated CA-125 levels (47%), however there was no significant difference (p = 0.20) between FDG-PET positive cases (53%) and negative cases (83%). CONCLUSION The prognosis of patients with positive FDG-PET findings was less favorable than that of patients with negative findings. However, over the mean extended observation period of about 2.5 years, no significant difference in the prognosis of patients was observed between the two groups. The results of the present study indicate that elevated serum CA-125 levels may be more useful for evaluating the prognosis of ovarian cancer during the post-operative follow-up than FDG-PET findings.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is performed as surgical therapy for severe pulmonary emphysema. In assessing diagnostic imaging indications, emphysematous change is the strongest in the thoracic computed tomography (CT), while the accumulation decrease is most remarkable in ventilation scintigram and lung perfusion scintigram. Preoperative evaluation of imaging using multidetector-row CT (MDCT) and scintigram were performed, and the multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) image of the MD CT and the single photon emission CT (SPECT) image of the scintigram were fused by the workstation. It was possible to evaluate the excision and the range of LVRS easily by looking at the fused image, and it was useful in deciding on the surgical approach. It is believed that accurate, comprehensible imaging information contributed to an improvement in the surgical outcome of LVRS.

This survey was performed in order to investigate the incidence of adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals and defect products in FY2004 in Japan. It was based on responses to questionnaires sent to nuclear medicine institutions. The reply was obtained from 968 institutions among 1,220 to which the questionnaire had been sent. Sixteen cases of adverse reactions were reported. A total of 1,277,906 radiopharmaceutical administrations was reported. The incidence of adverse reactions per 100,000 cases was 1.3. Eight cases of defect products were reported, and the incidence of defect products per 100,000 cases was 0.6.