Evaluation and skeletal metastases

Sequential Imaging Characteristics and Potential Role of F18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/CT in the Evaluation of Treatment Response in Cases of Spinal Tuberculosis Without Neurological Involvement: Results From a Pilot Study

Purpose

In this non-randomized study, we prospectively studied the sequential imaging properties of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and evaluated the role of FDG PET as a non-invasive imaging modality for identifying non-responders during anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) of spinal tuberculosis (TB).

Methods

Before starting anti-tubercular treatment, 25 patients with clinically and radiological suspected; pathologically confirmed spinal TB had a pretreatment contrast-enhanced whole-body FDG PET scan, followed by scans at six, 12, and 18 months. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was computed, and the mean change in SUVmax was compared. The mean change in SUVmax was correlated with the clinicoradiological improvement. 

Result

In cases of spinal tuberculosis, the FDG PET scan can help identify extra-spinal and non-contagious involvement. In our 25 cases of spinal TB, the baseline peak SUVmax of lesions ranged from 6.3 to 28.5 (mean 14.8). Despite treatment, the condition progressed in two patients, and they had neurological deficits; in both cases, the SUVmax levels increased. The fall in SUVmax during the treatment course was statistically significant (p-value <0.05) and correlated well with the clinical improvement.

Conclusion

The inflammatory cells show increased uptake of F18 FDG, so uptake of radioactive tracer localizes and quantifies the disease activity; thus, FDG PET/CT holds a promising role as a sensitive non-invasive modality for the detection, staging, assessing disease activity, and monitoring therapy and deciding end point treatment in spinal TB.

Sarcoidosis-Lymphoma Syndrome Presenting As Bony Vertebral Metastasis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Sarcoidosis preceding a diagnosis of lymphoma has been a reported phenomenon termed sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome. Skeletal metastasis is extremely rare. Here, we detail a case of sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome presenting as a lumbar vertebral metastasis with suspected associated intracranial lesions. A 72-year-old man with a history of follicular lymphoma presented with symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) lesions with concurrent lumbar vertebral metastases visualized with CT and MRI. Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone (R-CHOP) with dexamethasone treatment resulted in significant radiographic regression of his intracranial lesions with dramatic symptomatic improvement. Out of concern for compression fracture of his lytic lumbar lesions, kyphoplasty with biopsy was performed showing lymphocytes that were positive for cluster-of-differentiation 10 (CD10), CD20, and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2). The patient was diagnosed with CNS and vertebral sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome and began treatment with high-dose methotrexate. Including the present case, only four occurrences of sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome with bony involvement have been described. We detail our own experience and summarize all previous literature. While rare, sarcoidosis-lymphoma may present with CNS and lytic bone involvement; in these cases, symptomatic severity, as well as an effective response to steroid treatment, underscore the importance of an accurate and prompt diagnosis.

Care of cancer patients with liver and bone metastases - the place of pharmaceutical care in a balanced plan, focused on the patient's needs and goals

Metastatic cancer, especially in the growing population of geriatric patients, presents a big challenge to these patients, as well as to treatment teams and the entire health care system. This article describes some common medical problems faced by patients with metastases to liver and bone, and presents a diagnostic approach, and therapeutic management of various symptoms, relevant to advanced stages of the malignant disease. The article highlights the importance of patient education on various aspects of metastatic cancer, and underscores the unique position of pharmacists practicing pharmaceutical care, which is particularly beneficial in this group of patients with advanced malignancy. Also, this paper emphasizes that achieving a proper balance between managing the malignant disease and maintaining the patients' quality of life, especially in the elderly population, should involve coordinated efforts of the oncology treatment team, primary care physicians, pharmacists, therapists and nurses, as well as patients, their families and caregivers.

Current imaging techniques in rheumatology: MRI, scintigraphy and PET

The first-line imaging technique for diagnosis inflammation in musculo-skeletal organs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is planar X-ray examination, which was for many years the first and the only single tool for RA diagnostics and response evaluation. Today, in the era of more aggressive RA treatment, ultrasound examination (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also frequently used. US is used to detect early signs of inflammation within the soft tissue. MRI allows to assess the soft tissue and bone marrow involvement in case of inflammation and/or infection. MRI is capable of detecting more inflammatory lesions and erosions than US, X-ray, or CT. Standard scintigraphy plays a crucial role, and data from positron emission tomography (PET) are also promising. These functional imaging techniques are used in detection of inflammation and/or infection in case of ambiguous results being obtained by other techniques or at other clinics. In patients with RA, scintigraphy plays a key role in the differential diagnosis of hip, knee, etc. endoprosthesis disorders, including mechanical or septic loosening.

Skeletal metastases - the role of the orthopaedic and spinal surgeon

Developments in oncological and medical therapies mean that life expectancy of patients with metastatic bone disease (MBD) is often measured in years. Complications of MBD may dramatically and irreversibly affect patient quality of life, making the careful assessment and appropriate management of these patients essential. The roles of orthopaedic and spinal surgeons in MBD generally fall into one of four categories: diagnostic, the prophylactic fixation of metastatic deposits at risk of impending fracture (preventative surgery), the stabilisation or reconstruction of bones affected by pathological fractures (reactive surgery), or the decompression and stabilisation of the vertebral column, spinal cord, and nerve roots. Several key principals should be adhered to whenever operating on skeletal metastases. Discussions should be held early with an appropriate multi-disciplinary team prior to intervention. Detailed pre-assessment is essential to gauge a patient's suitability for surgery - recovery from elective surgery must be shorter than the anticipated survival. Staging and biopsies provide prognostic information. Primary bone tumours must be ruled out in the case of a solitary bone lesion to avoid inappropriate intervention. Prophylactic surgical fixation of a lesion prior to a pathological fracture reduces morbidity and length of hospital stay. Regardless of a lesion or pathological fracture's location, all regions of the affected bone must be addressed, to reduce the risk of subsequent fracture. Surgical implants should allow full weight bearing or return to function immediately. Post-operative radiotherapy should be utilised in all cases to minimise disease progression. Spinal surgery should be considered for those with spinal pain due to potentially reversible spinal instability or neurological compromise. The opinion of a spinal surgeon should be sought early, as delays in referral directly correlate to worse functional recovery following intervention. Patients who suffer a slowly progressive deficit, present within hours of complete neurological deficit, or have compression caused by bone alone are those most likely to benefit from surgery. Back pain in the presence of MBD should be regarded as impending spinal cord compression, and investigated urgently to allow intervention prior to the development of neurological compromise.

The perioperative management of skeletal metastases

Bone metastasis is a common problem affecting a significant proportion of patients with metastatic cancer. Bone metastasis can present in a number of ways and the patients may need surgical stabilisation of their lesions. There are many important considerations in the care of these patients that need to be borne in mind including their increased anesthetic risks and potential risk of complications. There are continuous developments in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment with advances in imaging, orthopaedic technique and medication, particularly radiopharmaceuticals and cytotoxic, endocrine treatments with newer treatments based around the tumour cell-osteoclast interaction. Having a better understanding of these considerations and developments is important in allowing the optimisation of the care of the patient with bone metastasis.

Diagnostic bone scanning in oncology

Over the last several decades bone scanning has been used extensively in the evaluation of oncology patients to detect bone involvement. It can provide information about disease location, prognosis, and the effect of therapy. Bone scanning offers the advantages of whole body evaluation and the detection of lesions earlier than other techniques. However, as newer diagnostic tools become available, indications for bone scanning must be revised and the results combined with these other tests in order to provide optimum patient care. Advances in instrumentation and the subsequent improvement in image quality have allowed nuclear medicine physicians to provide more accurate bone scan interpretations. By optimizing image acquisition, it is often possible to determine lesion characteristics, which are more likely to represent malignancy. Knowledge of disease pathophysiology and other specific properties of the patient's primary tumor, along with subsequent correlation of scan abnormalities to patient history, physical examination, previous studies, and other radiological examinations, is essential for determining lesion significance. The differential diagnosis of a scan abnormality should also include consideration of both false normal and abnormal causes. The final interpretation should be clearly communicated to the clinician with appropriate recommendations for further evaluation. Only through careful attention to the patient, the clinician, and appropriate study acquisition parameters will bone scanning maintain its place in the evaluation of oncology patients.

Bone scintigraphy and multimodality imaging in bone neoplasia: strategies for imaging in the new health care climate

The integration of multiple imaging modalities in the assessment of musculoskeletal neoplasia is complex. Although no two instances are identical, certain guidelines can be gleaned from our experience as well as that reported in the literature. Assessment of most soft tissue masses is best carried forth with a combination of conventional radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Screening skeletal scintigraphy without localizing symptomatology that includes axial and appendicular skeleton is best carried out initially with bone scintigraphy. Screening the axial skeleton in the presence of clinical symptomatology or a strong suspicion of axial skeletal metastases or pathology is best implemented as a total spine screening examination with MRI and specialized pulsing sequences. Computed tomography is reserved primarily for assessment of cortical and juxtacortical lesions, fracture fragment positioning and/or configuration, and characterization of lesion matrix calcification or ossification when conventional radiographs are indeterminate. Although physical examination and conventional radiography still remain the initial medical algorithms used to evaluate possible musculoskeletal neoplasia, primary skeletal tumors may require multimodality imaging to segregate aggressive and nonaggressive processes. In this multimodality scenario, bone scintigraphy has a critical role in assisting with differentiation between malignant and benign neoplasms.