Incidental Findings of Malignancy of the Chest by Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (SPECT-CT MPI): One Year Follow-Up Report

Incidental renal masses on SPECT/CT and PET/CT

While the presence of incidental breast and lung masses on cardiac scans is well known, renal masses are often incidentally discovered as well on cardiac examinations, some of which are malignant. We searched the electronic medical record system over the past 18 years, since the system was installed, for patients with a cardiac rubidium-82 (⁸²Rb) rubidium PET/CT or technetium-99m (^99mTc) sestamibi SPECT/CT performed within 1 year of a renal-protocol CT or MR. Each PET/CT or SPECT/CT was examined for presence of a renal lesion on the attenuation-correction CT images. We found 43 SPECT/CT and 18 PET/CT studies which fit the desired criteria. Of these, 7 SPECT/CT studies and 2 PET/CT studies demonstrated the renal mass on at least one of the two sets of CT images (rest or stress); if not visible, most commonly the tumor was either out of the field of view or had already been removed. Of these, 6 SPECT/CT and 2 PET/CT studies demonstrated a malignancy. Cardiac SPECT/CT and PET/CT images demonstrate incidental renal masses with a non-negligible frequency, and CT images should be carefully examined.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of CT perfusion parameters in patients with advanced NSCLC after chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the short-term prognostic value of Computed Tomography (CT) perfusion parameters in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after chemotherapy.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with NSCLC who received concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy were enrolled. Before therapy, CT perfusion imaging was conducted to scan their local lesions. Then, the CT perfusion-associated parameters were recorded, and evaluated. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), 42 out of 60 patients had remission after chemotherapy. The blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability surface (PS) of the two groups were analyzed before therapy, and factors and parameters affecting the efficacy of concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy were discussed.

RESULTS

After chemotherapy, patients with remission showed lower BF, BV, and PS levels in pulmonary lesions than those without remission (all P<0.05). According to the 1-year follow-up results, 33 cases survived, and 27 cases died, and the survivors showed lower BF and PS levels than the dead (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with lower BF and PS in CT perfusion parameters obtained better chemotherapy efficacy, so BF and PS can be adopted to predict the survival of patients.