tellurium and Bone-Neoplasms

Functional nuclear medicine imaging with single-photon emission CT (SPECT) in combination with anatomical CT has been commercially available since the beginning of this century. The combination of the two modalities has improved both the sensitivity and specificity of many clinical applications and CT in conjunction with SPECT that allows for spatial overlay of the SPECT data on good anatomy images. Introduction of diagnostic CT units as part of the SPECT/CT system has also potentially allowed for a more cost-efficient use of the equipment. Most of the SPECT systems available are based on the well-known Anger camera principle with NaI(Tl) as a scintillation material, parallel-hole collimators and multiple photomultiplier tubes, which, from the centroid of the scintillation light, determine the position of an event. Recently, solid-state detectors using cadmium-zinc-telluride became available and clinical SPECT cameras employing multiple pinhole collimators have been developed and introduced in the market. However, even if new systems become available with better hardware, the SPECT reconstruction will still be affected by photon attenuation and scatter and collimator response. Compensation for these effects is needed even for qualitative studies to avoid artefacts leading to false positives. This review highlights the recent progress for both new SPECT cameras systems as well as for various data-processing and compensation methods.

Topics: Bone Neoplasms; Cadmium; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Multimodal Imaging; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; Parathyroid Neoplasms; Prostatic Neoplasms; Radiation Dosage; Tellurium; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Zinc

To evaluate the feasibility of short whole-body bone scan acquisition times using a novel gamma camera with cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) semiconductor detectors.. We retrospectively enrolled 78 consecutive patients with prostate cancer who underwent bone scintigraphy using a whole-body gamma camera with CZT detectors. After acquisition of list-mode data with 180 s per bed position, anterior and posterior whole-body images were reconstructed using the first 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the list-mode data. Two experienced nuclear medicine physicians interpreted the images, and interrater agreement and the diagnostic value of the images were determined. Quantitative artificial neural network (ANN) values, bone scan indexes (BSI) and hotspot numbers (HsN) were also calculated by automated diagnostic software.. Excellent interrater reliabilities of the visual assessments were obtained for the 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% images (κ = 0.88, 0.88, 0.88 and 0.88, respectively). The 5% images also showed high diagnostic value (sensitivity 0.94, specificity 0.84 and accuracy 0.86). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) between the 100% images and the reduced acquisition time images were evaluated in quantitative analyses, and excellent correlations were observed for ANN value in the 75% images (ICC 0.77), for BSI in all the reduced acquisition time images (75%, 50%, 25%, 10% and 5%; ICC 0.99, 0.99, 0.99, 0.96 and 0.75, respectively), and for HsN in the 75%, 50%, 25% and 10% images (ICC 0.99, 0.99, 0.98 and 0.90, respectively).. Whole-body gamma cameras with CZT detectors have the potential to reduce image acquisition times and the dose of radioisotope injected for bone scans.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Neoplasms; Cadmium; Gamma Cameras; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prostatic Neoplasms; Sensitivity and Specificity; Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography; Tellurium; Whole Body Imaging; Zinc

Radiopharmaceuticals have been successfully used to detect occult neoplasms and infective lesions. Bone scans using 99mTc-labelled methylene diphosphonate located osteoid osteomas accurately in a series of 30 symptomatic patients. A portable radiation detector system has been designed to help intra-operative localisation and facilitate complete excision of the lesions with minimal damage to normal tissue. A sodium iodide detector with a fibre-optic link was used at first, but a cadmium telluride system has provided a more durable, reliable and sensitive sterilisable probe.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bone Neoplasms; Cadmium; Cadmium Compounds; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Intraoperative Period; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoma, Osteoid; Radionuclide Imaging; Sodium Iodide; Tellurium