Cinzia Pettinato - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Cinzia Pettinato

Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, Jan 4, 2014

Current Radiopharmaceuticals, 2014

Circulation, Nov 23, 2010

Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting Abstracts, May 1, 2006

Future oncology (London, England), Jan 15, 2015

We analyzed overall survival (OS) following radioembolization according to macroscopic growth pat... more We analyzed overall survival (OS) following radioembolization according to macroscopic growth pattern (nodular vs infiltrative) and vascular invasion in intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between September 2005 and November 2013, 104 patients (50.0% portal vein thrombosis [PVT], 29.8% infiltrative morphology) were treated. Median OS differed significantly between patients with segmental and lobar or main PVT (p = 0.031), but was 17 months in both those with patent vessels and segmental PVT. Median OS did not differ for infiltrative and nodular HCC. Median OS was prolonged in patients with a treatment response at 3 months (p = 0.023). Prior TACE was also a significant predictor of improved OS. A further indication for radioembolization might be infiltrative HCC, since OS was similar to nodular types.

World Journal of Hepatology, 2015

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a form of brachytherapy in which intra-arterially injec... more Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a form of brachytherapy in which intra-arterially injected yttrium-90-loaded microspheres serve as a source for internal radiation purposes. On the average, it produces disease control rates exceeding 80% and it is a consolidated therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, current data are all based on retrospective series or non-controlled prospective studies since randomized controlled trials comparing it with the other liver-directed therapies for intermediate and locally advanced stage HCC are still underway. The data available show that TARE provides similar or even better survival rates when compared to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). First-line TARE is best indicated for both intermediate-stage patients (staged according to the barcelona clinic liver cancer staging classification) who have lesions which respond poorly to TACE due to multiple tumors or a large tumor burden, and for locally advanced-stage patients with solitary tumors, and segmental or lobar portal vein tumor thrombosis. In addition, emerging data have suggested the use of TARE in patients who are classified slightly beyond the Milan criteria regarding radical treatment for downstaging purposes. As a second-line treatment, TARE can also be applied in patients progressing to TACE or sorafenib; a large number of phase II/III trials are ongoing with the purpose of evaluating the best association with systemic therapies. Transarterial radioembolization is very well tolerated and has a low rate of complications which are mainly related to unintended non-target tissue irradiation, including the surrounding liver parenchyma. The complications can be additionally reduced by accurate patient selection and a strict pre-treatment evaluation including dosimetry and assessment of the vascular anatomy. Since a correct treatment algorithm for potential TARE candidates is not clear and standardized, this comprehensive review analyzes the best selection criteria for patients who really benefit from TARE and also the new advances of this therapy, which can be a very important weapon against HCC.

Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, 2014

A selective intra-arterial liver injection using yttrium-90-loaded microspheres as sources for in... more A selective intra-arterial liver injection using yttrium-90-loaded microspheres as sources for internal radiation therapy is a form of transarterial radioembolization (TARE). Current data from the literature suggest that TARE is effective in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with a low rate of adverse events; however, they are all based on retrospective series or non-controlled prospective studies, since randomized controlled trials comparing the other liver-directed therapies for intermediate and locally advanced stages HCC are still ongoing. The available data show that TARE provides similar or even better survival rates. TARE is very well tolerated and has a low rate of complications; these complications do not result from the embolic effects but mainly from the unintended irradiation to non-target tissue, including the liver parenchyma. The complications can be further reduced by accurate patient selection and a strict pre-treatment evaluation, including dosimetry and assessment of the vascular anatomy. First-line TARE is best indicated for intermediate-stage patients (according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] staging classification) who are poor candidates for transarterial chemoembolization or patients having locally advanced disease with segmental or lobar branch portal vein thrombosis. Moreover, data are emerging regarding the use of TARE in patients classified slightly above the criteria for liver transplantation with the purpose of downstaging them. TARE can also be applied as a second-line treatment in patients progressing to transarterial chemoembolization or sorafenib; a large number of Phase II/III trials are in progress in order to evaluate the best association with systemic therapies. Given the complexity of a correct treatment algorithm for potential TARE candidates and the need for clinical guidance, a comprehensive review was carried out analyzing both the best selection criteria of patients who really benefit from TARE and the new advances of this therapy which add significant value to the therapeutic weaponry against HCC.

Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver, Jan 16, 2015

There is no doubt that resin and glass (90) Y-loaded microspheres have different specific activit... more There is no doubt that resin and glass (90) Y-loaded microspheres have different specific activities (Bq per sphere) and, hence, the total amount of spheres needed to ensure an adequate radiobiological effect is different. Therefore, we may agree to the semantic issue put forward by Dr. Garin et al. However, we disagree with the argument that the use of the term radioembolization would generate a misinterpretation of the substantial (clinical) message we provided by comparing selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with systemic therapy based on sorafenib administration. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence that one type of microspheres (glass or resin) is superior to the other one for the outcomes we considered, i.e. tumor response, toxicity and patient survival. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 2005

This study evaluated the potential usefulness of (11)C-choline PET/CT for detection and localizat... more This study evaluated the potential usefulness of (11)C-choline PET/CT for detection and localization of tumors within the prostate. We used the results of step-section histopathologic examination as the standard of reference. The results were analyzed on a sextant basis. We reviewed the results of the (11)C-choline PET/CT scans of 36 patients with prostate cancer and of 5 control subjects with bladder cancer. All patients underwent (11)C-choline PET/CT and, subsequently, radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection within 1 mo. (11)C-Choline PET/CT scans were obtained 5-10 min after intravenous injection of 370-555 MBq of (11)C-choline. Images were reviewed visually and semiquantitatively using maximum SUV and tumor-to-background ratio. On a sextant basis, histopathologic analysis detected cancer foci in 143 of 216 sextants; high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasm foci were detected in 89 of 216 sextants (in 59 sextants in association with carcinoma, in 30 sextants alone), ...

Current radiopharmaceuticals, 2014

Alterations of the cardiac autonomic nervous system play an important role in the pathway of many... more Alterations of the cardiac autonomic nervous system play an important role in the pathway of many heart diseases. Nuclear imaging tools have been demonstrated to be useful for global and regional assessment of myocardial innervation. We used (11)C-meta-hydroxy-ephedrine ((11)C-mHED), a catecholamine analogue, as a radiotracer usable with a PET/CT scanner to study the cardiac sympathetic system. After a fast and automatic synthesis of mHED and its labeling with (11)C, we acquired cardiac images by using a PET/ CT scanner. In this paper we present our preliminary results showing the radiotracer bio-distribution in humans 10 minutes post injection. The present study assesses the feasibility of PET/CT with the radiolabeled catecholamine analogue ((11)C-mHED) in order to determine sympathetic innervation in the human heart.

Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting Abstracts, May 1, 2007

La radiologia medica, 2015

The target lesion response (according to the Choi criteria), safety and survival following select... more The target lesion response (according to the Choi criteria), safety and survival following selective or superselective transarterial radioembolisation using yttrium-90-resin microspheres ((90)Y-RE) were evaluated in patients with unresectable, chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer liver metastases (mCRC). A prospective case series evaluated 52 consecutive patients with mCRC who were treated at a single centre following a median of 2 lines of chemotherapy. Nearly half (46.2 %) of the 52 patients had a prior resection of the liver. At baseline, mCRC was limited to the liver (in 56.9 %), liver plus extra-hepatic metastases (23.5 %) or liver plus lung micro-nodules (19.6 %). Disease control rates of target lesions (partial response plus stable disease) at 3 and 6 months post-(90)Y-RE were 59 and 29 %, respectively. Target lesions were sufficiently downsized in two patients for hepatic resection and in one patient for radiofrequency ablation. Median Kaplan-Meier survival was 11.0 months (95 % confidence interval: 8.0-14.0 months) overall and 12.0 months in liver-only disease (±lung micro-nodules). Determinants of prolonged survival were response at 3 months (P = 0.046), ≤5 liver nodules (P = 0.004), single-liver-lobe involvement (P = 0.037), tumour-to-whole liver ratio <25 % (P = 0.021) and absence of extrahepatic metastases (P = 0.045). Adverse events possibly related to the nontarget distribution of (90)Y-RE were grade 1 (90)Y-RE-induced liver disease (n = 1), grade 2 and 3 gastric ulcers (n = 2). These results confirm the effectiveness and safety of selective (90)Y-RE in patients with chemotherapy-refractory mCRC, showing (90)Y-RE's potential as a bridging therapy to subsequent resection even in this end-stage population.

Liver International, 2014

Background & Aims: Sorafenib and transarterial 90 Y-radioembolization (TARE) are possible treatme... more Background & Aims: Sorafenib and transarterial 90 Y-radioembolization (TARE) are possible treatments for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate-advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). No study directly comparing sorafenib and TARE is currently available. This singlecentre retrospective study compares the outcomes achieved with sorafenib and TARE in HCC patients potentially amenable to either therapy. Methods: Seventy-four sorafenib (71 ± 10 years, male 87%, BCLC B/C 53%/47%) and 63 TARE HCC patients (66 ± 9 years, male 79%, BCLC B/C 41%/59%) were included based on the following criteria: Child-Pugh class A/B, performance status ≤1, HCC unfit for other effective therapies, no metastases and no previous systemic chemotherapy. Results: Median overall survivals of the two groups were comparable, being 14.4 months (95% CI: 4.3-24.5) in sorafenib and 13.2 months (95% CI: 6.1-20.2) in TARE patients, with 1-, 2and 3-year survival rates of 52.1%, 29.3% and 14.7% vs 51.8%, 27.8% and 21.6% respectively. Two TARE patients underwent liver transplantation after successful down-staging. To minimize the impact of confounding factors on survival analysis, propensity model matched 32 patients of each group for median age, tumour gross pathology and the independent prognostic factors (portal vein thrombosis, performance status, Model for End Liver Disease). Even after matching, the median survival did not differ between sorafenib (13.1 months; 95% CI: 1.2-25.9) and TARE patients (11.2 months; 95% CI: 6.7-15.7), with comparable 1-, 2-and 3-year survival rates. Conclusions: In cirrhotic patients with intermediate-advanced or not-otherwise-treatable HCC, sorafenib and TARE provide similar survivals. Down-staging allowing liver transplantation only occurred after TARE.

Background: Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), due to intramyocardial deposition of wild-type tra... more Background: Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), due to intramyocardial deposition of wild-type transthyretin (TTR), is often mistaken as hypertensive heart disease (HHD) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In patients with amyloidotic cardiomyopathy 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy can differentiate between TTR (mutant and wild-type) and primary amyloidosis. We assessed the diagnostic performance of 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy in the non-invasive identiication of SSA in a clinical context of elderly patients with unexplained concentric left ventricular (LV) "hypertrophy".

Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2010

The aim of this work was to preliminarily evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predict... more The aim of this work was to preliminarily evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of 68 Ga-citrate PET/CT in a population of patients with suspected bone infections. Methods: We enrolled 31 patients with suspected osteomyelitis or diskitis who underwent a total of forty 68 Ga-citrate PET/CT scans. The results were compared with different combinations of diagnostic procedures (MRI, radiography, CT, or white blood cell scintigraphy), biopsy (when diagnostic), and follow-up data (at least 1 y) to determine the performance of 68 Ga-citrate PET/CT. Results: We found a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 76%, a positive predictive value of 85%, a negative predictive value of 100%, and an overall accuracy of 90%. Conclusion: Although preliminary, these data confirm a possible role for 68 Ga-citrate in the diagnosis of bone infections, especially in consideration of its favorable characteristics.

JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2012

Example of tracts reconstructed with manually picked seeds, always chosen near the pulmonary arte... more Example of tracts reconstructed with manually picked seeds, always chosen near the pulmonary artery, on simplified tractography. J A C C : C A R D I O V A S C U L A R I M A G I N G , V O L . 5 , N O . 7 , 2 0 1 2 J U L Y 2 0 1 2 : 7 5 4 -6 4 Figure 2. 99m Tc-DPD Heart Retention and Heart/Whole-Body Retention Ratio in Patients With SSA, ATTR, or HCM

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 2013

We assessed the rate of detection rate of recurrent prostate cancer by PET/CT using anti-3-(18)F-... more We assessed the rate of detection rate of recurrent prostate cancer by PET/CT using anti-3-(18)F-FACBC, a new synthetic amino acid, in comparison to that using (11)C-choline as part of an ongoing prospective single-centre study. Included in the study were 15 patients with biochemical relapse after initial radical treatment of prostate cancer. All the patients underwent anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT and (11)C-choline PET/CT within a 7-day period. The detection rates using the two compounds were determined and the target-to-background ratios (TBR) of each lesion are reported. No adverse reactions to anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT were noted. On a patient basis, (11)C-choline PET/CT was positive in 3 patients and negative in 12 (detection rate 20%), and anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT was positive in 6 patients and negative in 9 (detection rate 40%). On a lesion basis, (11)C-choline detected 6 lesions (4 bone, 1 lymph node, 1 local relapse), and anti-3-(18)F-FACBC detected 11 lesions (5 bone, 5 lymph node, 1 local relapse). All (11)C-choline-positive lesions were also identified by anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT. The TBR of anti-3-(18)F-FACBC was greater than that of (11)C-choline in 8/11 lesions, as were image quality and contrast. Our preliminary results indicate that anti-3-(18)F-FACBC may be superior to (11)C-choline for the identification of disease recurrence in the setting of biochemical failure. Further studies are required to assess efficacy of anti-3-(18)F-FACBC in a larger series of prostate cancer patients.

Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, Jan 4, 2014

Current Radiopharmaceuticals, 2014

Circulation, Nov 23, 2010

Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting Abstracts, May 1, 2006

Future oncology (London, England), Jan 15, 2015

We analyzed overall survival (OS) following radioembolization according to macroscopic growth pat... more We analyzed overall survival (OS) following radioembolization according to macroscopic growth pattern (nodular vs infiltrative) and vascular invasion in intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between September 2005 and November 2013, 104 patients (50.0% portal vein thrombosis [PVT], 29.8% infiltrative morphology) were treated. Median OS differed significantly between patients with segmental and lobar or main PVT (p = 0.031), but was 17 months in both those with patent vessels and segmental PVT. Median OS did not differ for infiltrative and nodular HCC. Median OS was prolonged in patients with a treatment response at 3 months (p = 0.023). Prior TACE was also a significant predictor of improved OS. A further indication for radioembolization might be infiltrative HCC, since OS was similar to nodular types.

World Journal of Hepatology, 2015

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a form of brachytherapy in which intra-arterially injec... more Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a form of brachytherapy in which intra-arterially injected yttrium-90-loaded microspheres serve as a source for internal radiation purposes. On the average, it produces disease control rates exceeding 80% and it is a consolidated therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, current data are all based on retrospective series or non-controlled prospective studies since randomized controlled trials comparing it with the other liver-directed therapies for intermediate and locally advanced stage HCC are still underway. The data available show that TARE provides similar or even better survival rates when compared to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). First-line TARE is best indicated for both intermediate-stage patients (staged according to the barcelona clinic liver cancer staging classification) who have lesions which respond poorly to TACE due to multiple tumors or a large tumor burden, and for locally advanced-stage patients with solitary tumors, and segmental or lobar portal vein tumor thrombosis. In addition, emerging data have suggested the use of TARE in patients who are classified slightly beyond the Milan criteria regarding radical treatment for downstaging purposes. As a second-line treatment, TARE can also be applied in patients progressing to TACE or sorafenib; a large number of phase II/III trials are ongoing with the purpose of evaluating the best association with systemic therapies. Transarterial radioembolization is very well tolerated and has a low rate of complications which are mainly related to unintended non-target tissue irradiation, including the surrounding liver parenchyma. The complications can be additionally reduced by accurate patient selection and a strict pre-treatment evaluation including dosimetry and assessment of the vascular anatomy. Since a correct treatment algorithm for potential TARE candidates is not clear and standardized, this comprehensive review analyzes the best selection criteria for patients who really benefit from TARE and also the new advances of this therapy, which can be a very important weapon against HCC.

Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, 2014

A selective intra-arterial liver injection using yttrium-90-loaded microspheres as sources for in... more A selective intra-arterial liver injection using yttrium-90-loaded microspheres as sources for internal radiation therapy is a form of transarterial radioembolization (TARE). Current data from the literature suggest that TARE is effective in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with a low rate of adverse events; however, they are all based on retrospective series or non-controlled prospective studies, since randomized controlled trials comparing the other liver-directed therapies for intermediate and locally advanced stages HCC are still ongoing. The available data show that TARE provides similar or even better survival rates. TARE is very well tolerated and has a low rate of complications; these complications do not result from the embolic effects but mainly from the unintended irradiation to non-target tissue, including the liver parenchyma. The complications can be further reduced by accurate patient selection and a strict pre-treatment evaluation, including dosimetry and assessment of the vascular anatomy. First-line TARE is best indicated for intermediate-stage patients (according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] staging classification) who are poor candidates for transarterial chemoembolization or patients having locally advanced disease with segmental or lobar branch portal vein thrombosis. Moreover, data are emerging regarding the use of TARE in patients classified slightly above the criteria for liver transplantation with the purpose of downstaging them. TARE can also be applied as a second-line treatment in patients progressing to transarterial chemoembolization or sorafenib; a large number of Phase II/III trials are in progress in order to evaluate the best association with systemic therapies. Given the complexity of a correct treatment algorithm for potential TARE candidates and the need for clinical guidance, a comprehensive review was carried out analyzing both the best selection criteria of patients who really benefit from TARE and the new advances of this therapy which add significant value to the therapeutic weaponry against HCC.

Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver, Jan 16, 2015

There is no doubt that resin and glass (90) Y-loaded microspheres have different specific activit... more There is no doubt that resin and glass (90) Y-loaded microspheres have different specific activities (Bq per sphere) and, hence, the total amount of spheres needed to ensure an adequate radiobiological effect is different. Therefore, we may agree to the semantic issue put forward by Dr. Garin et al. However, we disagree with the argument that the use of the term radioembolization would generate a misinterpretation of the substantial (clinical) message we provided by comparing selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with systemic therapy based on sorafenib administration. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence that one type of microspheres (glass or resin) is superior to the other one for the outcomes we considered, i.e. tumor response, toxicity and patient survival. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 2005

This study evaluated the potential usefulness of (11)C-choline PET/CT for detection and localizat... more This study evaluated the potential usefulness of (11)C-choline PET/CT for detection and localization of tumors within the prostate. We used the results of step-section histopathologic examination as the standard of reference. The results were analyzed on a sextant basis. We reviewed the results of the (11)C-choline PET/CT scans of 36 patients with prostate cancer and of 5 control subjects with bladder cancer. All patients underwent (11)C-choline PET/CT and, subsequently, radical prostatectomy with lymph node dissection within 1 mo. (11)C-Choline PET/CT scans were obtained 5-10 min after intravenous injection of 370-555 MBq of (11)C-choline. Images were reviewed visually and semiquantitatively using maximum SUV and tumor-to-background ratio. On a sextant basis, histopathologic analysis detected cancer foci in 143 of 216 sextants; high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasm foci were detected in 89 of 216 sextants (in 59 sextants in association with carcinoma, in 30 sextants alone), ...

Current radiopharmaceuticals, 2014

Alterations of the cardiac autonomic nervous system play an important role in the pathway of many... more Alterations of the cardiac autonomic nervous system play an important role in the pathway of many heart diseases. Nuclear imaging tools have been demonstrated to be useful for global and regional assessment of myocardial innervation. We used (11)C-meta-hydroxy-ephedrine ((11)C-mHED), a catecholamine analogue, as a radiotracer usable with a PET/CT scanner to study the cardiac sympathetic system. After a fast and automatic synthesis of mHED and its labeling with (11)C, we acquired cardiac images by using a PET/ CT scanner. In this paper we present our preliminary results showing the radiotracer bio-distribution in humans 10 minutes post injection. The present study assesses the feasibility of PET/CT with the radiolabeled catecholamine analogue ((11)C-mHED) in order to determine sympathetic innervation in the human heart.

Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting Abstracts, May 1, 2007

La radiologia medica, 2015

The target lesion response (according to the Choi criteria), safety and survival following select... more The target lesion response (according to the Choi criteria), safety and survival following selective or superselective transarterial radioembolisation using yttrium-90-resin microspheres ((90)Y-RE) were evaluated in patients with unresectable, chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer liver metastases (mCRC). A prospective case series evaluated 52 consecutive patients with mCRC who were treated at a single centre following a median of 2 lines of chemotherapy. Nearly half (46.2 %) of the 52 patients had a prior resection of the liver. At baseline, mCRC was limited to the liver (in 56.9 %), liver plus extra-hepatic metastases (23.5 %) or liver plus lung micro-nodules (19.6 %). Disease control rates of target lesions (partial response plus stable disease) at 3 and 6 months post-(90)Y-RE were 59 and 29 %, respectively. Target lesions were sufficiently downsized in two patients for hepatic resection and in one patient for radiofrequency ablation. Median Kaplan-Meier survival was 11.0 months (95 % confidence interval: 8.0-14.0 months) overall and 12.0 months in liver-only disease (±lung micro-nodules). Determinants of prolonged survival were response at 3 months (P = 0.046), ≤5 liver nodules (P = 0.004), single-liver-lobe involvement (P = 0.037), tumour-to-whole liver ratio <25 % (P = 0.021) and absence of extrahepatic metastases (P = 0.045). Adverse events possibly related to the nontarget distribution of (90)Y-RE were grade 1 (90)Y-RE-induced liver disease (n = 1), grade 2 and 3 gastric ulcers (n = 2). These results confirm the effectiveness and safety of selective (90)Y-RE in patients with chemotherapy-refractory mCRC, showing (90)Y-RE's potential as a bridging therapy to subsequent resection even in this end-stage population.

Liver International, 2014

Background & Aims: Sorafenib and transarterial 90 Y-radioembolization (TARE) are possible treatme... more Background & Aims: Sorafenib and transarterial 90 Y-radioembolization (TARE) are possible treatments for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate-advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). No study directly comparing sorafenib and TARE is currently available. This singlecentre retrospective study compares the outcomes achieved with sorafenib and TARE in HCC patients potentially amenable to either therapy. Methods: Seventy-four sorafenib (71 ± 10 years, male 87%, BCLC B/C 53%/47%) and 63 TARE HCC patients (66 ± 9 years, male 79%, BCLC B/C 41%/59%) were included based on the following criteria: Child-Pugh class A/B, performance status ≤1, HCC unfit for other effective therapies, no metastases and no previous systemic chemotherapy. Results: Median overall survivals of the two groups were comparable, being 14.4 months (95% CI: 4.3-24.5) in sorafenib and 13.2 months (95% CI: 6.1-20.2) in TARE patients, with 1-, 2and 3-year survival rates of 52.1%, 29.3% and 14.7% vs 51.8%, 27.8% and 21.6% respectively. Two TARE patients underwent liver transplantation after successful down-staging. To minimize the impact of confounding factors on survival analysis, propensity model matched 32 patients of each group for median age, tumour gross pathology and the independent prognostic factors (portal vein thrombosis, performance status, Model for End Liver Disease). Even after matching, the median survival did not differ between sorafenib (13.1 months; 95% CI: 1.2-25.9) and TARE patients (11.2 months; 95% CI: 6.7-15.7), with comparable 1-, 2-and 3-year survival rates. Conclusions: In cirrhotic patients with intermediate-advanced or not-otherwise-treatable HCC, sorafenib and TARE provide similar survivals. Down-staging allowing liver transplantation only occurred after TARE.

Background: Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), due to intramyocardial deposition of wild-type tra... more Background: Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), due to intramyocardial deposition of wild-type transthyretin (TTR), is often mistaken as hypertensive heart disease (HHD) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In patients with amyloidotic cardiomyopathy 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy can differentiate between TTR (mutant and wild-type) and primary amyloidosis. We assessed the diagnostic performance of 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy in the non-invasive identiication of SSA in a clinical context of elderly patients with unexplained concentric left ventricular (LV) "hypertrophy".

Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2010

The aim of this work was to preliminarily evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predict... more The aim of this work was to preliminarily evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of 68 Ga-citrate PET/CT in a population of patients with suspected bone infections. Methods: We enrolled 31 patients with suspected osteomyelitis or diskitis who underwent a total of forty 68 Ga-citrate PET/CT scans. The results were compared with different combinations of diagnostic procedures (MRI, radiography, CT, or white blood cell scintigraphy), biopsy (when diagnostic), and follow-up data (at least 1 y) to determine the performance of 68 Ga-citrate PET/CT. Results: We found a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 76%, a positive predictive value of 85%, a negative predictive value of 100%, and an overall accuracy of 90%. Conclusion: Although preliminary, these data confirm a possible role for 68 Ga-citrate in the diagnosis of bone infections, especially in consideration of its favorable characteristics.

JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2012

Example of tracts reconstructed with manually picked seeds, always chosen near the pulmonary arte... more Example of tracts reconstructed with manually picked seeds, always chosen near the pulmonary artery, on simplified tractography. J A C C : C A R D I O V A S C U L A R I M A G I N G , V O L . 5 , N O . 7 , 2 0 1 2 J U L Y 2 0 1 2 : 7 5 4 -6 4 Figure 2. 99m Tc-DPD Heart Retention and Heart/Whole-Body Retention Ratio in Patients With SSA, ATTR, or HCM

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 2013

We assessed the rate of detection rate of recurrent prostate cancer by PET/CT using anti-3-(18)F-... more We assessed the rate of detection rate of recurrent prostate cancer by PET/CT using anti-3-(18)F-FACBC, a new synthetic amino acid, in comparison to that using (11)C-choline as part of an ongoing prospective single-centre study. Included in the study were 15 patients with biochemical relapse after initial radical treatment of prostate cancer. All the patients underwent anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT and (11)C-choline PET/CT within a 7-day period. The detection rates using the two compounds were determined and the target-to-background ratios (TBR) of each lesion are reported. No adverse reactions to anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT were noted. On a patient basis, (11)C-choline PET/CT was positive in 3 patients and negative in 12 (detection rate 20%), and anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT was positive in 6 patients and negative in 9 (detection rate 40%). On a lesion basis, (11)C-choline detected 6 lesions (4 bone, 1 lymph node, 1 local relapse), and anti-3-(18)F-FACBC detected 11 lesions (5 bone, 5 lymph node, 1 local relapse). All (11)C-choline-positive lesions were also identified by anti-3-(18)F-FACBC PET/CT. The TBR of anti-3-(18)F-FACBC was greater than that of (11)C-choline in 8/11 lesions, as were image quality and contrast. Our preliminary results indicate that anti-3-(18)F-FACBC may be superior to (11)C-choline for the identification of disease recurrence in the setting of biochemical failure. Further studies are required to assess efficacy of anti-3-(18)F-FACBC in a larger series of prostate cancer patients.