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Abdulaziz Al-Sugair

Publications and source records attributed to Abdulaziz Al-Sugair.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic utility of [(18)F]flu-orodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). METHODS: In this study, we used strict definitions of presence and absence of the disease and performed all FDG PET scans while the patients were not taking levothyroxine (LT4). We report the results of conventional FDG PET scans obtained during the follow-up of 50 nonselected patients with DTC (34 female and 16 male patients; median age, 40.5 years; range, 18 to 68). All FDG PET scans and measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were performed while the patients were not taking LT4 (thyrotropin>or=25 microIU/mL). Tg antibodies were negative in all patients. The initial surgical procedure was total thyroidectomy in all cases, and 26 patients underwent additional operations (2 to 4 procedures). Radioactive iodine (131I) therapy was given to 48 patients (median dose, 5,550 MBq). In 42 patients, FDG PET was used for evaluation of Tg-positive (Tg>2 ng/mL in the absence of LT4 therapy), scan-negative disease. In 8 patients, Tg was 2 ng/mL without LT4 therapy) for >1 year. Disease was considered absent if Tg was <or=2 ng/mL and at least all the following imaging studies were negative: diagnostic radioiodine whole-body scan, chest radiography or spiral computed tomography of the chest, and high-resolution neck ultrasonography. If all these criteria were present, a positive FDG PET scan was considered a false-positive study. RESULTS: FDG PET scans were positive in 27 patients (54%) and negative in 23 (46%). FDG PET results were true-positive in 26 cases, false-positive in 1, true-negative in 7, and false-negative in 16. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 61.9%, 87.5%, 96.3%, and 30.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: FDG PET scanning is moderately sensitive and specific for detection of persistent or recurrent DTC.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Overview of exercise stress testing.

Exercise stress testing is a non-invasive, safe and affordable screening test for coronary artery disease (CAD), provided there is careful patient selection for better predictive value. Patients at moderate risk for CAD are best served with this kind of screening, with the exception of females during their reproductive period, when a high incidence of false positive results has been reported. Patients with a high pretest probability for CAD should undergo stress testing combined with cardiac imaging or cardiac catheterization directly. Data from the test, other than ECG changes, should be taken into consideration when interpreting the exercise stress test since it has a strong prognostic value, i.e. workload, heart rate rise and recovery and blood pressure changes. Only a low-level exercise stress test can be performed early post myocardial infarction (first week), and a full exercise test should be delayed 4 to 6 weeks post uncomplicated myocardial infarction. The ECG interpretation with myocardial perfusion imaging follows the same criteria, but the sensitivity is much lower and the specificity is high enough to overrule the imaging part.

Contraindications↗