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Ghassan El-Haddad

Publications and source records attributed to Ghassan El-Haddad.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Quantitative assessment of the atherosclerotic burden of the aorta by combined FDG-PET and CT image analysis: a new concept.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to develop a technique for quantifying the extent of atherosclerosis in the aorta by combining standard uptake values (SUVs) in the aortic wall with volumetric data provided by computed tomography (CT). METHODS: Eighteen patients who had both 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and contrast-enhanced CT of the chest and abdomen were selected. All had homogeneous diffuse FDG wall uptake in four segments of the aorta. We divided the patients into three groups according to their age and measured FDG uptake in all four segments of the aorta by calculating the mean SUV for each segment. On each axial CT image, region-of-interest tracings along the inner and outer wall contours of the aorta were generated. The inner surface area was subtracted from the outer surface area. The net area values for each segment were subsequently multiplied by slice thickness to calculate arterial wall volume. By multiplying SUV with wall volume, we were able to calculate the atherosclerotic burden (AB) for each segment of the aorta. We compared the aortic wall volumes, SUVs and AB values in each arterial segment for each age group. RESULTS: In each aortic wall segment, AB values, SUVs and wall volumes increased with age (P<.05). CONCLUSION: AB can be used as an indicator of the extent of the atherosclerotic process in the aorta through the use of both metabolic and morphologic data provided by FDG-PET and CT, respectively. This may allow for the optimal screening, diagnosis and management of patients with this common and potentially lethal disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Malignant lesions can mimic gastric uptake on FDG PET.

Gastric FDG uptake is a common observation on positron emission tomography (PET), which is most frequently caused by a nonmalignant etiology. However, a malignant lesion in the region of the stomach must not be overlooked. A 48-year-old woman with a history of melanoma in the esophagus and status postesophagectomy underwent FDG PET to evaluate for tumor recurrence. The images demonstrated hypermetabolism in the region of the location of the stomach. However, considering that the patient had a history of a stomach pullthrough procedure, we felt that this activity was nongastric and represented tumor recurrence, which was subsequently confirmed by computed tomography scan and histopathologic examination.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Intracranial hypotension following chiropractic spinal manipulation.

We report a case of intracranial hypotension caused by chiropractic manipulation which, in contrast to previously reported cases, documents the location of the cerebrospinal fluid leak by radionuclide cisternography. Cervical spinal manipulation produced a remote lumbar dural tear in our patient. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging may falsely localize the dural tear in this condition. Although conservative management is often sufficient, precise localization is required for more invasive therapies.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

FDG-PET imaging in primary bilateral adrenal lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Primary adrenal lymphoma is an extremely rare entity. Only 70 cases have been reported in the English literature. Most of the patients are elderly men with bilateral adrenal masses without extraadrenal involvement. The most common presenting symptoms are fever, weight loss, lumbar pain, and/or symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. Of the cases reported, CT, ultrasound, and MRI were the imaging modalities used to describe the lesions. FDG PET has been used successfully to differentiate benign and malignant adrenal masses. The authors report a 67-year-old man diagnosed as having primary bilateral adrenal lymphoma and having no evidence of extraadrenal spread who was evaluated from the time of diagnosis to complete remission with FDG PET scanning. The literature of this unusual neoplasm is reviewed in detail.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Radiation myelopathy visualized as increased FDG uptake on positron emission tomography.

A woman with a history of desmoid tumor involving the T9-T10 vertebrae was treated with local irradiation. After treatment, she developed tingling sensations in both legs. An FDG PET study demonstrated focally increased activity posterior to the vertebral bodies at the levels of T9-T10, which was vertical in orientation, corresponding to the location of the spinal cord at this level. This finding is consistent with the clinical suspicion of radiation myelopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Small urine leak after renal transplantation: detection by delayed 99mTc-DTPA renography--a case report.

This case report involves a 45-y-old woman after cadaveric renal transplantation. The initial renal scan on the first postsurgical day showed normal findings. Subsequently, on the sixth postsurgical day, the patient had decreased urine output; 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid renal scanning was performed again and did not show definite scintigraphic evidence of a urine leak. The patient's condition was not improving; renal scanning was repeated on day 20 and demonstrated a large photopenic region surrounding the superior, medial, and inferior aspects of the kidney. Delayed imaging was performed 2.5 h after injection of radiotracer, and activity was observed in the previously cold region.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Normal variants in [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging.

The number of fluorodeoxyglucose PET applications is increasing. In the process of reading fluorodeoxyglucose-PET scans, nuclear medicine physicians encounter a wide variety of normal findings, which must be recognized to determine the best management for patients. It is important to recognize and understand normal variants to avoid misinterpretation of more serious pathology. This article reviews different patterns of physiologic fluorodeoxyglucose uptake including changes with age.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Evolving role of positron emission tomography in the management of patients with inflammatory and other benign disorders.

Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has evolved from a research imaging modality assessing brain function in physiologic and pathologic states to a pure clinical necessity. It has been successfully used for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring a variety of malignancies. FDG-PET imaging also is evolving into a powerful imaging modality that can be effectively used for the diagnosis and monitoring of a certain nononcological diseases. PET has been shown to be very useful in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis, painful prostheses, sarcoidosis, fever of unknown etiology, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Based on recent observations, several other disorders, such as environment-induced lung diseases, atherosclerosis, vasculitis, back pain, transplantation, and blood clot, can be successfully assessed with this technique. With the development and the introduction of several new PET radiotracers, it is expected that PET will secure a major role in the management of patients with inflammatory and other benign disorders.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed2004

18F-FDG PET in evaluation of adrenal lesions in patients with lung cancer.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to assess the role of PET with (18)F-FDG in differentiating benign from metastatic adrenal masses detected on CT or MRI scans of patients with lung cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed (18)F-FDG PET scans of patients with lung cancer who were found to have an adrenal mass on CT or MRI scans. One hundred thirteen adrenal masses (75 unilateral and 19 bilateral; size range, 0.8-4.7 cm) were evaluated in 94 patients. PET findings were interpreted as positive if the (18)F-FDG uptake of the adrenal mass was greater than or equal to that of the liver. PET findings were interpreted as negative if the (18)F-FDG uptake of the adrenal mass was less than that of the liver. All studies were reviewed independently by 3 nuclear medicine physicians, and the results were then correlated with clinical follow-up or biopsy results when available. RESULTS: PET findings were positive in 71 adrenal masses. Sixty-seven of these were eventually considered to be metastatic adrenal disease. In the remaining 4, no changes in lesion size were noted on follow-up examinations. PET findings were negative in 42 adrenal masses, of which 37 eventually proved to be benign. Among the 5 adrenal masses that were false-negative, one was a large necrotic metastasis; 1 was a 2.4-cm lesion with central hemorrhaging, and the remaining 3 were lesions of less than 11 mm. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting metastatic disease were 93%, 90%, and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET is an accurate, noninvasive technique for differentiating benign from metastatic adrenal lesions detected on CT or MRI in patients with lung cancer. In addition, PET has the advantage of assessing the primary cancer sites and detecting other metastases.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗