Biomedical subjects

L Trón

Publications and source records attributed to L Trón.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Angiography-proven liver metastases explain low efficacy of lymph node dissections in medullary thyroid cancer patients.

AIM: To report the role of liver angiography in the staging of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty MTC patients with persistent or recurrent hypercalcitonemia (n=49), a characteristic general symptom (diarrhea, n=4) or a normal basal calcitonin level without general symptoms (n=7) were investigated by dynamic liver CT, MRI and angiography between 06/1998 and 06/2002. RESULTS: Dual-phase CT and MRI investigations identified hepatic metastases with relatively low frequency (8/58 on MRI, and 7/60 on CT). Angiography indicated liver involvement in 54/60 cases. The hepatic metastases were typically multiple, hypervascular, small foci (only 13 foci measured >/=10 mm). With one exception significant disease progression was not observed over 5 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Liver angiography is a powerful tool to reveal hepatic metastases in MTC patients. Frequent, inoperable liver metastases in hypercalcitoninemic MTC patients demonstrate that secondary lymph node dissection is an inefficient technique for restoration of a normal calcitonin level.

Angiography↗

PubMed2004

Characteristics of radiogenic lower motor neurone disease, a possible link with a preceding viral infection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathogenesis of the rare radiogenic lower motor neurone disease (LMND) on the basis of a meta-analysis of the published case histories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed 47 well-documented radiogenic LMND cases from the English literature. RESULTS: The disease typically occurs following the irradiation of radiosensitive cancers situated near the spinal cord. It arises predominantly (46 cases) in the lower extremities; only one case involved the upper extremities. There is a male predominance (male:female ratio 7.8:1), and the patients are characteristically young (13-40 years, with four exceptions). An overdose does not seem to be a particular risk factor for the development of the disease, as total dose, fraction size and biologically effective dose are typically below 50 Gy, 2 Gy and 128 Gy2, respectively, which are regarded as safe doses. Other risk factors (chemotherapy, operations, etc) have been identified only rarely. Radiogenic LMND is manifested in an apparently random manner, 4-312 (mean 48.7) months after the completion of radiotherapy. DISCUSSION: The complete lack of a dose-effect relationship argues strongly against a pure radiogenic nature of the pathological process. The latency period is typically several years and it varies extremely, which excludes a direct and complete causal relationship between radiotherapy and LMND. As the interaction of ionizing radiation with living tissues is highly unspecific, thus a selective motor injury due to irradiation alone, without comparable effects on the sensory and vegetative fibers, seems improbable. CONCLUSIONS: On analogy with the viral motor neurone diseases, we suppose that radiogenic LMND may be preceded by viral (enterovirus/poliovirus) infection. Based on the meta-analysis, it is suggested that irradiation may be only a single component of the set of factors jointly resulting in the clinical state regarded as radiogenic LMND.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

FDG PET imaging in hereditary thyroid cancer.

AIM: To report the role of different imaging methods in staging individuals with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN2A) or familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen newly diagnosed gene carriers underwent cervical ultrasound scanning (US), cervical and mediastinal CT, MRI and whole-body meta-[131I]iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET scanning. RESULTS: US identified seven true primary cancer. CT and MRI located only tumors > or =5 mm in diameter. MIBG scintigraphy and FDG PET could not identify MTC foci within the thyroid. Whole-body FDG PET identified two true-positive and one false-positive lymph node metastases. MIBG scintigraphy did not identify lymph node metastases. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 12 cases, and subtotal thyroidectomy in two subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-body FDG PET and cervical US help stage individuals carrying mutant genes verifying MEN2A or FMTC.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Autopsy verifies demyelination and lack of vascular damage in partially reversible radiation myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report of recovering radiation myelopathy. OBJECTIVE: To present autopsy and functional imaging findings on a unique case of slowly recovering radiation myelopathy with the aim of the clarification of the underlying mechanism. PATIENT: The cervical spinal cord and the distal part of the medulla oblongata of a 36-year-old thyroid cancer patient had been incorrectly irradiated with a total dose of 61 Gy and a fraction size of 3.4 Gy (J Neurol Sci 1999; 163:39-43), resulting in incomplete cervical transection with a 5-month latency period following the termination of radiotherapy. This was followed by a 9.5-year spontaneous improvement until her demise, during which the check-ups were supplemented by positron emission tomography (PET) investigations; these indicated increased [18F]deoxyglucose and [15O]butanol uptakes, but a diminished [11C]methionine accumulation by the irradiated spinal cord segment. RESULTS: Autopsy revealed demyelination (with axonal loss) and neuronal damage in the cervical spinal cord and the distal part of the medulla oblongata. In the same region, only minimal vascular injury (thickening of some of the capillary walls) was detected, but not cell proliferation or chronic inflammation. Bilateral, secondary pyramidal tract degeneration caudal to the irradiated segment was observed. The PET and autopsy findings, although separated by 2 years, are consistent. CONCLUSIONS: The pathological state of the spinal cord revealed by the autopsy is concordant with the incomplete cervical transection, implying that the functional recovery is supported by a process that probably differs from the restoration of the mechanism destroyed by the radiotherapy. For the restoration of the function, we suggest an altered conduction mechanism of the action potential, involving an increased number of sodium channels along the demyelinated segments of the injured axons, which is fully congruent with the PET findings.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

A PET study on the characterization of partially reversible radiogenic lower motor neurone disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathomechanism of the rare radiogenic lower motor neurone disease (LMND) on the basis of a case history involving a partial functional recovery. PATIENT: A 31-year-old seminoma patient received postoperative para-aortic and para-iliac telecobalt irradiation with a biologically effective dose of 88 Gy(2) (44 Gy in 2 Gy fractions/day, with an estimated alpha/beta of 2 Gy) delivered to the spinal cord following a single cycle of chemotherapy. LMND developed 4 months after the completion of radiotherapy. The patient exhibited flaccid paraparesis of the lower extremities (without sensory or vegetative signs), followed by a worsening after further chemotherapy, due to pulmonary metastatization. A gradual spontaneous functional improvement commenced and led several years later to a stabilized state involving moderately severe symptoms. METHODS: In the 15th year of the clinical course, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and [(11)C] methionine were conducted. Four lines of experiments (clonogenic assay using fibroblasts isolated from a skin biopsy sample of the patient, comet assay, micronucleus assay, and the testing of chromosome aberrations after in vitro irradiation of peripheral blood samples) were performed in a search for an increased individual radiosensitivity. RESULTS: MRI investigations failed to reveal any pathological change. PET demonstrated an increased FDG accumulation, but a negligible [(11)C] methionine uptake in the irradiated spinal cord segments. The radiobiological investigations did not indicate any sign of an increased individual radiosensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the observed partial functional recovery and stabilization of the symptoms of radiogenic LMND may be explained by the higher than normal density of sodium channels expressed along the demyelinated axons of the restored conduction. The increased energy demands of this type of conduction are proved by a higher metabolic rate (increased FDG uptake) of the irradiated spinal cord segments without a substantial regenerative process (lack of detectable protein synthesis).

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Changes in brain activation caused by caloric stimulation in the case of cochleovestibular denervation--PET study.

There are a number of well-known stimulation methods for the investigation of the central projection of the vestibular system. In addition to optokinetic, galvanic and neck vibration tests, the most widespread method is caloric stimulation. These listed methods cause not only vestibular, but also other effects on the central nervous system (CNS) (acoustic, tactile and nociceptive). In this paper, positron emission tomography (PET) was used to investigate whether caloric stimulation contains a non-vestibular (extravestibular) component, which would cause a distortion in the cortical activity and therefore in the vestibular effect on the CNS. Caloric stimulation was carried out in six patients who had been operated on due to cerebello-pontine angle tumour. These patients suffered post-operatively from a complete lesion of the vestibular system and anacusis on the operated side. Ipsilaterally activated areas were the inferior pole of the post-central gyrus and temporoparietal junction, caudal part of the post-central gyrus (SI, SII), inferior parietal lobule and medial frontal gyrus. Contralaterally activated areas were the anterior cingulate gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, posterior part of the insula, post-central gyrus and temporoparietal junction (SII). Ipsilaterally deactivated areas were the caudal and cranial part of the medial occipital gyrus (V2, V3, V4, V5). Contralaterally deactivated areas were the lingual gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus (V2, V3) and fusiform gyrus. On the basis of these data, it was postulated that, during caloric stimulation, extravestibular reaction also occurs, which corresponds to the subjective feeling of heat and pain. The deactivation of the occipital cortex due to an extravestibular effect was demonstrated. This is the first observation to suggest the possibility of nociceptivevisual interaction.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Right prefrontal activation produced by arterial baroreceptor stimulation: a PET study.

This study was performed to test the hypothesis of greater right hemispheric involvement in the processing of baroreceptor stimuli. Carotid sinus baroreceptors were stimulated by rhythmically decreasing air pressure in a neck chamber, and under control conditions the thorax was stimulated in a similar manner. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured by PET. Baroreceptor stimulation resulted in rCBF increase in the right anterior-inferior prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas (BA) 10/44/47) and bilaterally in BA 6/8. We conclude that in at least some stages of baroreceptor information processing the right hemisphere plays a greater role than the left hemisphere.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Angiography effectively supports the diagnosis of hepatic metastases in medullary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) belongs in the group of neuroendocrine tumors with early lymphatic and hepatic dissemination. A high rate of undetectable metastases is hypothesized to be responsible for the frequent mismatch between the apparent relatively small tumor burden and the elevated plasma tumor marker level. METHODS: Thirty-six MTC patients with residual/recurrent biochemical signs (elevated basal calcitonin level) and/or characteristic general symptoms (diarrhea and/or flushing) were systematically examined by conventional radiology, whole-body 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET), dynamic liver computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and hepatic angiography. RESULTS: Conventional diagnostic imaging revealed lymph node (LN) involvement in the cervical, mediastinal, supraclavicular, and axillary regions (16 cases), and multiple pulmonary (3 cases), bony (1 solitary and 1 multiple case), and breast (1 case) metastases. (18)F-deoxyglucose PET identified all these extralymphatic metastatic lesions (except 2 cases with multiple pulmonary metastases), and also supradiaphragmatic LN involvement in 34 (94%) patients. In 32 (89%) cases, multiple small (generally < or = 1 cm) hypervascular, hepatic metastases undetectable by other imaging methods were localized angiographically. Of the 23 original pathologic specimens investigated, 18 (78%) exhibited LN involvement. The smallest primary tumor in patients with hepatic metastases was 1 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic angiography is recommended for primary staging in MTC patients with a primary tumor measuring 1 cm or larger, and/or pathologically proven LN involvement, and also during restaging for suspected recurrences to avoid unnecessary extensive surgical LN dissection in the neck and mediastinum.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[The effect of a single-dose intravenous vinpocetine on brain metabolism in patients with ischemic stroke].

The effect of a single-dose i.v. infusion of vinpocetine on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and glucose metabolism of post-stroke patients was studied by measuring the regional and global cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (CMRglu) and the corresponding kinetic constants before and after treatment. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) measurements were also performed. The cerebral glucose metabolism was significantly higher in the contralateral hemisphere than in the affected one before therapy. In the affected hemisphere the regional glucose metabolism was inhomogenous: relatively low values were measured in the stroke region, whereas it was increased in the peristroke region. Although a single-dose vinpocetine treatment did not affect significantly the regional or global metabolic rates of glucose, the glucose transport (both intracellular up-take and release) was strongly affected in the whole brain, in the contralateral hemisphere and in the peri-infarct area of the symptomatic hemisphere. A slightly increased (not significant, N. S.) cerebral blood flow could be observed in the contralateral and a decreased flow (N. S.) in the symptomatic hemisphere.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

[Processing vestibular impulses in the central nervous system. Study based on positron emission tomography].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Functional imaging methods have opened new perspectives for vestibular research. Many authors have investigated the central connections of the system, but the differences between the reports leave further questions open. We investigated the cerebral projection of the vestibular system, using positron emission tomography in right-handed subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bilateral caloric stimulation was used in every volunteer (n = 6). This can be considered a standard method, which will make it possible to compare the results from different laboratories in the future. A detailed map of activated and deactivated brain regions is included. RESULTS: Changes caused by vestibular stimulation are portrayed. The activated regions partially correspond with previous results in the literature. We would like to point out the Brodmann 6 region as the cortical manifestation of involuntary isometric tightening of muscles. We have found many, previously unidentified regions showing decreased regional cerebral blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: We are the first to point out the functional connection between the hippocampus and the vestibular system in this report.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Hypoglycemia activates compensatory mechanism of glucose metabolism of brain.

The effect of plasma glucose concentration on the cerebral uptake of [18F]-fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG) was studied in a broad concentration range in a rabbit brain model using dynamic FDG PET measurements. Hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions were maintained by manipulating plasma glucose applying i.v. glucose or insulin load. FDG utilization (K) and cerebral glucose metabolic rate (CGMR) were evaluated in a plasma glucose concentration range between 0.5 mM and 26 mM from the kinetic constant k1, k2, k3 obtained by the Sokoloff model of FDG accumulation. A decreasing set of standard FDG uptake values found with increasing blood glucose concentration was explained by competition between the plasma glucose and the radiopharmacon FDG. A similar trend was observed for the forward kinetic constants k1, and k3 in the entire concentration range studied. The same decreasing tendency of k2 was of a smaller magnitude and was reverted at the lowest glucose concentrations where a pronounced decrease of this backward transport rate constant was detected. Our kinetic data indicate a modulation of the kinetics of carbohydrate metabolism by the blood glucose concentration and report on a special mechanism compensating for the low glucose supply under conditions of extremely low blood glucose level.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[PET scanning in head and neck cancer]

INTRODUCTION: FDG (fluorine-labeled deoxy-glucose) and 11C-methionine positron emission tomography was evaluated in the diagnostics of head and neck cancer. PET scans were applied for identifying/staging relapse after oncotherapy or searching unknown primary tumor with metastatic lymph nodes of the neck. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 22 patients examined by 17 (18)FDG and 15 (11)C-methionine PET scan. In 9 cases indication was unknown primary tumor with positive neck, in 13 cases previously treated head and neck cancer patients were examined for recurrence/restaging. RESULTS: In searching for unknown primary tumor not detectable with conventional methods, PET was effective in 22%, however, false positivity and uncertain results were found as well. In restaging PET proved to be very effective (85%) to discover recurrences and to differentiate them from post-treatment (mainly irradiation) effects. In two cases silent distant metastase were detected. CONCLUSION: PET can provide valuable information about unknown primary tumors, recurrences after oncotherapy and distant metastases as well. Simultaneous use of FDG/methionine scans does not improve the results.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

[Investigation of the cerebral projection of the vestibular system using positron emission tomography].

The authors investigated the cerebral projection of the vestibular system, using positron emission tomography, in right-handed subjects. Both sided cold caloric stimulation was used in every volunteer (n = 6). A detailed map of activated and deactivated brain regions is included. This portrays changes caused by vestibular stimulation. The contralaterally activated regions according to the stimulation side were: postcentral gyrus, transvers temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, posterior part of the insula, claustrum, putamen, inferior parietal lobule, precentral gyrus, premotor cortex, cingulate gyrus. The ipsilaterally activated regions were: transvers temporal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, posterior part of the insula. There was no hemispherial dominance. The activated regions partially correspond with previous results in the literature. It would like to be pointed out the Brodmann 6 region as the cortical manifestation of involuntary isometric tightening of muscles. The contralaterally deactivated regions were: inferior, superior and medius temporal gyrus, medial and medius frontal gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and hippocampus. Ipsilaterally deactivated regions were: superior and medial frontal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, angular gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and hippocampus, fusiform and inferior occipital gyrus. There was prominent hemispherial dominance in the stimulated, ipsilateral side. The deactivation based functional connection between the hippocampus and the vestibular system was pointed out in such a relation for the first time in this report.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Membrane permeability changes induce hyperpolarization in transformed lymphoid cells under high-density culture conditions.

BACKGROUND: Membrane potential changes in cells from the human lymphoid B cell line, JY, evoked by increasing cell density in culture were investigated, as data published on other cell types are controversial. An attempt was also made to clear the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Nonadherent JY cells were isolated from high-density plateau-phase cultures (type A cells), medium-density log-phase cultures (type B cells), and low-density lag-phase cultures (type C cells). They were analyzed for transmembrane potential, intracellular free concentration of potassium and sodium, membrane permeability for monovalent cations, cell cycle distribution by measuring DNA content, and glucose uptake. RESULTS: C type cells proved to be relatively depolarized (-41 +/- 3 mV) and cells obtained from the highest density cultures hyperpolarized (-60 +/- 3 mV). Intracellular concentrations ([K](i) = 92-97 mM and [Na](i) = 34-35 mM) were almost identical for each type of cell. The sodium/potassium permeability constant ratio in the A and C type of cells was 0.047 and 0.094, respectively. High-density culture conditions resulted in a pronounced G(1)-phase arrest. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the membrane potential values induced by high-density culture conditions were maintained by changes in the membrane permeability for the monovalent cations.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed2000

[Comparative analysis of quantifying methods in FDG-PET scans of the brain].

The comparative analysis of three tracer kinetic methods most frequently applied for the quantization of the results of FDG-PET-brain scans was performed. The data of measurements on five healthy patients were evaluated by the most general method developed by Phelps, the Patlak-procedure and the SUV- (standard uptake value) method. It was demonstrated by the aid of correlation analysis that the applicability of the results of the more simple methods to estimate glucose metabolic rate (GMR) as calculated by the Phelps-method depended on the kind of the selected region of the brain. It was shown that the most considerable distortion occurred in the case of the same anatomical regions of the brain with both simplified methods. These regions were located either in the white matter or in the vicinity of larger size blood vessels or they were elements of the base of the skull [gyrus rectus (l. u.), pons, capsula interna (l. u.), cerebellum (l. u.), corpus callosum]. The distorted estimation is explained by the fact that the simpler models neglect dephosphorylation of the FDG-6P, and they also disregard the contribution of the intravascular activity to the tissue radioactivity as determined by the relatively low resolution PET measurement. The correlation coefficient between the GMR as calculated by the Phelps-method and glucose consumption data by the investigated simpler methods had very low values for regions located in the white matter, eventual close to blood vessels or being elements of the base of the skull.

Brain↗

PubMed2000

Cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in mitochondrial disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cerebral metabolism by 2-[18F]fluorodeoxy-d-glucose (FDG) uptake using PET and cerebrovascular reverse capacity by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) in different mitochondrial diseases (mitochondrial myopathy; mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactacidosis, and stroke-like episodes [MELAS]; and chronic external ophthalmoplegia). BACKGROUND: Previous studies on individual patients with mitochondriopathies revealed abnormal accumulations of mitochondria in endothelium, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes of blood vessels in different parts of the nervous system (cerebrum, cerebellum, sural nerve) and skeletal muscle. On this basis, some investigators suggested a pathogenic role of vascular involvement in the MELAS syndrome and other encephalopathies. smhd1 DESIGN/METHODS: The authors investigated neuronal metabolism and cerebrovascular involvement with PET in 5 cases and with TCD with acetazolamide stimulation in 15 cases. The patients were divided into three groups: 1) interictal MELAS (n = 4); 2) progressive external ophthalmoplegia (n = 6); and 3) pure mitochondrial myopathy and neuropathy (n = 5). The results were compared with those from matched normal control subjects. The diagnoses were based on clinical phenotype as well as histopathologic and molecular analysis. RESULTS: Cerebral glucose uptake was impaired in all patients, both with and without CNS symptoms, particularly in the occipital and temporal lobes. The vasoreactivity of the small arterioles to acetazolamide did not differ significantly between the patients and healthy control subjects or between the different groups of mitochondrial disorders. CONCLUSIONS: MELAS does not appear to be a functional disturbance of arterioles leading to an ischemic vascular event. The clinical symptoms in MELAS are not the result of a mitochondrial angiopathy but are the consequences of a mitochondrial cytopathy affecting neurons or glia. There is no correlation between the decreased glucose metabolism and the duration of the disease.

Acetazolamide↗

PubMed2000

[Current diagnostic method, prognosis estimation and therapy of papillary thyroid cancer: recommendations of the medical universities and the National Oncologic Institute of Budapest].

Physical examination, cervical ultrasonography (US) and aspiration cytology are the mainstays of the preoperative diagnostics of papillary thyroid carcinoma. For the staging of suspected malignant cases, cervical and mediastinal CT (MRI for inconclusive results) is indicated before any surgery. The end-result of primary treatment is assessed by total-body iodine scintigraphy and the serum human thyroglobulin (hTG) level. For long-term follow-up, physical examination and the serum hTG level are the most reliable tools (6-monthly), supplemented by cervical US and chest X-ray (yearly), and total-body iodine scintigraphy (2-yearly). If these furnish positive results, further examinations may be indicated. In suspected relapses of hTG non-producing and iodine non-accumulating papillary carcinomas, 201thallium chloride or 99mTc-sesta-MIBI (methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile) scintigraphy, and positron emission tomography with 18fluoro-deoxyglucose or 11C-methionine may be of help. For estimation of the prognosis (cause-specific survival) of the patients, the MACIS score system of the Mayo Clinic is widely accepted, the patients being divided into low-risk and intermediate/high-risk categories. The recommended standard surgical intervention is near-total thyroidectomy (2-4 g residual glandular tissue left at the upper pole of the less-involved lobe), with a central cervical lymph node dissection for diagnostic purposes. In cases of lymph node dissemination, dissection (radical, modified radical, selective or microdissection) of any of the involved compartments (central, right or left cervical, or upper mediastinal) is indicated for therapeutic reasons, the method of which is depending on the extent of the metastatic involvement. Following adequate surgical intervention, no adjuvant radioiodine therapy is indicated for low-risk cases with a tumour of less than 1 cm diameter. For other low-risk or intermediate/high-risk patients, radioiodine ablation (R0N0M0) or a therapeutic radioiodine dosage (R2N1M1) is indicated. In cases at high-risk of local/regional relapse and in radioiodine non-accumulating tumorous cases, external radiotherapy may be applied. Thyroid hormone medication in a TSH suppressive dose is indicated during the first 5 postsurgical years: the goal is to achieve a TSH level below 0.1 (determined by a 3rd generation assay). If no relapse occurs or the case is a low-risk one, following the 5 years, it is enough to maintain the TSH level in a subnormal range (0.1-0.3).

Carcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMed2000

The application of image fusion in stereotactic brachytherapy of brain tumours.

BACKGROUND: The visualization of any morphological volume (i.e. CT, MRI) together with an additional second morphological volume (i.e. CT, MRI) or functional data set, which may come from SPECT or PET, is a new method for treatment planning, verification and follow-up of interstitial irradiation. METHOD: The authors present their experience on interstitial irradiation of brain tumours with stereotactically implanted I-125 seeds supported by image fusion. The image fusion was performed by the BrainLab-Target 1.13 software on Alfa 430 (Digital) workstation before, during, and after interstitial irradiation of brain tumours with Iodine125 seeds. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: On the basis of 20 brachytherapeutic image fusion of stereotactic CT (slices with fiducials) with additional stereotactic CT, MRI, PET and SPECT images provides more accurate and precise target volume, more exact localization of catheters and isotope seeds (verification fusion), differentiation between the localization and amount of the necrotic and proliferating parts of the tumours and shows the volume changes in consequence of interstitial irradiation. The image fusion should help to improve the accuracy and minimize the perifocal morbidity of interstitial irradiation.

Adult↗