A standard normal gastric pouch emptying rate of semisolids in asymptomatic patients after LAGB was established. Postoperative prolongation of gastric emptying is a matter of mechanical delay without gastric pouch denervation. This study provides a first step of future functional evaluation of complications following this type of bariatric surgery.

Tc-99m MIBI (MIBI) is a cationic lipophilic agent, which has traditionally been used for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, detection and monitoring of different benign and malignant tumors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of pituitary incidentalomas detected on MIBI scans performed on patients with suspected parathyroid adenomas and to provide semiquantitative analysis of tracer uptake in the pituitary region. Tomographic images of MIBI scans on 56 patients with suspected parathyroid adenomas (2006–2007) were analyzed retrospectively. Semiquantitative analysis of abnormal uptake was performed by drawing identical regions of interest (ROI) over the pituitary area and the normal brain on one transverse section that demonstrates the lesion most clearly. Pituitary uptake to normal brain uptake ratio was calculated in all cases. We found statistically significant differences of MIBI uptake in patients with pituitary adenomas, mean ratio: 29.78±12.17 (median 29.77, and range 19-41), compared with patients with no pathologic changes in this region, mean ratio was 5.88±1.82 (median was 5.95 and range 2.0- 9.2). As the groups are too small for statistical analysis, these results need to be confirmed in a larger cohort and should include more detailed biochemical correlation. MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy should be taken into account as a potential source of identifying pituitary incidentalomas. Clinical significance of these findings needs further evaluation.

Urinothorax or urothorax, the presence of urine in the pleural space, is a rare complication of percutaneous access to the kidney for the management of complex renal and proximal ureteral calculi and ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Other causes such as blunt renal trauma, ureteral instrumentation, or ureteral surgery have also been reported. The authors describe a patient with a massive left pleural effusion with total lung atelectasis. The diagnosis of urinothorax was confirmed by diuretic renography with Tc-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid.

Although the thyroid gland is the principal organ with the ability to concentrate iodide and take up Tc-99m pertechnetate, other tissues such as choroid plexus, salivary glands, mucoid cells of stomach, and lactating breast tissue also possess this property. The lactating mammary gland can concentrate iodide, which mediated by sodium/iodine symporter (NIS) is actively transported and secreted in the milk, to supply iodide to the newborn for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. The authors present an uncommon case of unilateral Tc-99m breast uptake in a breast-feeding woman.

Scintigraphy with In-111 Octreoscan (octreotide) is useful for imaging various neuroendocrine tumors, especially in patients with midgut carcinoids. This radiopharmaceutical imaging technique is currently used for detecting primary and metastatic carcinoid lesions. Such a relatively rare group of tumors can present a difficult diagnostic dilemma, and octreotide imaging may be essential for diagnosis, staging, and choice of treatment. We report on a 43-year-old man with a history of left upper lobectomy due to an atypical bronchial carcinoid tumor. Octreotide was performed for suspected local tumor recurrence, revealing metastasis in skeletal muscle.

The prevalence of morbid obesity is increasing worldwide and presents a significant clinical problem. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding has been popularized as an effective, safe, minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of morbid obesity. Different diagnostic imaging modalities are crucial for follow-up of "banded" patients and detection of the different postoperative complications. We present a case report including detailed clinical, laboratory, radiological, and scintigraphic findings in a 50-year-old woman with an infected gastric band diagnosed by technetium 99m-hexamethyl propilenamine oxime-labeled leukocyte scintigraphy and discuss the value of integrated interpretation of anatomical and functional imaging modalities obtained by software fusion technique.

A 59-year-old woman was referred to our department for Tc-99m DTPA renal scintigraphy, after being admitted to our hospital for surgery, because of a biopsy-proven right retroperitoneal sarcoma.A Tc-99m DTPA study showed a normal left kidney. Progressive tracer accumulation was noted in a well-defined area located in the normal site of the right kidney. REFERENCES1. Bihl H, Sautter-Bihl ML, Riedasch G. Extrarenal abnormalities in Tc-99m DTPA renal perfusion studies due to hypervascularized tumors. Clin Nucl Med. 1988;13:590 -594. 2. Pilecki S, Gierach M, Pufal J, et al. Accumulation of Tc-99m DTPA in Ewing sarcoma. Clin Nucl Med. 2005;30:771-772. 3. Mandell GA, Herrick WC, Harcke HT, et al. Neurofibromas: location by scanning with Tc-99m DTPA. Work in progress. Radiology. 1985;157:803-806. 4. Boxen I. Simulation of renal function by tumor and its effect on the calculated glomerular filtration rate. Clin Nucl Med. 1999;24:338 -342. 5. Otsuka N, Fukunaga M, Morita K, et al. Uptake of technetium-99m DTPA in retroperitoneal liposarcoma. Radiat Med. 1990;8:88 -91. 6. Slavin JD Jr, Mack JM, Spencer RP. Delayed accumulation (flip flop) of Tc-99m DTPA in a leiomyosarcoma. Clin Nucl Med. 1988;13:654 -656. 7. Tyler JL, Powers TA. Tc-99m DTPA uptake in soft tissue sarcoma. Clin Nucl Med. 1982;7:357-358. 8. Aburano T, Yokoyama K, Michigishi T, et al. Tc-99m DTPA uptake in extramedullary plasmacytoma of the retroperitoneum. Clin Nucl Med. 1988; 13:903-906. 9. Goshen E, Meller I, Lantsberg S, et al. Radionuclide imaging of soft tissue masses with Tc-99m DTPA. Clin Nucl Med. 1991;16:636 -642. 10. Choe W. Extrarenal uptake of Tc-99m-DTPA in a case of retroperitoneal abscess causing spurious data in renal function assessment.

Osteotoxic effect is a common adverse effect of chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The pathophysiology of impaired bone growth is multifactorial and can affect both osteoblast and osteoclast function. Significant contribution in affecting skeletal metabolism belongs to high-dose corticosteroid treatment. We present the case of a 12-year-old adolescent girl who was treated for high-risk pro-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Tc-MDP bone scan, as a sensitive indicator of osteoblastic activity, shows that growth plate inhibition after intensive treatment may be temporary and reversible.