There is growing evidence of activated microglia and inflammatory processes in the cerebral cortex in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Activated microglia is characterized by increased expression of the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) in the brain and may be a useful biomarker of inflammation. In this study, we evaluated neuroinflammation in ALS patients using a radioligand of TSPO, 18F-DPA-714. Ten patients with probable or definite ALS (all right-handed, without dementia, and untreated by riluzole or other medication that might bias the binding on the TSPO), were enrolled prospectively and eight healthy controls matched for age underwent a PET study. Comparison of the distribution volume ratios between both groups were performed using a Mann-Whitney’s test. Significant increase of distribution of volume ratios values corresponding to microglial activation was found in the ALS sample in primary motor, supplementary motor and temporal cortex (p = 0.009, p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). These results suggested that the cortical uptake of 18F-DPA-714 was increased in ALS patients during the “time of diagnosis” phase of the disease. This finding might improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of ALS and might be a surrogate marker of efficacy of treatment on microglial activation.

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A new calcitonin (CT) immunoradiometric assay, using anti-11-7 and anti-24-32 CT fragment monoclonal antibodies was evaluated and compared to classical RIA. The sensitivity was 2.5 ng/L, the normal basal level (n = 83) was lower than 10 ng/L, the response to pentagastrin stimulation in control subjects was absent in nine and between 10-30 ng/L in nine others. (mean, 15.4). In patients with renal failure the basal level was increased between 10-52 ng/L. In patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; n = 28), the basal level was between 189-28,900 ng/L. A pentagastrin test was performed as screening for familial MTC in eight patients with confirmed MTC at subsequent surgery; the calcitonin peak was equal or greater than 38 ng/L. Large differences exist between CT levels measured by RIA and immunoradiometric assay. The latter method provides a greater sensitivity to pentagastrin test and allows a better identification of microcarcinoma in hereditary cases of MTC.

A new 3D local model was proposed for a voxel-wise PVE correction based on the original mutual multiresolution analysis approach. Its evaluation demonstrated an improved and more robust qualitative and quantitative accuracy compared to the original MMA methodology, particularly in the absence of full correlation between anatomical and functional information.

Imaging of the thoracic duct is usually performed by radiological lymphography. However, this procedure, which uses an oil based dye injected directly into the lymph channels, has some adverse effects. In this paper we note that lymphoscintigraphy, a physiological and non invasive method, may visualize thoracic duct abnormalities, and might be particularly useful when radiological lymphography is contraindicated.

Fifty meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintiscans were performed in three groups of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) patients. Group 1 (n = 11) included treated patients with normal calcitonin levels; Group 2 (n = 24) included patients with elevated calcitonin levels due to sporadic and isolated MTC; Group 3 (n = 15) included patients with elevated calcitonin levels due to familial MTC or multiple endocrine neoplasia Type IIA syndrome (MEN). In Group 1 three pheochromocytoma were depicted by MIBG scintiscan. In Group 2 MTC was seen in a small number of patients (3 of 24). In Group 3, besides adrenal hyperplasia and pheochromocytoma four patients, MIBG scintigraphy showed where MTC had localized and spread in almost half of patients (7 of 15). MIBG uptake occurred in patients with relatively high calcitonin level (greater than 0.6 nmol/l). These data indicate that in patients with familial MTC or MEN syndrome, MIBG scintiscan can be useful not only in detecting associated pheochromocytoma, but also in showing MTC.

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