A 47-year-old gentleman of Malay ethnicity with no known pre-morbidities, presented to the haematology unit with a 2-month history of night fever, loss of weight, malaise, anorexia and abdominal swelling. Abdominal examination revealed a periumbilical and lower epigastric swelling measuring 6x6 cms. The swelling was non-tender, firm in consistency and smooth on palpation. The Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) imaging revealed an enlarged mesenteric mass measuring 5.8x6.9x5.7 cm and multiple enlarged aorta-caval lymph nodes. The mesenteric tumour histology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with lymphocyte depleted HL. He completed six cycles of intravenous ABVD polychemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) 25mg/m2, Bleomycin 10mg/m2, Vinblastine 6mg/m2 and Dacarbazine 375mg/m2. The Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET /CT) imaging post 2 cycles and 6 cycles of ABVD polychemotherapy showed complete metabolic response to chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Lymphocyte-depleted classical Hodgkin lymphoma (LDcHL) is a rare entity and is mostly diagnosed at a later stage rendering it a disease with poor prognostic outcomes. Early detection and prompt institution of therapy is crucial in the management of this disease.
METHODS: Consecutive patients with a new histological diagnosis of LAPC were recruited over 20 months. Baseline CT and 18FDG PET-CT were performed and repeated after 12 weeks to assess response to treatment. Following 2 cycles of conventional chemotherapy, patients underwent EUS-guided 32P OncoSil implantation followed by a further six cycles of chemotherapy.
RESULTS: Twelve patients with LAPC (8M:4F; median age 69 years, IQR 61.5-73.3) completed the treatment. Technical success was 100% and no procedural complications were reported. At 12 weeks, there was a median reduction of 8.2cm3 (95% CI 4.95-10.85; p=0.003) in tumour volume, with minimal or no 18FDG uptake in 9 (75%) patients. Tumour downstaging was achieved in 6 (50%) patients, leading to successful resection in 5 (42%) patients, of which 4 patients (80%) had clear (R0) resection margins.
CONCLUSIONS: EUS guided 32P OncoSil implantation is feasible and well tolerated and was associated with a 42% rate of surgical resection in our cohort. However, further evaluation in a larger randomized multicenter trial is warranted. (32P funded by OncoSil Medical Ltd, equipment and staff funded by the Royal Adelaide Hospital, ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03003078).
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effective dose for common PET/CT scans at Penang Hospital, with a particular focus on the influence of patient weight on both PET and CT dose components. Additionally, the study assesses whether weight-based dose protocols can contribute to dose optimization.
METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 1439 PET/CT scans performed at Penang Hospital. The effective dose was calculated using International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 103, 106, and 128 dose coefficients. Conversion factors used were 0.019 mSv/MBq for 18F-FDG, 0.0199 mSv/MBq for 68Ga-PSMA, and 0.021 mSv/MBq for 68Ga-DOTATATE. The CT dose component was estimated using the dose-length product (DLP) with an empirical conversion factor (k = 0.015 mSv·mGy-1·cm-1) for whole-body CT.
RESULTS: The total effective dose for 18F-FDG (head-to-thigh and head-to-feet) scans was 12.34 and 16.38 mSv, respectively. For 68Ga-PSMA and 68Ga-DOTATATE scans, the total effective dose was 11.55 and 12.00 mSv, respectively. A statistically significant increase in dose was observed in heavier patients due to increased administered activity and CT parameters (P
METHODS: After baseline PET, patients were randomly assigned to an induction chemotherapy regimen: modified oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil (FOLFOX) or carboplatin-paclitaxel (CP). Repeat PET was performed after induction; change in maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) from baseline was assessed. PET nonresponders (< 35% decrease in SUV) crossed over to the alternative chemotherapy during chemoradiation (50.4 Gy/28 fractions). PET responders (≥ 35% decrease in SUV) continued on the same chemotherapy during chemoradiation. Patients underwent surgery at 6 weeks postchemoradiation. Primary end point was pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in nonresponders after switching chemotherapy.
RESULTS: Two hundred forty-one eligible patients received Protocol treatment, of whom 225 had an evaluable repeat PET. The pCR rates for PET nonresponders after induction FOLFOX who crossed over to CP (n = 39) or after induction CP who changed to FOLFOX (n = 50) was 18.0% (95% CI, 7.5 to 33.5) and 20% (95% CI, 10 to 33.7), respectively. The pCR rate in responders who received induction FOLFOX was 40.3% (95% CI, 28.9 to 52.5) and 14.1% (95% CI, 6.6 to 25.0) in responders to CP. With a median follow-up of 5.2 years, median overall survival was 48.8 months (95% CI, 33.2 months to not estimable) for PET responders and 27.4 months (95% CI, 19.4 months to not estimable) for nonresponders. For induction FOLFOX patients who were PET responders, median survival was not reached.
CONCLUSION: Early response assessment using PET imaging as a biomarker to individualize therapy for patients with esophageal and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma was effective, improving pCR rates in PET nonresponders. PET responders to induction FOLFOX who continued on FOLFOX during chemoradiation achieved a promising 5-year overall survival of 53%.