Nucs Flashcards
keV of PET photons
511 keV
How do glucose and FDG get into the cell?
Glut 1/3 transporters.
Phosporylated by hexokinase.
What enzyme phosphorylates FDG?
Hexokinase
What is the half life of F-18?
110 minutes
How do you calculate SUV?
(ROI activity x body weight)/administered activity
Factors that can affect SUV
Specific equipment, time elapsed since administration of FDG, amount of tracer extravasation, muscle uptake, glucose and insulin levels at time of injection, etc.
Can’t diagnose or exclude maliganncy using SUV alone.
What is considered “mild”, “moderate”, and “intense” uptake?
Ratio of background liver, cerebellum, or basal ganglia with a region of interest.
“Mild” - <20%
“Moderate” - 20-60%
“Intense” - >60%
What is FDG uptake in both normal and pathological tissues dependent on?
Serum glucose and insulin levels.
Elevated insulin will cause increased muscle uptake and decreased sensitivity for detecting mildly PET-avid lesions.
Should be NPO for 4 hours to reach basal insulin levels.
Blood glucose should be below 200, preferably below 150.
After injection - rest in quiet room for 60 minutes.
How long should a patient fast before PET?
What should glucose be?
Fast for 4 hours
Blood glucose should be <200, preferably below 150.
What changes can Metformin cause on PET?
Increase colonic, and to a lesser extent, small bowel FDG uptake.
Is small cell lung cancer evaluated with PET?
No. Considered metastatic at diagnosis.
Size threshold for PET evaluation of pulmonary nodules?
8mm.
What kind of lung cancer will give a false negative on PET?
Bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma or carcinoid may not be metabolically active.
What can give a false positive on PET evaluation of a pulmonary nodule?
Active granulomatous disease (including TB) may take up FDG.
Can’t diagnose a nodule as benign or malignant based on SUV.
How long is a follow-up PET delayed after treatment?
2 (colon cancer) to 4 (head and neck) months due to flare phenomenon of increased FDG uptake in the peritreatment period.
What types of thyroid cancer won’t take up radioiodine, but may be FDG avid?
Undifferentiated or medullary thyroid cancers.
Used in clinical setting of rising thyroglobulin level with negative whole-body radioiodine scans.
In which types of lymphoma is PET used?
In which types is it not used?
Used in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Some low-grade lymphomas, such as small lymphocytic and mantle cell, tend to be less FDG avid.
In esophageal cancer, after initial neoadjuvant treatment, a decrease in FDG avidity by ___ suggests a favorable prognosis
at least 30%.
Those who do not show a decrease in SUV values can potentially be spared ineffective chemotherapy regimens.
In what cancers does PET-CT play a limited role?
HCC - only 50% can be imaged due to high levels of phosphatase, which dephosphorylates FDG and allows it to diffuse out of cells.
RCC and bladder cancer - only 50% of RCCs are FDG-avid, although can detect metastatic disease. Ureteral or bladder lesions are limited to detect due to surrounding high urine FDG uptake.
Prostate Cancer - FDG PET not used. Carbon-11 choline PET has been FDA approved.
What about HCC makes it difficult to detect with PET?
High levels of phosphatase - which dephosphorylates FDG and allows it to diffuse out of cells.
New PET agent FDA approved for prostate cancer?
Carbon-11 choline
What questions should be asked when a perfusion abnormality is seen in nuclear cardiology?
Is it reversible? - Or is it fixed at both stress and rest?
How large is it? - Small, medium, or large?
How severe is it? - Mild (subendocardial), moderate, or severe (transmural)?
Where is it? - In which coronary artery territory?
Are there any associated abnormalities- Right ventricular uptake, ischemic dilation, or wall motion abnormalities?
What two components does a perfusion test have in nuclear cardiology?
Element of stress and method of imaging.
What are the different types of stressing in cardiology?
Physical (treadmill), pharmacologic-adrenergic (dobutamine), or pharmacologic-vasodilatory (dipyridamole or adenosine)
What is the pharmacologic-adrenergic cardiac stressing agent?
Dobutamine
What are the pharmacologic-vasodilatory agents?
Dipyridamole or Adenosine
What are the clinical applications of myocardial perfusion imaging?
Evaluation of acute chest pain
Evaluation of hemodynamic significance of coronary stenosis - even with stenosis seen on angio or CT, with a normal nuclear cardiac perfusion exam, have a relatively low risk for cardiac events.
Risk stratification after MI
Preoperative risk assessment for noncardiac surgery
Evaluation of viability prior to revascularization therapy
Evaluation of myocardial revascularization status post CABG.
Annual rate of cardiac event with a normal myocardial perfusion exam among patients with high pretest likelihood of CAD?
0.6%
Findings on myocardial perfusion imaging that would classify a patient as high risk
Significant per-infarct ischemia
Defect in a different vascular territory - suggesting multi-vessel disease
Significant lung uptake - suggesting LV dysfunction
LV aneurysm
Low EF (less than 40% seen) on GSPECT EF = (EDC - ESC)/(EDC - BC) BC = background counts
How is EF calculated on cardiac GSPECT?
EF = (EDC - ESC)/(EDC - BC)
BC = background counts
Hypoperfused myocardium that is viable?
Hibernating myocardium
How is cardiac viability performed?
Rest-redistribution thallium-201 perfusion imaging or F-18 FDG PET.
PET is the gold standard for evaluation of myocardial viability, although unlike thallium, FDG-PET does not evaluate perfusion
What is the gold standard for evaluation of myocardial viability?
F-18 FDG PET
But does not evaluate perfusion like FDG-PET.
What agents are used for pure cardiac perfusion static SPECT?
Tc-99m sestamibi, rubidium-82 PET, or N-13 ammonia PET
Cannot distinguish between hibernating myocardium or scar. Both appear as a fixed (present on both stress and rest images) myocardial perfusion defect.
Evaluation of gated SPECT (GSPECT) functional data can suggest either hibernating myocardium or scar. Normal or nearly normal wall motion and wall thickening in the area of the perfusion defect suggests viability (hibernating myocardium), while a large defect with abnormal wall motion suggest scar.
What is a “mismatch” and “match” on perfusion and viability cardiac studies?
Mismatch - region of perfusion defect takes up FDG - is viable and may benefit from an intervention
Match - FDG PET match of a photopenic region corresponding to the perfusion defect is consistent with non-viable scar, and best treatment is medical therapy only.
What are the radionuclides used in Nuclear Cardiology?
Thallium-201
Technetium-99m sestamibi (Cardiolite)
Rubidium-82
Nitrogen-13 Ammonia
F-18 FDG
What is Thallium-201?
Cyclotron-produced radionuclide with half-life of 73 hours. Decays by electron capture and emits characteristic x-rays of 69-81 keV. - Relatively low energy x-rays increase attenuation artifact from chest wall soft tissues. Necessary to administer low doses due its long half-life, with resultant lower count densities.
Acts as a potssium analog - crossing into the cell via actie transport through the ATP-dependent Na-K transmembrane pump. Myocardial uptake is directly proportional to perfusion.
A 50% stenosis will generally produce a perfusion defect upon maximal exercise.
Thallium undergoes redistribution with simultaneous cellular washout and re-extraction of blood-pool radiotracer. Since ischemic myocardium progressively extract thallium but washes out more slowly than normal myocardium, post-redistribution images will therefore show normalization of defects in ischemic but viable myocardium. In contrast, a scar will show a persistent defect.
Half life of Thallium-201?
73 hours
Disadvantages of Thallium-201?
Half-life of 73 hours and decays by electron capture and emits characteristic x-rays of 69-81 keV.
Low energy increases attenuation from chest wall soft tissues.
Have to administer fairly low doses due to its long half-life, with resultant lower count densities.
How does Thallium-201 work in cardiac imaging?
Acts like a potassium analog, crossing into the cell via active transport through ATP-dependent Na-K transmembrane pump.
Myocardial uptake is proportional to perfusion.
How much stenosis will produce a perfusion defect with Thallium-201 upon maximal exercise?
50% stenosis
What cardiac radionuclide undergoes redistribution?
Thallium-201
Simultaneous cellular washout and re-extraction of blood-pool radiotracer. Since ischemic myocardium progressively extract thallium but washes out more slowly than normal myocardium, post-redistribution images will therefore show normalization of defects in ischemic but viable myocardium. In contrast, a scar will show a persistent defect.
What does redistribution of Thallium-201 mean in cardiac imaging?
Simultaneous cellular washout and re-extraction of blood-pool radiotracer. Since ischemic myocardium progressively extract thallium but washes out more slowly than normal myocardium, post-redistribution images will therefore show normalization of defects in ischemic but viable myocardium. In contrast, a scar will show a persistent defect.
What is Rubidium-82
A positron-emitting PET perfusion agent that is generated from Strontium-82.
Short half life of 76 seconds allows high doses to be administered, but can’t use exercise stress. Pharmacologic stress is used instead.
Acts as a potassium analog, similar to thallium.
What is precursor to Rubidium-82?
Strontium-82
What is the half-life of Rubidium-82?
76 seconds
Can use high doses, but can’t use exercise stress.
Pros and cons of Rubidium-82?
Perfusion agent.
Short half life of 76 seconds - can use high doses, but can’t use exercise stress.
Rubidium-82 is a ____ cardiac agent?
Perfusion
How is Rubidium-82 used in cardiac imaging?
Potassium analog similar to Thallium-201.
What is Nitrogen-13 Ammonia?
Positron-emitting PET perfusion agent (like rubidium-82) with half life of 10 minutes. Unlike rubidum-82, N-13 is cyclotron produced (must be on site)
Has excellent imaging characteristics. N-13 positrons have low kinetic energy and don’t travel very far in the tissue before annihilating, which allows relatively high resolution. Short half life = give higher counts. Can’t use exercise stress
What are the cardiac PET perfusion agents?
Rubidum-82 and N-13 Ammonia
What is the function of F-18 FDG in cardiac?
Viability, not perfusion.
Correlate with the sestamibi perfusion study to evaluate viability.
How are the cardiac radionuclide agents produced
Thallium-201 = cyclotron-produced
Technetium-99m sestamibi = Moly generator
Rubidum-82 = Strontium-82 generator
Nitrogen-13 Ammonia = cyclotron-produced
F-18 FDG = cyclotron-produced
Patient preparation prior to exercise cardiac stress?
NPO for 6 hours to decrease splanchnic blood flow - decrease liver and bowel uptake.
Calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers should be held to allow the patient to reach target HR.
85% of 220 - age
How does Dipyridamole work for a cardiac stress?
Pharmacologic Vasodilator
Dipyridamole is an adenosine deaminase inhibitor that allows endogenous adenosine to accumulate - a potent vasodilator, increasing coronary blood flow.
Does not increase cardiac work or O2 demand.
Caffeine and theophylline reverse the effects of dipyradmole and must be held for 24 hours.
Antidote is aminophylline (100-200 mg) - has short half life.
Antidote for Dipyridamole cardiac stress?
Aminophylline (100-200 mg)
Caffeine and theophylline must be held for 24 hours
What is Regadenoson?
Adenosine receptor agonist with a 2-3 min half-life. Easier to administer than adenosine with a convenient universal-dose IV injection.
How does Dobutamine work in a cardiac stress?
B1 agonist - increases myocardial oxygen demand.
Usually reserved for when adenosine is contraindicated (severe asthma, COPD, or recent caffeine).
Protocol of a single-day Tc-99m sestamibi perfusion study?
Rest images first obtained after 8-10 mCi Tc-99m sestamibi.
Stress images obtained after additional 20-30 mCi Tc-99m sestamibi administered during peak exercise, or administration of pharmacologic stress.
Imaging does 30 min after injection to allow liver activity to clear. B/c no redistribtion, imaging can be delayed after tracer administration.
Gated SPECT images show wall motion at time of imaging, while perfusion images show perfusion at time of injection.
Difference between Gated SPECT and perfusion images with Tc-99m sestamibi perfusion study?
Gated SPECT images show wall motion at time of imaging.
Perfusion images show perfusion at time of injection.
What are the perfusion agents used for cardiac PET?
Rubidium-82 and N-13 ammonia.
Shorter half-life = higher activity with lower dose.
For quantification of myocardial blood flow, N-13 is preferred as rubidium has a lower extraction fraction.
Which cardiac PET perfusion agent is better for quantification of myocardial blood flow?
N-13 - has a higher extraction fraction than Rubidium.
How is an exercise thallium test imaged?
B/c thallium undergoes redistribution, imaging is performed immediately post-exercise and approximately 3-4 hours later once redistribution has occurred.
Uncommonly used b/c of long 73 hour half life and resultant high patient dose.
How to determine if a perfusion defect on stress images is small, medium, or large?
Small (1-2 segments)
Medium (3-4 segments)
Large (5 or more segments)
What is dilation of the left ventricle during rest called and what does it imply?
Transient ischemic dilation (TID)
Implies three-vessel diesease, even if there is no focal defect.
What are the 3 reconsruction axes and how are they cut?
SA - Short axis - “donut” - apex to base
VLA - Vertical long axis - “U-shaped” pointing to teh left - Septum to free lateral wall
HLA - Horizontal long axis - “U-shaped” pointing down - inferior wall to anterior wall
How many coronary segments are there?
17
What are the radiotracers used for thyroid imaging?
I-131
I-123
Tc-99m pertechnetate
What are the characteristics of I-131?
Emits both beta particles and 364 keV gamma photons (used for imaging)
Half life of 8 days.
Generator produced
What is the keV of gamma photons of I-131?
364 keV
What is the half life of I-131?
8 days
How is I-131 produced?
Generator
What are the characteristics of I-123?
Decays by electron capture and produces 159 keV gamma photons.
Half life of 13 hours.
Expensive. Produced by cyclotron.
Excellent for thyroid imaging. Can image in high detail and obtain thryroid uptake values.
What is the keV of gamma photons of I-123?
159 keV
What is the half life of I-123?
13 hours
How is I-123 produced?
Cyclotron
What is the keV of Tc-99m pertechnetate?
140 keV gamma photon.
What are the characteristics of Tc-99m pertechnetate?
Emits 140 keV gamma photon.
Half life of 6 hours.
Not trapped by the thryoid, unlike iodine, and released into the blood pool. Thyroid uptake is not routinely quantified due to rapid washout, but does provide excellent images of the thyroid gland.
Not specifically localized to the thryoid, high background counts are typical. Salivary gland activity.
Administered IV- iodine is orally.
Tc-99m pertechnetate is preferred over I-123 when patient has received recent IV contrast - iodine in contrast blocks thyroid uptake of additional iodine.
Fetal iodine is take up beginning when in gestation?
12 weeks
I-131 in pregnancy
I-131 contraindicated.
Must stop breastfeeding.
I-123 in breast feeding
Resumed 2-3 days after administration
Tc-99m in breastfeeding
Resume 12-24 hours after administration
Indications for thyroid NM study (I-123 or Tc-99m pertechnetate)
Ectopic thyroid Thyroid nodule Graves Disease Hashimoto Thyroiditis Subacute thyroiditis
Functional thyroid tissue in an ovarian teratoma
Struma ovarii
Risk of malignancy in a cold nodule?
20%
Although MC cause is a colloid cyst.
What is a warm thyroid nodule?
Usually represents a cold nodule with overlapping thyroid tissue
Requires further investigation such as biopsy if oblique views are indeterminate.
What is a discordant thyroid nodule?
“Hot” on Tc-99m and “cold” on I-123.
Maintained ability to uptake Technetium but unable to trap iodine. Biopsy is usually recommended.
What are normal 6 and 24 hours thyroid uptakes?
Normal 6 hour: 6-18%
Normal 24 hour: 10-30%
Can you determine which radiotracer was given on a thyroid scan of Graves disease?
No.
Thyroid uptake can be so strong that the salivary glands are often not seen, causing similar appearance with either radiotracer.
When is I-131 therapy usually done after thyroidectomy?
1-2 months
What is the goal TSH for I-131 therapy?
TSH of 30-50
How is dosing determined for I-131 thrapy?
Dependent on oncologic risk
Low risk (tumor <1.5 cm, no invasion of thyroid capsule): <30 mCi
High risk: 10-200 mCi
The presence of what precludes the ability to monitor thyroglobulin levels?
Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies
Contraindications to I-131 therapy?
Pregnancy, lactation, and inability to comply with radiation safety guidelines
Radiotracer used in parathyroid imaging?
Tc-99m sestamibi
Parathyroid tissue does not take up Tc-99m pertechnetate, which can be administered in indeterminate cases.
What can be given for indeterminate parathyroid cases? Why?
Tc-99m pertechnetate- not taken up by parathyroid tissue.
What radiotracer is used for Liver-Spleen imaging?
Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid
How to Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid work?
Taken up by reticuloendothelial cells - found in liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Also take up by Kupffer cells in liver.
80-90% take up by liver. Most of the remainder by the spleen, and small amount in the bone marrow (not normally seen at typical windowing levels).
What is the biological half life of Sulfur Colloid?
2-3 minutes due to rapid clearance.
Physical half life is 6 hours.
Causes of focal decreased hepatic uptake on sulfur colloid scan?
MC is hepatic cyst - may be difficult to distinguish focal decreased uptake from a photopenic defect if lesion is small.
Most hepatic masses cause focal decreased radiocolloid uptake, including HCC, adenoma, and abscess.
Focal decreased uptake should raise concern for HCC in patient with any risk factors for HCC such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis.