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Since 1991 we have known that the entire abdominal musculature has a distinct resting tone. All other muscles lose their tension almost completely during the resting phase. Only the craniopharyngeal and anorectal sphincter systems retain natural spontaneous activity, which ceases only when a hollow organ is opened. This permanent natural spontaneous activity is extremely sensitive. For example, it increases during coughing and speech. With combined positron emission and computed tomography, it is possible to observe and measure this natural spontaneous activity in the adjacent musculature very clearly. This fact is important for understanding and therapy of the function and failure of sphincter systems.

The aim of this study was to optimise radioiodine therapy of diffuse and nodular toxic goitre by calculation of the radiation dose delivered to the thyroid on the basis of the pretreatment technetium-99m pertechnetate thyroid uptake under thyrotropin suppression (TcTU(s)). The TcTU(s) value serves as a substitute for the non-suppressible iodine turnover and the functional autonomous mass. Marinelli's formula was used to calculate tissue absorbed doses of 150 Gy, 200 Gy, 250 Gy and 300 Gy to the thyroids of 438 patients with multifocal and disseminated autonomy. The mean age of patients was 70+/-9 years, and the mean thyroid volume was 54+/-26 ml. Two hundred and sixty-one of the patients had at least one documented previous episode of overt hyperthyroidism. Tissue absorbed doses were adapted to the pretreatment TcTU(s): 150 Gy for a TcTU(s) of 1.5%-2.49%, 200 Gy for a TcTU(s) of 2.5%-3.49%, 250 Gy for a TcTU(s) of 3.5%-4.49% and 300 Gy for a TcTU(s) of > or =4.5%. Normalisation of TcTU(s) and thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid volume reduction and frequency of hypothyroidism and recurrent hyperthyroidism were evaluated 1 year after a single radioiodine therapy. The presented dose strategy resulted in normalisation of TcTU(s) in 96% and an increase in TSH to the normal range in 92%. Recurrent hyperthyroidism was observed in only five patients. Thyroid volume decreased from 54+/-26 before treatment to 34+/-20 ml, a mean reduction of 37%. The frequency of hypothyroidism, at 0.9%, was encouragingly low. Dose selection in accordance with pretreatment TcTU(s) can be recommended for elimination of functional autonomous tissue with a single radioiodine therapy in patients of advanced age with enlarged thyroid glands and relevant autonomous masses who are at risk of developing iodine-induced hyperthyroidism.

This retrospective study compared the effects of single and multiple administrations of 186 Re-HEDP) on palliation and survival of prostate cancer patients presenting with more than 5 skeletal metastases. Methods: A total of 60 patients were divided into 3 groups. Group A (n 5 19) consisted of patients who had received a single injection; group B (n 5 19), patients who had 2 injections; and group C (n 5 22), patients who had 3 or more successive injections. The 188 Re-HEDP was prepared using non-carrieradded 188 Re obtained from an in-house 188 W/ 188 Re generator after dilution with carrier perrhenate. Patients' data available from the referring physicians-including prostate-specific antigen levels-were entered into a Windows-based matrix and analyzed using a statistical program. The Gleason scores were similar for all 3 groups. Results: Mean survival from the start of treatment was 4.50 6 0.81 mo (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.92-6.08) for group A, 9.98 6 2.21 mo (95% CI, 5.65-14.31) for group B, and 15.66 6 3.23 (95% CI, 9.33-22.0) for group C. Although the 3 groups did not differ in Gleason score, the number of lost life-years was significantly lower in group C than in groups A and B. Pain palliation was achieved in 89.5% of group A, 94.7% of group B, and 90.9% of group C. Conclusion: Posttreatment overall survival could be improved from 4.50 to 15.66 mo by multiple-injection bone-targeted therapy with 188 Re-HEDP, when compared with a single injection. Significant pain palliation was common and independent of administration frequency. Bone metastases are frequent and encountered by all physicians treating oncologic patients (1). About 50% of prostate cancer patients will develop bone metastases, which are predominantly osteoblastic. The osteolytic type has the tendency to develop fractures resulting in serious morbidity. Chronic pain syndrome is the most important complication of bone metastases and has a negative impact on quality of life. Many of these patients are candidates for radionuclide therapy, since as many as 50% of patients are reported to receive only inadequate pain treatment by alternative methods (2).Radionuclide therapy of bone metastases was first used decades ago by administration of 32 P (3), which is incorporated in the DNA of rapidly proliferating bone marrow cells as well as in the trabecular and cortical bone structures. A relatively low 1:2 ratio of normal bone to metastatic tissue has been estimated (4). More recently, a variety of b-emitting radioisotopes has been investigated for therapy of bone metastases. The maximal b-energy of these radioisotopes is in the range of 0.8-2.3 MeV, with an average b-energy between 0.27 and 0.8 MeV (Table 1). 89 Sr-chloride and ionic 90 Y are both calcium analogs that are sequestered as cations by bone in relation to the intensity of osseous metabolism (5-9). 89 Sr is excreted renally to 70%-90% and is eliminated from the vascular compartment within the first few hours (10). Except for bone uptake and excretion via the urinary system, there i...

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