Calculation of accumulation index values is needed in the use of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin scintigraphy as it is the only way to improve specificity for bacterial bone infections. Visual interpretation of results is sensitive, but not specific due to accumulation of the drug in a high percent of non infected bone and joint lesions.

Repeated percutaneous ethanol injections into nontoxic solitary autonomous thyroid nodules result in disappearing of authonomy. The regression of the nodule size of more than 50% compared to its initial volume, as well as the increase in concentration of TSH for more than 50% are the signs of a successful treatment.

Background/Aim. Tibial perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy is considered to be a diagnostic problem. A special place in quantifying muscle microcirculatory perfusion belongs to thallium 201 muscle perfusion scintigraphy (201Tl PS). Thallium, showing the characteristics of potassium (K+), enters a cell by means of active cell transportation and follows erythrocyte up to the tissue. The aim of this study was to determine if 201Tl PS of lower extremities (LE) is a good method for estimating muscle microcirculatory perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy. Methods. The study included 32 patients of an average age 66.1 ± 14.9 years with signs of LE ischemia befalling into III and IV stage of ischemic disease according to the Lariche-Fontain classification. Out of that number there were 27 of the patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), while 5 of the patients were with Burger's disease and Raynand's disorder. Lower extremities PS was performed after 3 min of tibial loading by the use of dorsoplantar foot flexion and intravenous 74 MBq 201Tl as a 10-minute dynamic study. A 10 minute static scintigraphy was carried out of the gluteal region, femurs, tibias and feet per a position and repeated after 3 h at rest in the same projections. The results were interpreted visually and by the semiquantitive method using a program for calculating the number of pulses per pixel in the corresponding region over 1-, 2- and 10-minute dynamic study, thus obtaining numerical data for estimating perfusion. Binding ratio in both legs was estimated visually as low (1), medium (2) and significant (3) difference in both legs. The results were compared with doppler hemodynamic indices (PI and RI). Results. Regardless the group, 201Tl binding intensity rising was significantly 2 min after application, as compared to 1 min, and the obtained level of binding was maintained even after 10 min. In the group Fontain III the majority of the patients showed a medium difference in binding 201Tl (2) in regard to the group Fontain IV with the patients having a low difference (1) between both legs and a significant difference between both legs (3). A statistically significant positive correlation was obtained between the values of RI index regarding distal region of a. tibialis posterior (p < 0.05, r = 0.43), as well as a. tibialis anterior (p = 0.05, r = 0.38). There was no correlation for the PI index. Low collateral net development based on the values for the indices PI and RI showed a less muscle perfusion on 201Tl in regard to medium and well developed collateral net with identical perfusion. Conclusion. The results of lower extremities perfusion scintigraphy are reliable indice of muscle microcilculatory perfusion. There is a statistically significant correlation between the doppler hemodynamic indices and 201Tl perfusion scintigraphy

The obtained values of haemodynamic RI and PI indices should be a novel approach for introducing a new criteria for the assessment of reversible and irreversible critical ischemia of LL using the method od Doppler.

Background/Aim. Although the number of new primary implantation of hip and knee prostheses every year increases, the rate of failed arthroplasty is nearly the same. The main question is whether it is an aseptic instability or instability caused by infection. The aim of this preliminary study was an attempt with combined 99m Tc-ciprofloxacin and 99m Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy to improve diagnostic accuracy in the differentiation of hip and knee prosthesis aseptic loosening and periprosthetic joint infection. Methods. Inclusion criteria of patients for this study were based on suspected periprosthetic joint infection: painful prosthetic joint, restricted joint movements and increased value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate or levels of C-reactive protein. We examined 20 patients with implanted 14 hip and 6 knee prosthesis. All patients also underwent plain radiography of suspected joint. In all patients, three-phase 99m Tc-MDP bone scintigraphy was performed. Three to five days after the bone scan, we performed scintigraphy using 99m Tc-ciprofloxacin with the calculation of accumulation index. Periprosthetic joint infection was confirmed on the basis of microbiological findings.