<p><strong>Objective:</strong> Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis may be associated with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) in multiple ways. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CIMT) is an important parameter for early atherosclerotic change. Previously several studies addressed the association between SCH and CIMT. Some studies indicate that SCH might be related to increase CIMT, while other studies revealed no significant association.   The aim of the study was to further examine the relationship between CIMT and SCH patients in our own laboratory setting in Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Patients and Methods: </strong>This cross sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Dhaka Medical College Hospital Campus, Dhaka during the period of January 2016 to October 2016. The study included 56 consecutive patients. Out of 56 patients, 26 were in SCH group and 30 were in euthyroid control group. CIMT was measured in each subject via High resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Data were analyzed between these two groups in respect to age, sex, BMI, and mean CIMT.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 56 subjects, 26 were SCH group and 30 were euthyroid control group. Male to female ratio was 3:23 and 9:21 in SCH and control groups respectively. The mean age was 30±7.4 and 32±8.7 years in SCH and control groups respectively. The mean BMI was 25.6±4.7 kg/m² in SCH and 25.1±4.1 kg/m² in control group. The mean CIMT was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in SCH group (Right-0.80±0.05 mm, Left-0.80±0.07 mm) than control group (Right-0.60±0.05 mm, Left- 0.61±0.05 mm). SCH group was further subdivided into two groups with a cut off value of serum TSH at 10 mIU/L.  The mean CIMT was significantly higher in SCH with TSH above 10 mIU/L than SCH group with TSH less than 10 mIU/L (p≤0.05). Pearson’s rank correlation test showed significant positive correlation between both CIMT and TSH values.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that CIMT was significantly higher in SCH group than euthyroid control group. The CIMT values were positively correlated with the TSH values. Therefore we may conclude that SCH is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis  in addition to other  classical risk factors.</p><p>Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 19(2): 123-127, July 2016</p>

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Lung cancer is the third most common site of origin of metastatic cancer deposits in bone, after breast and prostate. It's metastasis to bone is one of the most aggressive tumors and has a very unfavorable prognosis. This retrospective descriptive study was designed to detect the skeletal metastasis of carcinoma (Ca) lung patient by Tc 99m MDP bone scan. The medical records of all patients attended between January 2015 and July 2015 with a diagnosis of lung cancer were reviewed. Lung cancer in all patients was confirmed pathologically, and patients underwent whole-body bone scan for evaluating skeletal metastasis. Patient with clinical and laboratory evidence of infection, trauma, metabolic disease or arthropathy were not included in the study. Bone scan was done after three hours of intravenous administration of 20mci Tc 99m MDP (methylene diphosphonate) and images were obtained on a gamma camera. The mean age of the patients was Mean ± SD was 55.5 ± 12.5 with range from 31 to 90 years. Out of 47 cases, 36 (76.59%) were diagnosed as positive for skeletal metastasis by bone scan and 11 (23.41%) were negative for bony metastasis. Among 36 positive patients, 28 patients (77.86%) were histopathologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, 7 patients (19.44%) had squamous cell carcinoma and only one patient (2,7%) had small cell carcinoma. Bone scan findings were compared by either conventional X-ray/CT scan/MRI /pathologically. In present study, the distribution of lesions in bone scan had recorded. Maximum 47.22 % lesions were found in ribs, 27.77% lesions were in lumbar vertebrae, 19.44% in thoracic vertebrae, 19.44% in joints, 16.66% in long bones (femur and humerus), 11.11% in skull bones, 22.22% in pelvic bones, 5.55% in clavicle and 2.77% in scapula. Tc 99m MDP bone scan plays a pivotal role for detection of skeletal metastasis which is very essential to manage Ca lung patient. As bone scintigraphy is very cost effective in govt. nuclear medicine centre in comparison to other imaging modalities, so it can play a major role in detecting skeletal metastasis in ca lung patients in a developing country like Bangladesh.

<p><strong><em>Background:</em></strong> With the advancement of science, the scope of thyroid uptake in diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases has become limited. Uptake test with ^99mTc<strong> </strong>pertechnetate along with a thyroid scan, which is done almost routinely, could be a better option when needed. This will not only exempt the patients from relatively higher radiation burden but also cause significant reduction of procedural time. Moreover, the thyroid image we get along with the uptake may guide with additional information. This study was done to provide preliminary data regarding thyroid uptake test with ^99mTc<strong> </strong>in our population and to assess the possibilities of introducing this safer and convenient radionuclide in our routine practice.</p><p><strong><em>Patients and methods:</em></strong> This cross sectional, comparative study was conducted from January to December of 2015 on 59 participants in Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Dhaka. Patients coming for a radioactive iodine uptake test along with a thyroid scan were enrolled. Uptake of ^99mTc pertechnetate at 20 minutes and at 24 hours was measured. Data were analyzed between the two uptake values based on clinical conditions, serum TSH levels and gland size.</p><p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong> Almost perfect agreement and a strong positive correlation (Kappa value=0.933 &amp; r =0.845) were found between the results of two modalities. The hyperthyroid group showed a moderate agreement (k=0.5) and a moderate positive correlation (r=0.6). The participants with thyroiditis revealed a perfect agreement (k=1) and a strong positive correlation (r=0.981). Almost perfect correlation was found between participants with enlarged and non-enlarged glands (r=0.776 &amp; 0.801 respectively). Agreement analysis revealed almost perfect agreement (k=0.88) in the group with enlarged and moderate agreement (k=0.6) in participants with non-enlarged glands. Low serum TSH group showed perfect agreement (k=1.0) and a strong positive correlation (r=0.748). The group with normal TSH level revealed a perfect agreement with k=1 but a moderate correlation (r=0.418).</p><p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> Good agreement and correlation were found between thyroid uptakes of ^99mTc at 20 minutes by gamma camera and that of at 24 hours. Agreement and correlation in different clinical settings also showed consistency. So, ^99mTc may be considered for uptake test in a regular basis in the limited fields where an uptake is still required as it may yield a reliable result in a simple, quicker and more convenient method.</p><p>Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 20(2): 105-109, July 2017</p>