OBJECTIVES:The proper nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer is important for choosing the best treatment modality. Although computed tomography remains the first-line imaging test for the primary staging of lung cancer, its limitations for mediastinum nodal staging are well known. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of hybrid single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography using 99mTc-sestamibi in the nodal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and to identify potential candidates for surgical treatment.METHODS:Prospective data were collected for 41 patients from December 2006 to February 2009. The patients underwent chest computed tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography examinations with 99mTc-sestamibi within a 30-day time period before surgery. Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography was considered positive when there was focal uptake of sestamibi in the mediastinum, and computed tomography scan when there was lymph nodes larger than 10 mm in short axis. The results of single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography were correlated with pathology findings after surgery.RESULTS:Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography correctly identified six out of 19 cases involving hilar lymph nodes and one out of seven cases involving nodal metastases in the mediastinum. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography in the hilum assessment were 31.6%, 95.5%, 85.7%, and 61.8%, respectively. The same values for the mediastinum were 14.3%, 97.1%, 50%, and 84.6%, respectively. For the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, chest tomography showed sensitivity values of 47.4% and 57.1%, specificity values of 95.5% and 91.2%, positive predictive values of 90% and 57.1% and negative predictive values of 67.7% and 91.2%, respectively.CONCLUSION:Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography with 99mTc-sestamibi showed very low sensitivity and accuracy for the nodal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, despite its high level of specificity. In addition, the performance of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography added no relevant information compared to computed tomography that would justify its use in the routine preoperative staging of non-small cell lung carcinoma.

OBJETIVO: As fístulas vesicovaginais e ureterovaginais são complicações incomuns, secundárias a doenças ou a cirurgias pélvicas. O sucesso terapêutico dessas fístulas depende de adequada avaliação pré-operatória para o diagnóstico e visualização do seu trajeto. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de demonstrar o potencial da urorressonância no diagnóstico das fístulas urogenitais e na visualização dos seus trajetos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, os prontuários médicos e as imagens radiológicas e de urorressonância magnética de sete pacientes do sexo feminino com diagnóstico de fístula urogenital. Para a urorressonância foram realizadas seqüências 3D-HASTE com saturação de gordura. RESULTADOS: Seis pacientes apresentavam fístula vesicovaginal e uma paciente tinha diagnóstico de fístula ureterovaginal à direita. Com a utilização da urorressonância magnética, foi possível demonstrar o trajeto da fístula em seis das sete pacientes (85,7%), sem a necessidade de cateterização vesical ou da injeção de contraste. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo demonstra o potencial e a aplicabilidade da urorressonância na avaliação dessas fístulas.