Standardized uptake values (SUVs) of normal organs were evaluated by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) scanning. Seventy patients (38 men and 32 women) with no non-physiological 18F-FDG uptake participated in the study. All patients fasted for at least 4 h before PET-CT imaging and their fasting blood glucose levels were within the normal range. Image acquisition was performed after intravenous administration of 18F-FDG and images were obtained from the vertex to the upper thigh region. The SUVs of various organs were determined from the transverse views. The uptake of 18F-FDG was highest in the cerebrum, cerebellum, myocardium, tonsils, liver and spleen in both sexes. Having knowledge of the physiological uptake of 18F-FDG and normal organ SUVs is required for the correct interpretation of whole-body 18F-FDG-PET-CT studies.

This study aimed to detect metastases in patients with stage III or IV cutaneous melanoma by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). Thirty-nine patients with clinically evident stage III or IV melanoma underwent whole-body FDG-PET/CT scans for metastatic disease and these results were compared with those of biopsy. Scans for 38 of the patients were evaluated; one patient's scan could not be evaluated. There were 11 true-positive, two false-positive, 24 true-negative and one false-negative scans for the detection of melanoma metastases, with sensitivity 91%, specificity 92%, accuracy 92%, and positive and negative predictive values 84% and 96%, respectively. False-positive FDG-PET/CT scans were due to sarcoidosis in the lung and infected cyst in the liver. It is concluded that FDG-PET/CT scanning has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting stage III or IV metastatic melanoma.

Higher primary tumor FDG uptake predicts higher nodal metastatic potential in cervical cancer patients. Patients with higher SUV(max) in cervical tumor may need a close follow-up because of their higher metastatic potential.

This study aimed to investigate the microvascular pathology in the lower limbs of diabetic patients without symptoms or findings of peripheral ischaemia by measuring perfusion reserve scintigraphically. It was carried out in 47 female subjects who had no evidence of peripheral arterial disease in their history, physical examination or Doppler ultrasonography. The diabetic group consisted of 25 women (mean age 54.2 +/- 3.54 years) with type II diabetes mellitus of more than 10 years' duration. A control group consisted of 22 healthy non-diabetic women (mean age 50.14 +/- 6.75 years). Each subject flexed their right foot maximally both dorsally and plantar 60 times. In the middle of this exercise, 370 MBq technetium-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99Tc(m)-MIBI) was injected intravenously. Ten minutes after the injection, a posterior image of both calves was obtained using a gamma camera. Rectangular regions of interest were symmetrically drawn over both calves. The total count in the resting calf was subtracted from the total count in the exercising calf, and the percentage increase, termed the perfusion reserve, was determined. A significant difference was found between the perfusion reserves of the diabetic and control groups (76.04 +/- 12.96% and 95.91 +/- 12.83%, respectively; P<0.001). In conclusion, microvascular pathology may be determined scintigraphically by measuring the perfusion reserve in the lower limb muscles in diabetic patients. This method may also be used to evaluate perfusion abnormalities in other circulatory disorders.

Primary renal synovial sarcoma is a rarely seen renal neoplasm. An experienced uropathologist is needed to make the pathological diagnosis. A patient, operated on with a prediagnosis of renal cell carcinoma, the pathology of which was reported as synovial sarcoma, is presented in this article. 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography were performed preoperatively and in the postoperative follow-up to detect the primary tumor and lymph node metastases.