The problem of spinal cord compression (SCC) related to extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) patients, both clinically and radiologically and its correlation with laboratory parameters of anemia and hemosiderosis was assessed. Sixty beta-thal patients were included and divided into group I: 40 beta-thal major patients (beta-TM), aged 7-30 years with a mean age of 15 +/- 5.3 years, group II: 20 beta-thal intermedia patients (beta-TI) aged 6-20 years with a mean age of 13 +/- 4.6 years. They were subjected to neurological examination, thoracic and lumbosacral computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Spinal EMH was found in 13.3% of the thalassemic patients with a higher incidence in beta-TI compared to beta-TM patients (p = 0.03). Evidence of spinal EMH was associated with higher serum ferritin (p < 0.0001), lower pre transfusion hemoglobin (Hb) (p = 0.002) and lower transfusion index (p = 0.01). Extramedullary hematopoiesis was more evident in young beta-TI patients, and was related to inadequate chelation, high serum ferritin and inadequate transfusion therapy.

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Purpose: To compare findings in fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) in patients with extra-nodal lymphoma by using a combined PET/CT scanner. Methods and Materials:Between 2011 and April 2013, seventy seven patients with confirmed pathology of Hodgkin (32 patients) and Non Hodgkin lymphoma (45 patients) with extranodal involvement diagnosed at Nasser Institute Cancer Center (NICC), ministry of health, Cairo, Egypt. After collection of the two reports separately, combined reading was allowed afterwards, and the differences were recorded for our study.Results: PET-CT is very effective in detection of lesions in the bone and bone marrow, few patients may have CT finding without corresponding FDG uptake, CT without PET may be very effective in detecting recurrences in soft tissue, renal and GIT extrannodal lymphoma. Conclusion:PET scan is more sensitive than the CT used alone, and the combination PET-CT can be considered the standard of care for detection of extranodal lymphomas excluding soft tissue, renal and GI lymphomas.

Whole body PET/CT study was performed on 32 patients of variable primary & secondary chest tumors who were under evaluation for primary or secondary chest tumors by recent CT, referred for staging before treatment and / or follow up after treatment. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that FDG PET/CT has an important impact on diagnosis & management of chest tumors , as it delineated the metabolic activity of the disease in 19 patients (59.4 %), outlined the metabolic activity of the tumoral residue in 6 patients (18.75%) , differentiated between tumoral residue & post irradiation pneumonitis in 1 patient (3.1%), followed up the therapeutic response in 4 patients (12.5 %), differentiated between residual mass & post therapeutic fibrosis in 1 patient (3.1%) and delineated the metabolic activity of the disease for preparing for BMT in 1 patient (3.1%) and so had an impact on the management of chest tumor patients. CONCLUSION: By recognizing the relevant radiologic and metabolic behavior of chest tumors, understanding the appropriateness of staging disease with the TNM classification system, and being familiar with potential imaging pitfalls, PET/CT can make an important contribution to diagnosis, treatment and outcome in chest tumor patients.