Journal of nuclear medicine technology最新文献

{"title":"Structured Educational Tours in Hospital-Based Radiopharmaceutical Production: Balancing Safety and Learning.","authors":"Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Masaki Kato, Akiko Higaki, Shingo Tanahashi, Kento Maeda, Yutaro Hamajima","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.126.272040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.126.272040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Educational tours in radiopharmaceutical production facilities are often considered difficult to implement because of strict safety regulations, confidentiality requirements, and operational constraints. However, when appropriately designed, such tours can function as structured educational activities rather than simple facility visits. Here, we describe the design and implementation of educational tours conducted in a hospital-based radiopharmaceutical production facility, with particular emphasis on training radiologic technology students and early-career technologists. A notable feature of these tours was that explanations and guidance were provided primarily by radiologic technologists who had been trained through routine ¹⁸F-FDG production activities, allowing participants to observe professional role development in a clinical setting. Rather than providing unrestricted access, the tours were intentionally structured to highlight decision-making processes, safety management, and interprofessional collaboration. Qualitative observations indicated that participants' questions shifted from generalized concerns about radiation risk toward a more operational understanding of radiopharmaceutical production and professional responsibility. These findings suggest that well-designed facility tours can serve as an effective educational framework for nuclear medicine technology training while maintaining safety and confidentiality.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nonuniformity in a Certified ⁶⁸Ge PET Cylinder Phantom: Implications for Normalization Quality Assurance.","authors":"Subhash Kheruka, Sana Al-Rashdi, Naema Al-Maymani, Anas Al-Balushi, Tasnim Al-Raii, Noura Al-Makhmari, Vipin Jayakrishnan, Anjali Jain, Khulood Al-Riyami, Rashid Al-Sukaiti","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quantitative PET imaging depends critically on the accuracy of system normalization and uniformity calibration. We report a manufacturing defect in a certified RadQual ⁶⁸Ge PET cylinder phantom (BMCY68-2030A-03), a standard reference used for normalization and daily quality control in Siemens Biograph Vision scanners. A localized hot spot was identified within the phantom, producing integral uniformity greater than 8.5% (acceptance limit ≤5%). The nonuniformity was intrinsic to the phantom material and rendered it unsuitable for quantitative use. This finding underscores the importance of independent acceptance testing of long-lived ⁶⁸Ge standards before clinical deployment to prevent calibration bias and ensure reliable SUV quantification.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pictorial Essay of [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT in the Evaluation of Suspected Infection of Cardiac Devices and Infective Endocarditis: Patient Preparation, Pathophysiologic Findings, and Interpretation.","authors":"Austin Saju, Sunita Sonavane, Keyur Rajendra Rathod, Hetan C Shah, Sandip Basu","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271747","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271747","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In addition to the standard viability assessment, cardiac [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT is used in cases of infection, inflammation, innervation, and infiltrative pathologies. Unlike for myocardial viability assessment, these conditions require a specific patient preparation protocol aimed at suppressing physiologic myocardial glucose uptake. Despite adequate patient preparation, various patterns of [¹⁸F]FDG uptake are noted in the myocardium, which correlate with the cardiac physiology as reflected by the clinical, echocardiographic, and anatomic findings. Surgical manipulation with implantation of various prosthetic devices for conditions such as congenital heart disease, valvular pathologies, conduction abnormalities, and ischemic heart diseases make diagnostic imaging challenging because of the complex anatomy and presence of highly attenuating material. The high sensitivity of [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT to detect physiologic alterations-such as in cases of infection, inflammation, or infiltration, despite the altered anatomy or presence of highly attenuating material-makes [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT an essential tool for early and accurate diagnosis. This illustrative communication aims to highlight the different patterns of [¹⁸F]FDG uptake in various pathophysiologic conditions of the heart and in infection of prosthetic cardiac devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Importance of Protocol Standards in the Preparation of Breast Sentinel Node Injections.","authors":"Matia K Gioeli, David Gilmore","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.270840","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.270840","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the manipulation of dose preparation, there is always the possibility of error. Errors can include, but are not limited to, loss of activity to be administered or risk of contamination. This research focuses on reducing the loss of activity in the preparation of breast sentinel node injections by setting a standard recorded dose. The recorded dose is the measurement of activity after all manipulations (the dilution and change of the needle). Improving the likelihood of accurate readings and strengthening the reliability of sentinel node identification can lead to improved patient outcomes and procedural effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mediastinal Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma Mimicking Thyroid Follicular Adenoma.","authors":"Rongkui Luo, Hongyan Yin, Yingyong Hou","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.126.272432","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.126.272432","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 58-y-old woman presented with markedly elevated serum parathyroid hormone (777.7 pg/mL) and hypercalcemia. A ^99mTc-sestamibi scan revealed focal radiotracer accumulation in the upper anterior mediastinum. The lesion was surgically removed. Initial histopathology suggested follicular thyroid adenoma. Because the laboratory findings strongly indicated hyperparathyroidism, further immunohistochemical staining for parathyroid hormone and GATA-binding protein 3 was performed, confirming mediastinal ectopic parathyroid adenoma. This case highlights the importance of correlating imaging, laboratory, and immunohistochemistry findings when interpreting mediastinal lesions with ^99mTc-sestamibi uptake.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Point-Spread Function Modeling on Image Quality in ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT.","authors":"Subhash Chand Kheruka, Naema Al-Maymani, Noura Al-Makhmari, Sura Al-Rawahi, Alyamama Al-Subhi, Huda Al-Saidi, Sana Al-Rashdi, Anas Al-Balushi, Amna Al-Jabri, Khulood Al-Riyami, Rashid Al-Sukaiti, Anjali Jain, Muhammad Sharjeel Usmani","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of 2 PET reconstruction methods-time of flight (TOF) and TOF with point-spread function (PSF) modeling (TOF + PSF)-on image quality and measured quantitative metrics in ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT for prostate cancer. <b>Methods:</b> This retrospective analysis included 36 patients with prostate cancer who underwent ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT at the Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Center between October 2022 and February 2024. PET data were reconstructed using TOF and TOF + PSF on a Biograph Vision 600 system. The quantitative parameters compared were SUV_mean, prostate-specific membrane antigen tumor volume (PSMA-TV), total lesion uptake (TLU), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and lesion-to-background ratio (LBR; lesion SUV_mean/background SUV_mean). Paired <i>t</i> tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used as appropriate, and agreement between reconstructions was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis. <b>Results:</b> Compared with TOF, TOF + PSF yielded a significantly higher SUV_mean (mean difference, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08-1.75; <i>P</i> < 0.001), SNR (mean difference, 23.31; 95% CI, 18.34-28.28; <i>P</i> < 0.001), CNR (mean difference, 23.54; 95% CI, 18.62-28.47; <i>P</i> < 0.001), LBR (mean difference, 8.0; 95% CI, 5.85-10.16; <i>P</i> < 0.0001), and TLU (mean difference, 3.62; 95% CI, 2.40-4.84; <i>P</i> < 0.001). PSMA-TV showed no significant difference between reconstructions (mean difference, 0.0052; 95% CI, -0.0154 to 0.0257; <i>P</i> = 0.626). Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a systematic positive bias for TOF + PSF in SUV_mean, SNR, CNR, LBR, and TLU. Because PSF modeling can increase SUV-based measurements via resolution recovery and edge effects, these increases should be interpreted as reconstruction-dependent changes in relative contrast rather than confirmed improvements in absolute quantitative accuracy without ground-truth validation. <b>Conclusion:</b> TOF + PSF reconstruction improves image quality and increases SUV-based and contrast-related metrics in ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT and thus may enhance the conspicuity of small or low-contrast lesions. Phantom-based validation is recommended to determine the extent to which these reconstruction-dependent differences translate into improved absolute quantitative accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Importance of Region-of-Interest Placement in Gastric Emptying Studies with Small Bowel Activity at Time 0.","authors":"Paige Bennett, Jenna N Mirabile, Kenneth J Nichols, Christopher J Palestro","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gastric emptying is assessed in nuclear medicine by having patients consume a standardized radioactive meal, followed by imaging after meal ingestion (time 0) and at each hour up to 4 h. Usually, all of the meal is in the stomach at time 0. However, in some patients, a portion is in the small bowel at time 0. This study evaluates the effects of region-of-interest (ROI) placement on gastric retention percentages when meal is present in small bowel at time 0. <b>Methods:</b> In 624 patients who underwent gastric emptying scintigraphy, images were examined retrospectively for small bowel activity at time 0 (small bowel sign). We analyzed gastric retention by comparing time 0 ROIs drawn around the stomach and those drawn around the stomach plus small bowel. ROIs were drawn around the stomach at 1-4 h after meal ingestion. An equal number of age- and sex-matched patients without the small bowel sign were evaluated. Qualitative assessment was used to determine whether most counts were in the gastric fundus or antrum at time 0. <b>Results:</b> The small bowel sign was present in 8.3% of patients (52/624). Over 1-4 h, the mean initial ROIs without bowel analysis were significantly higher than those with bowel analysis (38% ± 36% vs. 30% ± 30%, <i>P</i> < 0.0001). A normal gastric retention value of no more than 10% at 4 h was found in 94.2% of patients (49/52) using the initial ROI without bowel analysis and in 100% of patients (52/52) using the initial ROI with bowel analysis. Rapid gastric transit (retention of ≤30% at 1 h) was seen in 3.8% of cases (2/52) using the initial ROI without bowel analysis and in 9.6% of cases (5/52) using the initial ROI with bowel analysis (<i>P</i> not significant). At time 0, most counts were in the antrum in 33% of patients with the small bowel sign versus 8% in patients without the small bowel sign (<i>P</i> = 0.001). <b>Conclusion:</b> In patients with a portion of the meal in the small bowel on time 0 images, the exclusion of small bowel counts on ROI analysis can lead to spuriously high 1- and 4-h gastric retention values. This can lead to underdiagnosis of rapid gastric transit at 1 h and overdiagnosis of delayed gastric emptying at 4 h.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Evaluation of 3 Cardiac Software Packages for Analysis of MPI and Derived Quantitative Parameters Vis-à-Vis 2D Echocardiography.","authors":"Amal Paul, Ashwini Kalshetty, Sandip Basu","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271444","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271444","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography are used for evaluating left ventricular function and ejection fraction (EF). This study aimed to validate the semiquantitative and functional parameters derived from 3 available software packages (Emory Cardiac Toolbox, Cardiogam, and Myovation Evolution) and compare the software-derived EF with that obtained with 2D echocardiography. <b>Methods:</b> This prospective investigation included 370 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. The participants were stratified into 3 groups on the basis of their left ventricular EF determined by 2D echocardiography. The semiquantitative parameters (summed rest score, summed stress score, summed difference score) and quantitative parameters (defect extent, transient ischemic dilation, EF, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and stroke volume) derived from each software platform were analyzed. Spearman rank correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plot analysis were used to assess the relationships among these parameters within the entire cohort and across the 3 subgroups. <b>Results:</b> A strong correlation was found among the parameters across the 3 software programs. Groupwise comparison revealed that group 3 (EF < 50%) exhibited the highest consistency in parameter agreement across software packages. EFs also showed good concordance with 2D echocardiography, particularly in group 3. Among the software packages, Myovation Evolution demonstrated the closest alignment with 2D echocardiography for EF assessment. <b>Conclusion:</b> Although the Emory Cardiac Toolbox, Cardiogam, and Myovation Evolution showed strong correlation among each other and with 2D echocardiography for several parameters, notable differences exist in their diagnostic accuracy and levels of automation. To address these differences, we recommend using the same software for myocardial perfusion quantification method when assessing patients over time or comparing results between them.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148210815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interlesional Heterogeneity Between [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTATATE and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT After [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE PRRT in Well-Differentiated NET with Progressive Disease.","authors":"Rahul Vithalrao Parghane, Roopal Agrawal, Sandip Basu","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271544","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271544","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Theranostics is the main treatment strategy for well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), using somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-based PET/CT and radiopharmaceutical therapy. SSTR-based PET/CT is an important imaging tool to detect progressive disease after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, but it sometimes fails to detect disease because of downregulation of SSTRs or changes in grade. Recently introduced fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT may serve as a promising imaging modality for high-proliferative NETs. A unique case of a pancreatic NET (grade II) is illustrated, which showed progressive liver and skeletal metastatic disease after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy and an increase in grade (Ki-67 proliferation index, 40%-50%) with variable tracer avidity and interlesional heterogeneity on [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTATATE (no SSTR uptake in liver lesions) and [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT (intensely tracer-avid liver lesions and non-tracer-avid skeletal lesions). We found that [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT may be used as a complementary imaging modality to detect FAPI-avid lesions and be considered as another theranostic pair with SSTR-based radiopharmaceutical therapy in patients with NETs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diffuse Liver and Renal Cortical Uptake on ^99mTc-MDP Bone Scintigraphy After Iron Infusion.","authors":"Ethanyn T Lim, Winnie Lam, Sarah B Tai","doi":"10.2967/jnmt.125.271607","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2967/jnmt.125.271607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bone scintigraphy can reveal extraosseous radiotracer uptake that mimics significant pathology. We report a case of diffuse hepatic and renal cortical uptake on ^99mTc-methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy after a recent intravenous iron infusion. Recognition of this imaging pitfall is crucial to prevent unnecessary investigations. Correlation with clinical and drug history is essential when interpreting unusual radiotracer biodistribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":16548,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nuclear medicine technology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}