The Journal of Nuclear Medicine 

About: The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is an academic journal published by Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Scintigraphy & Biodistribution. It has an ISSN identifier of 0161-5505. Over the lifetime, 21894 publications have been published receiving 798738 citations. The journal is also known as: Journal of Nuclear Medicine & JNM.

From RECIST to PERCIST: Evolving Considerations for PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to review the status and limitations of anatomic tumor response metrics including the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and RECIST 1.1. This article also reviews qualitative and quantitative approaches to metabolic tumor response assessment with 18 F-FDG PET and proposes a draft framework for PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST), version 1.0. Methods: PubMed searches, including searches for the terms RECIST, positron, WHO, FDG, cancer (including specific types), treatment response, region of interest, and derivative references, were performed. Abstracts and articles judged most relevant to the goals of this report were reviewed with emphasis on limitations and strengths of the anatomic and PET approaches to treatment response assessment. On the basis of these data and the authors’ experience, draft criteria were formulated for PET tumor response to treatment. Results: Approximately 3,000 potentially relevant references were screened. Anatomic imaging alone using standard WHO, RECIST, and RECIST 1.1 criteria is widely applied but still has

A combined PET/CT scanner for clinical oncology.

Abstract: The availability of accurately aligned, whole-body anatomical (CT) and functional (PET) images could have a significant impact on diagnosing and staging malignant disease and on identifying and localizing metastases. Computer algorithms to align CT and PET images acquired on different scanners are generally successful for the brain, whereas image alignment in other regions of the body is more problematic. Methods: A combined PET/CT tomograph with the unique capability of acquiring accurately aligned functional and anatomical images for any part of the human body has been designed and built. The PET/CT scanner was developed as a combination of a Siemens Somatom AR.SP spiral CT and a partial-ring, rotating ECAT ART PET scanner. All components are mounted on a common rotational support within a single gantry. The PET and CT components can be operated either separately, or in combined mode. In combined mode, the CT images are used to correct the PET data for scatter and attenuation. Fully quantitative whole-body images are obtained for an axial extent of 100 cm in an imaging time of less than 1 h. When operated in PET mode alone, transmission scans are acquired with dual 137Cs sources. Results: The scanner is fully operational and the combined device has been operated successfully in a clinical environment. Over 110 patients have been imaged, covering a range of different cancers, including lung, esophageal, head and neck, melanoma, lymphoma, pancreas, and renal cell. The aligned PET and CT images are used both for diagnosing and staging disease and for evaluating response to therapy. We report the first performance measurements from the scanner and present some illustrative clinical studies acquired in cancer patients. Conclusion: A combined PET and CT scanner is a practical and effective approach to acquiring co-registered anatomical and functional images in a single scanning session.

Efficient Stereospecific Synthesis of No-Carrier-Added 2-[18F]-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Using Aminopolyether Supported Nucleophilic Substitution

Abstract: An aminopolyether mediated synthesis of fluorine-18 (18F) 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) has been developed. The nucleophilic fluorination with accelerator-produced [18F]fluoride works at the no-carrier-added level and gives epimerically pure 2-18FDG with an uncorrected radiochemical yield of a maximum 50% in a synthesis time of approximately 50 min from EOB.

Partial-Volume Effect in PET Tumor Imaging

Abstract: PET has the invaluable advantage of being intrinsically quantitative, enabling accurate measurements of tracer concentrations in vivo. In PET tumor imaging, indices characterizing tumor uptake, such as standardized uptake values, are becoming increasingly important, especially in the context of monitoring the response to therapy. However, when tracer uptake in small tumors is measured, large biases can be introduced by the partial-volume effect (PVE). The purposes of this article are to explain what PVE is and to describe its consequences in PET tumor imaging. The parameters on which PVE depends are reviewed. Actions that can be taken to reduce the errors attributable to PVE are described. Various PVE correction schemes are presented, and their applicability to PET tumor imaging is discussed.

OLINDA/EXM: the second-generation personal computer software for internal dose assessment in nuclear medicine.

Abstract: The OLINDA/EXM version 1.0 personal computer code was created as a replacement for the widely used MIRDOSE3.1 code. This paper documents the basic function of the code and how it is similar to and different from the MIRDOSE software. Methods: After creation of the code and α- and β-testing phases, a premarket notification submission (510(k)) was filed with the Food and Drug Administration to permit marketing of the code. Permission was granted in June 2004, and the code is currently being distributed through Vanderbilt University. Not all of the technical details of the dosimetry methods have been shown here, as they have been previously documented. Results: Agreement of doses between the MIRDOSE3.1 and OLINDA/EXM codes was good, within 1%–2% in most cases. Conclusion: The extensive testing of the OLINDA/EXM code, based on comparison with literature-established dose calculations and with the widely tested and accepted MIRDOSE3.1 code, should give users confidence in its output. The OLINDA/EXM code should be easy for MIRDOSE users to adopt and for new users to understand. It will be useful in standardizing and automating internal dose calculations, assessing doses in clinical trials with radiopharmaceuticals, making theoretic calculations for existing pharmaceuticals, teaching, and other purposes.