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http://www.eanm.org/infocorner/infocorner_020905.html

September 5, 2002

Nuclear Medicine improves accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients

The European Association for Nuclear Medicine (EANM), which has its

headquarters in Vienna, was hosting the 15th Congress for Nuclear Medicine

from 31 August to 4 September 2002. The latest knowledge on new diagnostic

tools in cancer, neurology and cardiology, and new techniques and treatments

were presented at the end of the congress.

The major findings of this European Congress were addressed:

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1. PET is fastest growing imaging modality

2. Nuclear Cardiology offers " one-stop-shop "

3. Improved tests available in neurology/psychiatry

4. Benefits of new nuclear treatments

PET is fastest growing imaging modality

The first of the key topics was dedicated to " Positron Emission Tomography "

(PET) and the combination of PET with computer tomography (CT). PET

currently is the fastest growing imaging modality in medicine. This most

advanced diagnostic procedure is nowadays mainly used for diagnosing and

staging cancer patients. The use of PET can reduce unnecessary treatments

and reduce costs. The PLUS Study performed at Amsterdam for example showed

that with the use of PET in lung cancer, the percentage of unnecessary

surgery could be reduced by 50%. Data were presented showing can even be

more accurate when CT is added, with accuracies of 97% in colorectal cancer.

In the USA the use of PET grew by 35.6% in 2002 according to a study made by

Frost & Sullivan and is expected to grow another 20% next year. The EANM

plans to focus on PET by installing an international educational center for

PET in Vienna.

Nuclear Cardiology offers " one-stop-shop "

The second key topic addressed nuclear cardiological techniques used in the

process of decision-making for further treatment as well as the concept of

" one-stop shop " - according to which, with one single examination on one

piece of equipment information can be provided about perfusion, local

vitality of heart tissue and function of the heart in the sense of

contractility. These factors are of critical importance for the decision

regarding the most suitable type of therapy for individual patients. Not

only gated SPECT imaging was used to provide information about heart

function and perfusion, but also cardiac PET as well as new, molecular

imaging techniques, thus providing optimal means to diagnose and monitor

cardiac events.

Improved tests available in neurology/psychiatry

Encouraging data were presented regarding molecular imaging techniques,

helping to diagnose neurological diseases like Parkinson's syndrome,

epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease more accurately. As shown by the DaTSCAN

CUPS Study Group, the use of 123I-Ioflupane changed planned clinical

management in 72% of patients suspected to have Parkinson's syndrome.

Special attention was paid to the use of 11C-raclopride in patients with

early Huntington's disease, since this research project from the University

Hospitals from Ulm and Bochum was awarded with the Marie Curie Award 2002,

the most prestigeous prize of the EANM.

Benefits of therapy increasingly recognized

During the past days, plenary lectures with high impact were given about

novel treatments with radioactive compounds. At present, the major group of

patients who will benefit from new radioimmunotherapy, a nuclide treatment

using radiolabeled antibodies, are patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Up

to 80% of patients, for whom no therapeutic options were left after multiple

treatments with chemotherapy and external beam radiation, responded to

treatment with radioactive antibodies. Another successful treatment was

presented by the Rotterdam group showing their data on the use of peptides

in patients with gastroenteropancreatic tumors. With lutetium-177 labelled

octreotate, 38% of the patients showed an objective response to treatment.

At present, studies are being conducted to improve the outcome in patients

and to optimise the treatment by using new tracers and combinations of

radionuclides, like yttrium-90 and lutetium-177 as demonstrated by the

Rotterdam group.

Further information

Mag. Bauer

+43 (1) 212 80 30

a.bauer@...

Dr. Eva Willi

+43 (676) 705 4 507

eva.willi@...

http://www.eanm.org