Guide for Nuclear Medicine Applications During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Journal Title: Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy - Year 2020, Vol 29, Issue 2
Abstract
A viral pneumonia rapidly spread from Wuhan, China to all countries in late 2019. In February 2020, WHO named as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and declared the pandemic on March 11, 2020. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Ministry of Health of Republic of Turkey and international institutions have published documents defining hygiene rules. After the lung computerized tomography (CT) findings which are important in the diagnosis of COVID-19 are described, protection measures against infection were defined in radiology departments. There is no publication involving protection measures for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in nuclear medicine (NM) (appointment, patient acceptance, imaging and treatment procedures, disinfection etc). There are two reports on CT findings suggesting COVID-19 in 18F--fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT scan. These lung findings detected in hybrid images will be helpful in the early diagnosis of pulmonary involvement. Infected cases may be asymptomatic and can unintentionally disseminate the virus to surrounding people. This advisory guide has been prepared to avoid infection risk in NM clinics. During the COVID-19 outbreak, staff must use proper personal protective equipment and patients should be evaluated as the elective case according to clinical status. A questionnaire should be made for COVID-19. In cancer cases requiring urgent treatment, radionuclide treatment (RNT) should be planned according to the COVID-19 test result. If the result is negative, RNT can be applied; but if not or if the symptoms are present, RNT must be postponed. Following imaging procedures, scanners and room surfaces should be cleaned by personnel with proper disinfection training.
Authors and Affiliations
Aslı Ayan, F. Suna Kıraç
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule: Morphological Effects on Metabolic Activity Assessment
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effects of morphological characteristics of the solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) on metabolic activity assessment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the...
Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy in a Patient with Myocarditis
We report a case of myocarditis imaged with technetium-99m octreotide cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography which showed diffuse uptake in the myocardium, indicating inflammatory reaction to myocardial damag...
Incidental “Urinoma” in 18F-FDG PET/CT Scan
18F-FDG PET/CT scanning was performed for the primary staging of a 47-year-old man with urothelial carcinoma. The patient underwent biopsy by ureteroscopy 15 days ago and the PET images revealed 18F-FDG accumulation in t...
Value of C-reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio for Predicting Ischemia in Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy
Objectives: Several studies demonstrate the relationship between coronary artery disease and inflammatory parameters. Nevertheless, there is paucity of data regarding the role of high sensitivity (hs)-C-reactive protein...
Comparison of SUVmax Values Obtained from F-18 FDG PET/CT and Cell-free DNA Levels Measured from Plasma in Oncology Patients
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the quantitative value of standardized uptake value (SUV) SUVmax obtained from F-18 FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging of oncology patie...