The burden of gastroesophageal reflux disease on the cost of managing chronic diseases in Australia. The need for a new diagnostic and management paradigm

Introduction Chronic disease poses a major problem for the Australian healthcare system as the leading cost-burden and cause of death. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) typifies the problems with a growing prevalence and cost. We hypothesise that a scintigraphic test could optimise the diagnosis, especially in problematic extraoesophageal disease. Materials and Methods Data was collected from 2 groups of patients. Patients undergoing fundoplication for severe GORD (n = 30) and those with atypical symptoms (n = 30) were studied by scintigraphy and 24-hour oesophageal pH, impedance and manometry. Results Mean age of cohort was 55.8 years with 40 females and 20 males. Body mass index was a mean of 28.3. DeMeester score was normal in 12/60 with atypical symptoms and abnormal in the rest. Good correlation was shown between scintigraphy and impedance, manometry and distal pH readings. Pulmonary aspiration was shown in 25/60 (15 with atypical symptoms) and LPR in 20/30. Several impedance, manometric and scintigraphic finding were good predictors of lung aspiration of refluxate. Conclusion Scintigraphy provides a good tool for screening patients with typical and atypical symptoms of GORD. It is well correlated with the standard methods for the diagnosis and provides visual evidence of LPR and lung aspiration.

Szintigraphisch mehranreichernde Schilddrüsenknoten gehen überwiegend mit normwertigem TSH einher

SummaryAim: In recent years, various professional societies published guidelines for diagnostic evaluation of thyroid nodules, in which the indication for scintigraphy is restricted to patients with subnormal TSH values. It is seen controversial whether such recommendations should be transferred to Germany, partly because of lower iodine intake in this country and the consequent higher percentage of autonomous thyroid nodules, which are not accompanied by a measurable dysfunction. Since reliable data to this topic are scarce, we analyzed multicentrically the spectrum of scintigraphically “hot” and “warm” nodules under the current epidemiological conditions. Patients, methods: In 10 German nuclear medicine out-patient institutions we evaluated the diagnostic data from a total of 514 patients, in whom unequivocally hyperfunctional nodules (focal increased uptake in comparison to perinodular tissue with a sonographically nodular correlative ≥1 cm) could be detected by 99mTcpertechnetate scintigraphy. To minimize selection bias, the surveys were not carried out in hospitals. The recorded parameters included the thyroid hormone levels, the global 99mTc-uptake (TcTU), the size of each nodule and the total autonomous nodular volume (Vaut). Results: Only 20% of the patients with “hot” nodules had subnormal TSH levels (<0.1 to 0.33 mU / l), the remaining patients had TSH levels from 0.34 to 3.5 mU /l (in one third of the patients TSH levels even exceeded 1.0 mU/l). Moreover, we found no relevant correlation between TSH and TcTU or Vaut. Conclusions: In Germany, in at far the largest proportion of patients with autonomous thyroid nodules objectified by means of scintigraphy, TSH levels are within the normal range. Since such nodules with maximum safety can be classified as benign, a corresponding scintigraphic finding has a high priority for the patient. These current data support that it is not reasonable to restrict scintigraphy to patients with subnormal TSH values in this country.

Die 99mTc-HMPAO Leukozytenszintigraphie in der Entzündungsdiagnostik am Skelettsystem

Subsequent to orthopedic surgery 23 patients were studied by leukocyte scintiscanning using 99mTc-HMPAOto detect inflammation. 12 patients had all signs of bacterial infection. In 11 patients infection of the wound area was suspected. There was one false negative and no false positive scintigraphic finding. 2 patients with an unclear postoperative course after internal fracture fixation showed intensive uptake. Several days after the scan both patients developed severe bacterial infection. From that experience we conclude that the method may be of higher sensitivity than clinical symptoms. Further investigations are necessary for an accurate assessment of the method.