Diagnostic test accuracies of F-18 FDG PET for characterisation of cardiac masses compared to conventional imaging techniques: systematic review and meta-analysis

Multimodality Imaging in Right Heart Tumors: Proposed Algorithm towards an Appropriate Diagnosis

A right heart tumor can be identified by transthoracic echocardiography during a routine examination or due to cardiac symptoms. The first step is the assessment by echocardiography, with its multiple techniques, and the obtained information must be judged in a clinical and biological context. The second step comprises one, sometimes even two, of the more complex modality imaging methods. The choice is driven not only by the advantages of each imaging technique but also by local expertise or the preferred imaging modality in the center. This step is followed by staging, follow-up, and/or imaging-guided excision or biopsy, which is performed in selected cases in order to obtain anatomopathological confirmation. In the presence of features suggestive of malignancy or causing hemodynamic impairment, a transvenous biopsy is essential before the more complex imaging modalities (which are still relevant in the staging process). Using a structured imaging approach, it is possible to reach an appropriate diagnosis without a biopsy. Frequently, these imaging techniques have a complementary role, so an integrated imaging approach is recommended. This proposed algorithm for appropriate diagnosis of right heart tumors could serve as a practical guide for clinicians (not only imaging specialists).

Neuroimaging Modalities in Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis and Clinical Features

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease causing progressive cognitive decline until eventual death. AD affects millions of individuals worldwide in the absence of effective treatment options, and its clinical causes are still uncertain. The onset of dementia symptoms indicates severe neurodegeneration has already taken place. Therefore, AD diagnosis at an early stage is essential as it results in more effective therapy to slow its progression. The current clinical diagnosis of AD relies on mental examinations and brain imaging to determine whether patients meet diagnostic criteria, and biomedical research focuses on finding associated biomarkers by using neuroimaging techniques. Multiple clinical brain imaging modalities emerged as potential techniques to study AD, showing a range of capacity in their preciseness to identify the disease. This review presents the advantages and limitations of brain imaging modalities for AD diagnosis and discusses their clinical value.