Abstract Objective: To compare costs between treatment strategies employed prior to and after prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) via the Brazilian Unified Health Care System and their impact on the therapeutic management of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: The referring physicians were surveyed on their treatment intentions (strategies) at two different time points: prior to and after PSMA PET/CT. Cost comparison results are presented as median (IQR) for each of the two strategies. The shift in therapeutic management after PSMA PET/CT was also analyzed. Results: The study sample included 59 patients (mean age: 65.9 years). The PSMA PET/CT result was considered positive in 38 patients (64.4%) and was found to have an impact on the treatment strategy in for 36 patients (61.0%). Prior to PSMA PET/CT, salvage therapy (i.e., treatment with curative intent) was the intended treatment for most patients, and that was significantly less so after the examination (76.3% vs. 45.8%; p < 0.001). Conversely, a strategy involving systemic (i.e., palliative) therapy became more common after PSMA PET/CT (23.7% vs. 54.2%; p < 0.001). The after-PSMA PET/CT strategy presented higher overall costs than did the before-PSMA PET/CT strategy, in all scenarios evaluated. In all scenarios, nearly half of this cost difference was related to the cost of the PSMA PET/CT itself, the remainder being related to the new treatment choices that stemmed from knowledge of the PSMA PET/CT findings. Conclusion: For patients treated within the Brazilian Unified Health Care System, PSMA PET/CT presented higher costs in comparison with conventional imaging methods. Adding PSMA PET/CT to the workflow had an impact on therapeutic management, mainly representing a shift from futile curative treatments to systemic palliative ones. The amount of funds that could potentially be saved by not providing such futile treatments would suffice to evaluate roughly two patients with PSMA PET/CT scans for each futile treatment strategy avoided. Objective prostatespecific specific tomographycomputed computed PETCT PET CT cancer Methods (strategies points IQR (IQR analyzed Results 5 mean age 659 65 9 65. years. years . years) 3 64.4% 644 64 4 (64.4% 61.0%. 610 61.0% 61 0 (61.0%) i.e., ie i e (i.e. intent 76.3% 763 76 (76.3 vs 45.8% 458 45 8 0.001. 0001 0.001 001 0.001) Conversely 23.7% 237 23 7 (23.7 54.2% 542 54 2 afterPSMA beforePSMA before evaluated itself findings Conclusion methods ones avoided 6 64.4 (64.4 61.0 (61.0% i.e. (i.e 76.3 (76. 45.8 000 0.00 00 23.7 (23. 54.2 64. (64. 61. (61.0 i.e 76. (76 45. 0.0 23. (23 54. (64 (61. (7 0. (2 (6 (61 (

Resumo Objetivo: Comparar custos entre estratégias antes e após o exame de PET/CT-PSMA da perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde e seu impacto no manejo terapêutico para pacientes com recidiva bioquímica de câncer de próstata. Materiais e Métodos: Os médicos solicitantes informaram a intenção terapêutica em dois momentos: antes e após o exame. Os resultados de comparação de custo estão apresentados como medianas de custo (p25; p75). A mudança na intenção terapêutica também foi analisada. Resultados: O estudo envolveu 59 pacientes (idade média: 65,9 anos). A PET/CT-PSMA foi considerada positiva em 38 dos 59 pacientes (64.4%). O exame impactou a estratégia de tratamento para 36 pacientes (61%). Antes da obtenção das informações da PET/CT-PSMA, a terapia de resgate (i.e., com intenção curativa) era o tratamento sugerido para a maioria dos pacientes, e após o exame, reduziu significativamente (76,3% vs 45,8%; p < 0,001). Em contrapartida, a terapia sistêmica (i.e., paliativa) aumentou como intenção de tratamento após o exame (23,7% vs 54,2%; p < 0,001). A estratégia “após PET/CT-PSMA” apresentou maiores custos em relação à estratégia “antes da PET/CT-PSMA” nos cenários comparados. Cerca de metade da diferença de custos entre as duas estratégias foi relacionada aos custos do exame propriamente ditos, enquanto a outra metade foi relacionada às novas escolhas de tratamento a partir do exame. Conclusão: Oferecer a PET/CT-PSMA no Sistema Único de Saúde apresentou maiores custos em relação à estratégia com métodos de imagem convencionais e impactou o manejo terapêutico, pelo favorecimento de tratamentos sistêmicos paliativos no lugar de tratamentos curativos fúteis. A quantidade de recursos que poderiam ser poupados ao evitar tratamentos fúteis seria suficiente para avaliar aproximadamente dois pacientes com exames de PET/CT-PSMA para cada estratégia de tratamento fútil evitada. Objetivo PET/CTPSMA PETCTPSMA PET/CT PSMA PET CT próstata Métodos momentos p25 (p25 p75. p75 . p75) analisada Resultados 5 idade média 659 65 9 65, anos. anos anos) 3 64.4%. 644 64.4% 64 4 (64.4%) 61%. 61 61% (61%) PET/CTPSMA, PSMA, i.e., ie i (i.e. curativa 76,3% 763 76 (76,3 45,8% 458 45 8 0,001. 0001 0,001 0 001 0,001) contrapartida paliativa 23,7% 237 23 7 (23,7 54,2% 542 54 2 comparados ditos Conclusão evitada CTPSMA PETCT p2 (p2 p7 6 64.4 (64.4% (61% i.e. (i.e 76,3 (76, 45,8 000 0,00 00 23,7 (23, 54,2 (p 64. (64.4 (61 i.e 76, (76 45, 0,0 23, (23 54, (64. (6 (7 0, (2 (64 (

Resumo Fundamento O nível socioeconômico tem sido associado à doença isquêmica do coração (DIC). Bairros de alta renda podem expor os indivíduos a um ambiente construído que promova caminhadas para atividades diárias (caminhabilidade). Faltam dados sobre a associação entre renda e DIC em países de renda média. Também é incerto se a caminhabilidade medeia essa associação. Objetivos Investigar se a renda está associada à DIC em um país de renda média e se a caminhabilidade dos bairros medeia a associação entre renda e DIC. Métodos O presente estudo transversal avaliou 44.589 pacientes encaminhados para imagem de perfusão miocárdica (SPECT-MPI). A renda e a caminhabilidade foram derivadas do setor censitário residencial dos participantes. A pontuação quantitativa da caminhabilidade combinou as seguintes 4 variáveis: conectividade viária, densidade residencial, densidade comercial e uso misto do solo. A DIC foi definida pela presença de perfusão miocárdica anormal durante um estudo SPECT-MPI. Utilizamos modelos ajustados com efeitos mistos para avaliar a associação entre nível de renda e DIC e realizamos uma análise de mediação para medir o percentual da associação entre renda e DIC mediada pela caminhabilidade. Consideramos valores de p abaixo de 0,01 como estatisticamente significativos. Resultados Dos 26.415 participantes, aqueles que residiam no setor censitário do tercil de menor renda eram mais fisicamente inativos (79,1% versus 75,8% versus 72,7%) quando comparados aos setores censitários do tercil de maior renda (p < 0,001). A renda foi associada à DIC (odds ratio: 0,91 [intervalo de confiança de 95%: 0,87 a 0,96] para cada aumento de 1000,00 dólares internacionais na renda), para homens e mulheres igualmente (p para interação = 0,47). Os setores censitários com maior renda estiveram associados a uma melhor caminhabilidade (p < 0,001); no entanto, a caminhabilidade não mediou a associação entre renda e DIC (porcentagem mediada = −0,3%). Conclusões A renda foi independentemente associada a maior prevalência de DIC em um país de renda média, independentemente de gênero. Embora a caminhabilidade tenha sido associada à renda do setor censitário, ela não mediou a associação entre renda e DIC. . (DIC) (caminhabilidade) 44589 44 589 44.58 SPECTMPI. SPECTMPI SPECT MPI (SPECT-MPI) participantes variáveis viária solo MPI. SPECT-MPI 001 0 01 0,0 significativos 26415 26 415 26.41 79,1% 791 79 1 (79,1 758 75 8 75,8 72,7% 727 72 7 0,001. 0001 0,001 0,001) odds ratio 091 91 0,9 intervalo 95% 95 087 87 0,8 0,96 096 96 100000 1000 00 1000,0 renda, , renda) 0,47. 047 0,47 47 0,47) entanto porcentagem −0,3%. 03 −0,3% 3 −0,3%) gênero (DIC (caminhabilidade 4458 58 44.5 (SPECT-MPI 0, 2641 2 41 26.4 79,1 (79, 75, 72,7 000 0,00 09 9 08 10000 100 1000, 04 0,4 −0,3 445 5 44. 264 26. 79, (79 72, 10 −0, (7 −0 ( −

Abstract Background Socioeconomic status has been linked to ischemic heart disease (IHD). High-income neighborhoods may expose individuals to a walking-promoting built environment for daily activities (walkability). Data from the association between income and IHD is lacking in middle-income countries. It is also uncertain whether walkability mediates this association. Objectives To investigate whether income is associated with IHD in a middle-income country and whether neighborhood walkability mediates the income-IHD association. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 44,589 patients referred for myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI). Income and walkability were derived from participants’ residential census tract. Walkability quantitative score combined 4 variables: street connectivity, residential density, commercial density, and mixed land use. IHD was defined by abnormal myocardial perfusion during a SPECT-MPI study. We used adjusted mixed effects models to evaluate the association between income level and IHD, and we performed a mediation analysis to measure the percentage of the income-IHD association mediated by walkability. We considered p values below 0.01 as statistically significant. Results From 26,415 participants, those living in the lowest-income tertile census tract were more physically inactive (79.1% versus 75.8% versus 72.7%) when compared to higher-income tertile census tracts (p < 0.001). Income was associated with IHD (odds ratio: 0.91 [95% confidence interval: 0.87 to 0.96] for each 1,000.00 international dollars increase in income) for both men and women equally (p for interaction = 0.47). Census tracts with a higher income were associated with better walkability (p < 0.001); however, walkability did not mediate the income-IHD association (percent mediated = −0.3%). Conclusions Income was independently associated with higher prevalence of IHD in a middle-income country irrespective of gender. Although walkability was associated with census tract income, it did not mediate the income-IHD association. IHD. . (IHD) Highincome High walkingpromoting walking promoting (walkability) middleincome middle countries incomeIHD crosssectional cross sectional 44589 44 589 44,58 SPECTMPI. SPECTMPI SPECT MPI (SPECT-MPI) participants variables connectivity density use 001 0 01 0.0 significant 26415 26 415 26,41 lowestincome lowest 79.1% 791 79 1 (79.1 758 75 8 75.8 72.7% 727 72 7 higherincome 0.001. 0001 0.001 0.001) odds ratio 091 91 0.9 95% 95 [95 interval 087 87 0.8 0.96 096 96 100000 000 00 1,000.0 0.47. 047 0.47 47 0.47) however percent −0.3%. 03 −0.3% 3 −0.3%) gender (IHD (walkability 4458 58 44,5 (SPECT-MPI 0. 2641 2 41 26,4 79.1 (79. 75. 72.7 0.00 09 9 [9 08 10000 1,000. 04 0.4 −0.3 445 5 44, 264 26, 79. (79 72. [ 1000 1,000 −0. (7 100 1,00 −0 ( 10 1,0 − 1,

OBJETIVO: Comparar a acurácia e a custo-efetividade do estadiamento metabólico (EM) com o FDG-PET em relação ao estadiamento convencional (EC) no estadiamento inicial de pacientes com câncer de pulmão não pequenas células (CPNPC). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Noventa e cinco pacientes com diagnóstico inicial de CPNPC foram estadiados antes do início do tratamento. Os resultados do EC e EM foram comparados quanto a definição do tratamento e incidência de toracotomia fútil em cada estratégia. RESULTADOS: O EM com FDG-PET classificou 48,4% dos pacientes como estádio mais avançado e 5,3% como menos avançado. O resultado do EM modificaria o tratamento em 41% dos pacientes. A toracotomia foi considerada fútil em 47% dos pacientes com EC e em 19% dos casos com EM. O custo das toracotomias fúteis em oito pacientes no EM foi de R$ 79.720, enquanto em 31 pacientes no EC seria de R$ 308.915. Apenas esta economia seria mais que suficiente para cobrir os custos de todos os exames de FDG-PET nos 95 pacientes (R$ 126.350) ou de FDG-PET/CT (R$ 193.515). CONCLUSÃO: O EM com FDG-PET tem maior acurácia que o EC em pacientes com CPNPC. A FDG-PET e FDG-PET/CT são custo-efetivas e sua utilização se justifica economicamente na saúde pública no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of metabolic staging (MS) with FDG-PET as compared with the conventional staging (CS) strategy in the preoperative staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 patients with initial diagnosis of NSCLC were staged before undergoing treatment. The MS and CS results were compared with regard to treatment definition and incidence of futile thoracotomies with both strategies. RESULTS: Metabolic staging with FDG-PET upstaged 48.4% and downstaged 5.3% of the patients, and would lead to change in the treatment of 41% of cases. Thoracotomy was considered as futile in 47% of the patients with CS, and in 19% of the patients with MS. The cost of futile thoracotomies in eight patients with MS was R$ 79,720, while in 31 patients with CS it would be R$ 308,915. Just such saving in costs would be more than enough to cover the costs of all FDG-PETs (R$ 126,350) or FDG-PET/CTs (R$ 193,515) for the 95 patients. CONCLUSION: The metabolic staging with FDG-PET is more accurate than CS in patients with NSCLC. Both FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT are cost-effective methods and their utilization is economically justifiable in the Brazilian public health system.

Apresentamos uma lista de recomendações sobre a utilização de 18F-FDG PET em oncologia, no diagnóstico, estadiamento e detecção de recorrência ou progressão do câncer. Foi realizada pesquisa para identificar estudos controlados e revisões sistemáticas de literatura composta por estudos retrospectivos e prospectivos. As consequências e o impacto da 18F-FDG PET no manejo de pacientes oncológicos também foram avaliados. A 18F-FDG PET deve ser utilizada como ferramenta adicional aos métodos de imagem convencionais como tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética. Resultados positivos que sugiram alteração no manejo clínico devem ser confirmados por exame histopatológico. A 18F-FDG PET deve ser utilizada no manejo clínico apropriado para o diagnóstico de cânceres do sistema respiratório, cabeça e pescoço, sistema digestivo, mama, melanoma, órgão genitais, tireoide, sistema nervoso central, linfoma e tumor primário oculto.

The authors present a list of recommendations on the utilization of 18F-FDG PET/CT in oncology for the diagnosis, staging and detection of cancer, as well as in the follow-up of the disease progression and possible recurrence. The recommendations were based on the analysis of controlled studies and a systematic review of the literature including both retrospective and prospective studies regarding the clinical usefulness and the impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT on the management of cancer patients. 18F-FDG PET/CT should be utilized as a supplement to other conventional imaging methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Positive results suggesting changes in the clinical management should be confirmed by histopathological studies. 18F-FDG PET should be utilized in the diagnosis and appropriate clinical management of cancer involving the respiratory system, head and neck, digestive system, breast, genital organs, thyroid, central nervous system, besides melanomas, lymphomas and occult primary tumors.

BACKGROUND: 2-[18F]-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (FDG-PET) is a well established functional imaging modality for the initial staging of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in patients from Western Europe and North America. The reliability of FDG-PET in populations of different ethnic groups is unclear, as all investigations published to date have come from developed countries. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of FDG-PET in the initial staging of HL patients in a Brazilian population. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with newly diagnosed HL were prospectively included in the study. All patients were staged with both conventional clinical staging (CCS) methods, including computed tomography (CT) and whole-body FDG-PET methods. A standard of reference for the nodal regions and the extranodal organs was determined using all available information, including the CCS methods, FDG-PET, the diagnostic histology and the follow-up examinations. The results of the CCS were then compared to the FDG-PET results. RESULTS: The sensitivity of FDG-PET was higher for nodal staging than that of CT (87.8% vs. 61.6%, respectively). FDG-PET was also more sensitive than CT in regard to evaluating the extranodal organs for lymphomatous involvement (96.2% vs. 40.0%, respectively). FDG-PET detected all 16 patients who were characterized by a positive bone marrow biopsy and identified an additional 4 patients with bone marrow disease. The incorporation of FDG-PET coupled with CCS in the staging procedure upstaged 20% (17/82) of the patients and downstaged 11% (9/82) of the patients. As a result of these changes in staging, 15% (13/82) of the patients would have received a different therapeutic regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The FDG-PET method is superior to CT for the detection of nodal and extra-nodal HL. The observation that the FDG-PET method upstaged the disease was the most common result (20% of patients) brought about by the addition of PET to the staging algorithm, even in a population of patients with a high incidence of advanced disease. However, changes in stages based on FDG-PET results should be confirmed by biopsy.

OBJETIVO: O estudo metabólico com 18F-fluorodeoxiglicose é uma ferramenta útil para o manejo de portadores de linfoma de Hodgkin, tanto como método auxiliar no estadiamento da doença, quanto na avaliação de massas suspeitas encontradas após tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o valor do estudo com 18F-fluorodeoxiglicose em gama câmara híbrida no estadiamento e na detecção de tumor residual em pacientes com linfoma de Hodgkin. MÉTODOS: Trinta e oito pacientes foram incluídos neste estudo retrospectivo, 18 foram avaliados com o estudo metabólico durante o estadiamento (Grupo 1), sendo os resultados do estudo comparados com os obtidos com o estadiamento convencional, que incluiu tomografia e biópsia de medula óssea. Os 20 pacientes restantes realizaram o estudo metabólico devido à presença de massa residual ou de nova lesão suspeita (Grupo 2). RESULTADOS: O estudo metabólico aumentou o estádio de cinco (27%) dos pacientes do Grupo 1 e pôde detectar mais lesões que os métodos convencionais de estadiamento (45 lesões detectadas com 18F-fluorodeoxiglicose versus 33 lesões métodos convencionais). Nos 20 pacientes do Grupo 2, 11 foram 18F-fluorodeoxiglicose positivos e tumor viável foi confirmado em 9 pacientes. Nos 9 pacientes com estudo metabólico negativo, a probabilidade de recidiva em um ano foi de 11.8%. A sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo e a acurácia do estudo metabólico foram de 90%, 80%, 82%, 89% e 85% respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo com 18F-fluorodeoxiglicose apresentou melhor acurácia que os métodos convencionais de estadiamento do Linfoma de Hodgkin e foi útil para o diagnóstico não-invasivo de lesões suspeitas.

OBJECTIVE: The metabolic test using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose is a useful tool for the management of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, either for staging purposes or for the evaluation of suspicious masses that can frequently occur after treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose test performed with a dual-head coincident gamma camera (CGC-PET with fluorodeoxyglucose) for the staging and the detection of residual tumor of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients were included in this retrospective study; the metabolic test comprising CGC-PET with FDG was done in 18 patients for staging work-up (Group 1), and the results were compared to conventional clinical staging procedures that included computed tomography scans and bone marrow biopsy. The remaining 20 patients were evaluated with CGC-PET with fluorodeoxyglucose due to the presence of residual masses or a new lesion (Group 2). RESULTS: The 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose metabolic test, CGC-PET with fluorodeoxyglucose, upstaged 5 (27%) of the Group 1 patients and detected more lesions (45) than conventional methods of staging (33). Of the 20 patients in Group 2, 11 had positive18F-fluorodeoxyglucosetests, and a viable tumor was confirmed in 9 patients. Regarding the 9 patients with negative fluorodeoxyglucose metabolic tests, the 1-year probability of recurrence was 11.8%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the CGC-PET with fluorodeoxyglucose test were 90%, 80%, 82%, 89%, and 85% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic test comprising CGC-PET with fluorodeoxyglucose had a higher diagnostic accuracy than conventional methods in the staging of Hodgkin lymphoma and thus is a valuable noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of suspicious lesions.