Background: Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) imaging is shown to influence a decision change in managing non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The introduction of such a facility in Malaysia is relatively recent, and its impact from its utility is currently being assessed. Aim: In a tertiary referral centre possessing the only PET-CT facility in northern Peninsular Malaysia, we evaluated the potential roles of PET-CT in referred patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma. Methodology: Sixty eligible adult cases with NSCLC, between September 2005 and December 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. Relevant data was collected using standard questionnaire for indications, staging of disease, and outcomes in terms of recurrence and response to prescribed cancer-specific therapy. Results: The indications for PET-CT were: staging of a newly diagnosed non-small cell lung carcinoma (25.0%); post-operative restaging (21.7%); exclusion of recurrence or metastasis (18.3%); establishing diagnosis of carcinoma (13.3%); assessment of response to treatment (11.7%), and for surveillance (10.0%). The use of PET-CT was shown to induce a change in the staging, compared with non-PET conventional means in 69.2% of patients with newly diagnosed lung carcinoma (upstaged in 55.5%; downstaged in 44.5%) and in 65.0% of patients who underwent cancer-specific treatments (upstaged in 38.5%; downstaged in 61.5%). PET-CT detected recurrence in 62.5% who underwent the imaging to exclude a recurrence or metastasis. Conclusion: PET-CT has affected the staging of a large proportion of our local Malaysian patients. Like elsewhere, the availability of such a facility is likely to have important influence in overall management of NSCLC in Malaysia.

Objective: This study evaluates the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) in assessing median nerve by measuring diffusion parameters such as fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) at different sites of median nerve and evaluating their differences in patients with and without carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in local setting. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was performed with 9 female patients diagnosed with CTS by clinical evaluation and nerve conduction study and 8 age and sex matched normal patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) wrist was performed with pre-set axial PD and DTI protocol on a 3T MRI, images post-processed using 3D SLICER software to generate median nerve tract and measure diffusion parameters FA, MD, AD and RD in segments and focal points. Results: The FA values were significantly lower in CTS patients, 0.454 (± 0.065), p< 0.002 and demonstrates negative correlation with disease severity, r = - 0.510, p = 0.002.The mean MD, 1.090 (± 0.178) and mean RD, 0.834 (± 0.128) is higher in CTS patients, p = 0.041 and p = 0.014 respectively. They show an increasing trend with increasing disease severity. Negative correlation was noted between the FA values and age groups. FA cut of value of ≤ 0.487 with sensitivity 70.6 % and specificity 76.5%, is suggested for diagnosing CTS.Conclusion: MR neurography using DTI can be utilised to detect CTS. Patients with CTS demonstrate lower FA and higher MD and RD values.