No abstract

Differentiation of tumor recurrence from radiation-induced brain changes is the main challenge of neuroimaging in patients with treated cerebral tumor. The review presents the limitations of structural imaging and additional opportunities of perfusion imaging techniques, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography in discriminating recurrent tumor from radiation injury.

A 44-year-old man after combined left temporal low-grade glioma treatment presented with daily multiple series of seizures. MRI demonstrated diffuse cortical swelling in the left frontal lobe with intensive gyral enhancement. PET with [11C]methionine (PET-MET) revealed increased radiotracer uptake strictly confined to the cortical ribbon of the left cerebral hemisphere, which persisted for 3 months. Tumor recurrence was suggested, and biopsy was performed. No evidence of recurrent tumor was found. During a 2-year follow-up, a diffuse gyral enhancement in the left hemisphere has persisted on MRI; PET has shown high [11C]methionine uptake in the left frontal and parietal cortex with gradual positive dynamics.

No abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the correlation between 11С-methionine (Met) uptake measured by combined positron emission and computed tomography (PET/CT) in newly diagnosed cerebral gliomas and tumor proliferative activity as measured by Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI).The results of PET/CT with 11С-methionine (PET-Met) of 236 adult patients with pretreated glial brain tumors were included in retrospective analysis. The final diagnosis of glioma according to WHO classification of CNS tumors (2007) was based on both histology and immunohistochemistry using Ki-67 antibodies. On PET-Met tumor-to normal brain uptake ratio (TBR) was calculated by dividing maximum Met uptake in the tumor (hot spot 10 mm in diameter) to activity concentration in the contralateral cortex. The Spearmen rank correlation test was used to analyze the relationships between TBR and Ki-67 LI.PET-Met analysis showed that TBR increases with an increase in the aggressiveness of the glial tumor. The differences of TBR values between gliomas grade II vs III and grade III vs IV were significant (p < 0,001). Among grades II-III gliomas Met uptake was significantly higher in oligodendroglial and mixed gliomas than in astrocytomas (p < 0,001), but the differences did not depend on Ki-67 LI.Correlation analysis demonstrated significant correlation between Ki-67 LI and TBR values (r = 0,49, p < 0,05, Spearman rank test). With analyzing glioma subgroups TBR values correlated with Ki-67 LI in diffuse astrocytomas (r = 0,52, p < 0,05), oligodendrogliomas (r = 0,40, p < 0,05), oligoastrocytomas (r = 0,47, p < 0,05) and in high-grade gliomas (r = 0,45, p < 0,05) but not in low-grade gliomas. Comparison between TBR value and Ki-67 LI in each glioma showed a lack of coincidence in 22 % of cases (high Met uptake but low Ki-67 LI and vice versa). The main reasons for such discrepancies were tumor molecular biology or incorrect biopsy target.Met uptake in diffuse gliomas correlates with proliferative activity which justifies the use of PET-Met for glioma grading. In case of mismatch between two biomarkers one should rely on the indicator that implies a higher aggressiveness of the glioma.