Principles and Application of PET in Brain Tumors

Donald M Cannon; Tim J Kruser; Deepak Khuntia

doi:10.1016/j.cpet.2011.02.004

Principles and Application of PET in Brain Tumors

PET Clin. 2011 Apr;6(2):131-48. doi: 10.1016/j.cpet.2011.02.004. Epub 2011 May 24.

Authors

Donald M Cannon¹, Tim J Kruser, Deepak Khuntia

Affiliation

¹ Department of Human Oncology and Radiation Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, K4/B100, Madison, WI 53792, USA.

PMID: 27156585
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2011.02.004

Abstract

For tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), the ability to accurately delineate the extent of tumor has implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. PET, mainly with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), has become commonplace in the work-up of many extracranial tumors. However, the relative high background of FDG-PET activity of normal brain tissue has limited the applicability of this modality in CNS tumors to date. More recently, novel PET tracers for imaging of CNS tumors have been developed. This article outlines recent advances in PET as a complementary imaging modality with implications for diagnosis, prognosis, surgical and radiation treatment planning, and post-therapy surveillance in malignancies of the CNS. Pharmacokinetic properties of the radiotracers and the influence of blood-brain-barrier integrity are also incorporated into the discussion.