Microcystic meningioma with late-phase accumulation on thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography: case report

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2014;54(8):686-9. doi: 10.2176/nmc.cr.2013-0220. Epub 2014 Jan 10.

Abstract

Microcystic meningiomas are rare but benign brain tumors. Previous reports have shown that Thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography ((201)Tl SPECT) demonstrated a higher late-phase accumulation of (201)Tl in malignant or recurrent meningiomas than in nonaggressive meningiomas. No study has reported (201)Tl SPECT findings in microcystic meningiomas. We here describe a case of a microcystic meningioma with a high (201)Tl SPECT retention rate in a 62-year-old woman who complained of headache. Computed tomography revealed an intracranial tumor in the right frontal lobe. Moreover, (201)Tl SPECT revealed a high uptake of (201)Tl in the tumor, which was particularly prominent in the delayed phase. The uptake index on an early image was 1.46 and that on a delayed image was 1.35. Therefore, the retention index was 0.92. After 2 years of tumor growth, we performed successful radical resection, and histological examination revealed the presence of a microcystic meningioma. Therefore, we concluded that (201)Tl SPECT may be useful for the preoperative diagnosis of microcystic meningiomas and that late-phase accumulation of (201)Tl is not a specific finding of malignant brain tumors. Therefore, we need to be careful in the evaluation and judgment of high retention in a delayed image of (201)Tl SPECT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Meningioma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Meningioma / pathology
  • Meningioma / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thallium Radioisotopes / pharmacokinetics*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Substances

  • Thallium Radioisotopes