(18)F-DOPA PET in medulloblastoma: two case reports.

(18)F-DOPA PET in medulloblastoma: two case reports.

World Neurosurg. 2016 Jun 21;

Authors: Cicone F, Clerico A, Minniti G, Paiano M, Carideo L, Scaringi C, Langen KJ, Scopinaro F

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma (MDB) is an aggressive embryonal brain tumor, whose underlying altered genetics and biological pathways account for very heterogeneous natural histories and clinical behaviors. PET using radiolabeled amino acids provides important metabolic information for the diagnosis of cerebral glioma but only few data are available on amino acid PET in MDB. In particular, no cases of MDB imaging with 6-[(18)F]-fluoro-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (F-DOPA) have previously been described.
CASE DESCRIPTION: Two patients with very different histological subtypes of MDB were referred for F-DOPA PET in order to define the extent and metabolic degree of their diseases. The patients had a newly diagnosed large cell/anaplastic MDB and a fourth relapse of classical MDB, respectively. F-DOPA PET was unremarkable in the first case; F-DOPA uptake was low in the second patient with tumor-to-background ratio as high as 1.29. Comparison was made with magnetic resonance imaging which showed fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) positive diseases. An aggressive tumor growth was shown in the clinical course of both patients.
CONCLUSION: The two case reported here suggest that sensitivity of F-DOPA PET in MDB can be low. However, more comprehensive data are needed to conclude on the overall accuracy of F-DOPA PET in MDB.

PMID: 27354292 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from #PubMed 3 via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2931YYP
via IFTTT

from #Med Blogs by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis via Alexandros G.Sfakianakis on Inoreader http://ift.tt/29bkguJ
via IFTTT