High Grade tumor vs stroke. Utility of PET and MRI corregistration

Sometimes, the clinical presentation of a brain tumour mimics that of stroke or viceversa. In these cases it is useful to evaluate follow-up with MR. The coregistration of PET and MR images improves the diagnostic performance of both techniques. In the area of interest, FDG uptake of any degree, with reference to the adjacent brain tissue uptake, should be considered suggestive of tumor if it corresponds to brain injury in MR, even when the FDG uptake is equal to or lower than that of the normal cerebral cortex. We present a case in which coregistration of images from both techniques contributed to the differential diagnosis of stroke and high-grade glioma, whole-body PET/CT ruled out metastatic etiology, and the results led to surgery.

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Comparison Between 18F-Dopa and 18F-Fet PET/CT in Patients with Suspicious Recurrent High Grade Glioma: A Literature Review and Our Experience

Current Radiopharmaceuticals ◽

10.2174/1874471012666190115124536 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 220-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Laura Evangelista ◽

Lea Cuppari ◽

Luisa Bellu ◽

Daniele Bertin ◽

Mario Caccese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Series ◽

High Grade Glioma ◽

High Grade ◽

True Negative ◽

Fet Pet ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

Definition Of ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Purpose: The aims of the present study were to: 1- critically assess the utility of L-3,4- dihydroxy-6-18Ffluoro-phenyl-alanine (18F-DOPA) and O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET) Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) in patients with high grade glioma (HGG) and 2- describe the results of 18F-DOPA and 18F-FET PET/CT in a case series of patients with recurrent HGG. Methods: We searched for studies using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The search terms were: glioma OR brain neoplasm and DOPA OR DOPA PET OR DOPA PET/CT and FET OR FET PET OR FET PET/CT. From a mono-institutional database, we retrospectively analyzed the 18F-DOPA and 18F-FET PET/CT of 29 patients (age: 56 ± 12 years) with suspicious for recurrent HGG. All patients underwent 18F-DOPA or 18F-FET PET/CT for a multidisciplinary decision. The final definition of recurrence was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or multidisciplinary decision, mainly based on the clinical data. Results: Fifty-one articles were found, of which 49 were discarded, therefore 2 studies were finally selected. In both the studies, 18F-DOPA and 18F-FET as exchangeable in clinical practice particularly for HGG patients. From our institutional experience, in 29 patients, we found that sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 18F-DOPA PET/CT in HGG were 100% (95% confidence interval- 95%CI - 81-100%), 63% (95%CI: 39-82%) and 62% (95%CI: 39-81%), respectively. 18F-FET PET/CT was true positive in 4 and true negative in 4 patients. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for 18F-FET PET/CT in HGG were 100%. Conclusion: 18F-DOPA and 18F-FET PET/CT have a similar diagnostic accuracy in patients with recurrent HGG. However, 18F-DOPA PET/CT could be affected by inflammation conditions (false positive) that can alter the final results. Large comparative trials are warranted in order to better understand the utility of 18F-DOPA or 18F-FET PET/CT in patients with HGG.

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Cumulative incidence and risk factors for radiation induced leukoencephalopathy in high grade glioma long term survivors

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89216-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Robert Terziev ◽

Dimitri Psimaras ◽

Yannick Marie ◽

Loic Feuvret ◽

Giulia Berzero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cumulative Incidence ◽

High Grade Glioma ◽

High Grade ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Radiation Induced ◽

Long Term Survivors

AbstractThe incidence and risk factors associated with radiation-induced leukoencephalopathy (RIL) in long-term survivors of high-grade glioma (HGG) are still poorly investigated. We performed a retrospective research in our institutional database for patients with supratentorial HGG treated with focal radiotherapy, having a progression-free overall survival > 30 months and available germline DNA. We reviewed MRI scans for signs of leukoencephalopathy on T2/FLAIR sequences, and medical records for information on cerebrovascular risk factors and neurological symptoms. We investigated a panel of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to assess genetic risk. Eighty-one HGG patients (18 grade IV and 63 grade III, 50M/31F) were included in the study. The median age at the time of radiotherapy was 48 years old (range 18–69). The median follow-up after the completion of radiotherapy was 79 months. A total of 44 patients (44/81, 54.3%) developed RIL during follow-up. Twenty-nine of the 44 patients developed consistent symptoms such as subcortical dementia (n = 28), gait disturbances (n = 12), and urinary incontinence (n = 9). The cumulative incidence of RIL was 21% at 12 months, 42% at 36 months, and 48% at 60 months. Age > 60 years, smoking, and the germline SNP rs2120825 (PPARg locus) were associated with an increased risk of RIL. Our study identified potential risk factors for the development of RIL (age, smoking, and the germline SNP rs2120825) and established the rationale for testing PPARg agonists in the prevention and management of late-delayed radiation-induced neurotoxicity.

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Quantitative analysis of myocardial metabolic heterogeneity is superior to visual assessment for the detection of active cardiac sarcoidosis by F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jeaa356.345 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

M Malik ◽

M Yazdani ◽

SM Gould ◽

E Reyes

Keyword(s):

Fdg Pet ◽

Cardiac Sarcoidosis ◽

Visual Assessment ◽

Ct Imaging ◽

Myocardial Inflammation ◽

Fdg Uptake ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Metabolic Heterogeneity ◽

Fdg Pet Ct

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Myocardial inflammation may occur in the context of a multisystem disease such as sarcoidosis, adversely affecting prognosis. A definitive diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is essential to implementing life-saving treatment but this is complicated by the invasive nature of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) and its low accuracy. Positron emission tomography (PET) assists in diagnosis, which relies on visual interpretation of myocardial F-18 FDG uptake. The value of quantitative analysis and its application to clinical practice remain uncertain. Purpose To investigate the power of quantitative F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging analysis for detecting CS in patients with suspected disease. Methods All patients underwent F-18 FDG PET-CT after a 24-hour low-carbohydrate diet and 15-hour fasting as part of their diagnostic work-up for suspected cardiac inflammation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance acted as gatekeeper to PET-CT in 8 of every 10 scans. Myocardial F-18 FDG uptake was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively using both manually drawn regions of interest and automatic polar maps to measure global and segmental standardised F-18 FDG uptake values (SUV). The coefficient of variation (CoV) was calculated to determine uptake heterogeneity. To confirm diagnosis, follow-up data regarding disease progression, further testing and treatment were collected. To allow for sufficient follow-up time, the first 40 consecutive patients from a prospective registry (n= 214; Sep 2017-Jun 2020) were included. Results A comprehensive clinical picture was obtained successfully in 37 patients (median [IQR], 17 [13.5] months) and a final diagnosis of CS reached in 7 (disease prevalence, 19%). EMB was performed in 2 patients only while 3 underwent PPM/ICD implantation. Significant predictors of CS were fulfilment of Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare criteria (Wald, 6.44; p = 0.01) and left ventricular dysfunction (Wald 6.72; p = 0.01). Qualitative F-18 FDG PET-CT had a high negative (95%) but low positive (45%) predictive value for CS (sensitivity, 83%; specificity, 77%). F-18 FDG SUV CoV was the strongest imaging predictor (Wald, 6.77; p = 0.009) and was significantly higher in CS than non-CS (CoV median [quartiles], 0.26 [0.21, 0.36] and 0.12 [0.11, 0.14] respectively; p = 0.004). As per ROC curve analysis (AUC, 0.84), a CoV threshold of 0.20 was highly specific (93%) and sensitive (86%) for CS. Conclusion In a referring population with a low prevalence of cardiac sarcoidosis, F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging is sensitive for the detection of myocardial inflammation with active disease unlikely in patients with a negative scan. Quantitative evaluation of metabolic heterogeneity within the myocardium provides a strong, independent marker of active disease and should be considered alongside visual assessment.

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Quantitative, Dynamic 18F-FDG PET/CT in Monitoring of Smoldering Myeloma: A Case Report

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11040649 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 649

Author(s):

Christos Sachpekidis ◽

Matthias Türk ◽

Antonia Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Autologous Transplantation ◽

Standardized Uptake Value ◽

Focal Lesions ◽

Fdg Uptake ◽

Pet Ct ◽

18F Fdg ◽

Smoldering Myeloma

We report on a 52-year-old patient with an initial diagnosis of smoldering myeloma (SMM), who was monitored by means of dynamic and static positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with the radiotracer 1⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG). Baseline PET/CT revealed no pathological signs. Six months later, a transition to symptomatic, multiple myeloma (MM) was diagnosed. The transition was not accompanied by focal, hypermetabolic lesions on PET/CT. However, a diffusely increased 18F-FDG uptake in the bone marrow, accompanied by a marked increase of semi-quantitative (standardized uptake value, SUV) and quantitative, pharmacokinetic 18F-FDG parameters, was demonstrated. After successful treatment, including tandem autologous transplantation, the diffuse uptake in the bone marrow as well as the semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters showed a marked remission. This response was also confirmed by the clinical follow-up of the patient. These findings suggest that in MM a diffuse 18F-FDG uptake in the bone marrow may indeed reflect an actual bone marrow infiltration by plasma cells. Moreover, SUV values and kinetic parameters, not only from myeloma lesions but also from random bone marrow samples, may be used for MM monitoring. This could be particularly helpful in the follow-up of myeloma patients negative for 18F-FDG-avid focal lesions.

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Traumatic myositis ossificans: multifocal lesions suggesting malignancy on FDG-PET/CT—a case report

Skeletal Radiology ◽

10.1007/s00256-020-03521-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 249-254

Author(s):

Miho Sasaki ◽

Yuka Hotokezaka ◽

Reiko Ideguchi ◽

Masataka Uetani ◽

Shuichi Fujita

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Fdg Pet ◽

Myositis Ossificans ◽

Whole Body ◽

Left Cheek ◽

Multiple Fractures ◽

Fdg Uptake ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Multiple Regions ◽

Fdg Pet Ct

AbstractMyositis ossificans (MO) is a benign soft-tissue lesion characterized by the heterotopic formation of the bone in skeletal muscles, usually due to trauma. MO is occasionally difficult to diagnose because of its clinical and radiological similarities with malignancy. We report a case of traumatic MO (TMO) in the masseter and brachial muscles of a 37-year-old man who presented with painless swelling in the left cheek and severe trismus. Due to the absence of a traumatic history at the first consultation and identification of a tumorous lesion in the left masseter muscle by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the lesion was suspected to be a malignant tumor. Subsequently, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) showed multiple regions of high FDG uptake across the whole body, suggestive of multiple metastases or other systemic diseases. However, intramuscular calcifications were also observed in the left masseter and brachial muscles, overlapping the areas with high FDG uptake. Moreover, multiple fractures were seen in the rib and lumbar spine, also overlapping the areas with high FDG uptake. Based on these imaging findings, along with a history of jet-ski trauma, TMO was suspected. The left cheek mass was surgically excised and histologically diagnosed as TMO. In this case report, FDG-PET/CT could detect multiple TMOs across the whole body. To the best of our knowledge, cases of multiple TMOs located far apart in different muscles are rare, and this may be the first report.

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Enhanced Fiber Tractography Using Edema Correction: Application and Evaluation in High-Grade Gliomas

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/neuros/nyab129 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fraser Henderson Jr ◽

Drew Parker ◽

Anupa A Vijayakumari ◽

Mark Elliott ◽

Timothy Lucas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Free Water ◽

High Grade Glioma ◽

Fiber Tracking ◽

High Grade ◽

Peritumoral Edema ◽

Fiber Tractography ◽

Motor Pathways

Abstract BACKGROUND A limitation of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based tractography is peritumoral edema that confounds traditional diffusion-based magnetic resonance metrics. OBJECTIVE To augment fiber-tracking through peritumoral regions by performing novel edema correction on clinically feasible DTI acquisitions and assess the accuracy of the fiber-tracks using intraoperative stimulation mapping (ISM), task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation maps, and postoperative follow-up as reference standards. METHODS Edema correction, using our bi-compartment free water modeling algorithm (FERNET), was performed on clinically acquired DTI data from a cohort of 10 patients presenting with suspected high-grade glioma and peritumoral edema in proximity to and/or infiltrating language or motor pathways. Deterministic fiber-tracking was then performed on the corrected and uncorrected DTI to identify tracts pertaining to the eloquent region involved (language or motor). Tracking results were compared visually and quantitatively using mean fiber count, voxel count, and mean fiber length. The tracts through the edematous region were verified based on overlay with the corresponding motor or language task-based fMRI activation maps and intraoperative ISM points, as well as at time points after surgery when peritumoral edema had subsided. RESULTS Volume and number of fibers increased with application of edema correction; concordantly, mean fractional anisotropy decreased. Overlay with functional activation maps and ISM-verified eloquence of the increased fibers. Comparison with postsurgical follow-up scans with lower edema further confirmed the accuracy of the tracts. CONCLUSION This method of edema correction can be applied to standard clinical DTI to improve visualization of motor and language tracts in patients with glioma-associated peritumoral edema.

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Impact of mass effect, tumor location, age, and surgery on the cognitive outcome of patients with high-grade gliomas: a longitudinal study

Neuro-Oncology Practice ◽

10.1093/nop/npw030 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 229-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Monica Dallabona ◽

Silvio Sarubbo ◽

Stefano Merler ◽

Francesco Corsini ◽

Giuseppe Pulcrano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tumor Volume ◽

High Grade Glioma ◽

Joint Effect ◽

Cognitive Outcome ◽

Tumor Localization ◽

High Grade ◽

Patient Age ◽

Patient Âgé ◽

High Grade Gliomas

Abstract Background High-grade gliomas are the most frequently occurring brain tumors and carry unfavorable prognosis. Literature is controversial regarding the effects of surgery on cognitive functions. Methods We analyzed a homogenous population of 30 patients with high-grade glioma who underwent complete resection. Patients underwent extensive neuropsychological analysis before surgery, 7 days after surgery, and approximately 40 days after surgery, before adjuvant treatments. Thirty-four neuropsychological tests were administered in the language, memory, attention, executive functions, and praxis domains. Results The preoperative percentage of patients with impairment in the considered tests ranged from 0% to 53.3% (mean 20.9%). Despite a general worsening at early follow-up, a significant recovery was observed at late follow-up. Preoperative performances in language and verbal memory tasks depended on the joint effect of tumor volume, volume of surrounding edema, and tumor localization, with major deficits in patients with left lateralized tumor, especially insular and temporal. Preoperative performances in attention and constructive abilities tasks depended on the joint effect of tumor volume, volume of surrounding edema, and patient age, with major deficits in patients ≥ 65 years old. Recovery at late follow-up depended on the volume of resected tumor, edema resorption, and patient age. Conclusions Longitudinal neuropsychological performance of patients affected by high-grade glioma depends, among other factors, on the complex interplay of tumor volume, volume of surrounding edema, tumor localization, and patient age. Reported results support the definition of criteria for surgical indication based on the above factors. They may be used to propose more customized surgical, oncological, and rehabilitative strategies.

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Abstract 12920: The Value of 18 FDG PET/CT in the Diagnostic Work-Up of Patients With Possible Infective Endocarditis

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.130.suppl_2.12920 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Fabio Chirillo ◽

Franco Boccaletto ◽

Paola Pantano ◽

Alessandro De Leo ◽

Marta Possamai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infective Endocarditis ◽

Clinical Judgment ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Fdg Pet ◽

Blood Cultures ◽

Fdg Uptake ◽

Duke Criteria ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Fdg Pet Ct

The diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) is sometimes difficult when there are discrepancies between blood cultures, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and clinical judgment. The aim of this study was to assess the incremental diagnostic value of 18 F-FDG-PET/CT in 45 consecutive patients (73% male, mean age 61 ± 26 years) with suspected IE and inconclusive tests at admission. In 28 patients (19 with a cardiac valvular (15) or nonvalvular (4) device) with blood cultures positive for germs typically involved in IE the initial TEE was negative or inconclusive. In 10 patients presenting with fever TEE identified cardiac lesion possibly related to IE (ruptured mitral chordae, thickened valve leaflet, thickened prosthetic annulus), but blood cultures were persistently negative. Finally, 7 patients had metastatic or embolic lesions and a predisposing cardiac condition, but TEE was negative. When previous unknown lesions detected by PET/CT were confirmed by succeeding examinations, they were considered true positives. When PET/CT was negative, it was compared with the final diagnosis that was defined according to the modified Duke criteria determined during a 6-month follow-up. Thirty patients had definite IE at the end of the follow-up, 3 had possible IE, and in 12 patients the diagnosis was rejected. Twenty-seven patients (60%) exhibited abnormal FDG uptake around the cardiac valves, and 12 (27%) had extracardiac accumulation. In 5 patients the initial negative TEE became positive a mean 5 ±7 days after PET/CT had been performed The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT were as follows (95% confidence interval): 87% (68% to 95%), 67% (38% to 87%), 84% (65% to 94%), and 71% (42% to 92%), respectively. Adding abnormal FDG uptake as a new major criterion significantly increased the sensitivity of the modified Duke criteria at admission (68% [53% to 82%] vs. 96% [88% to 99%], p = 0.01). This result was due to a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the number of possible IE cases. In conclusion PET/CT increases the diagnostic accuracy for IE in the subset of patients with possible IE and may help to manage a challenging situation.

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