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Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography [Neuro-SPECT] Imaging of Brain Tumors

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PET and SPECT in Neurology

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Abstract

Primary brain tumors have an annual incidence rate of 7–19.1 cases per 100,000 population. Metastatic tumors to the brain are more common with more than 100,000 patients per year in the United States. Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumor. CT and MRI are necessary to characterize the tumor type, size, and extension. Nevertheless, in patients with brain lesions, it is not uncommon for CT and MRI to provide nonspecific information, even after contrast or gadolinium infusion. Imaging of intracranial space-occupying lesions by nuclear medicine techniques such as SPECT and PET has also been introduced as a method providing information about the metabolic status of various brain tumors. Although PET constitutes the most sophisticated modality of nuclear medicine imaging, SPECT has a lower cost, worldwide availability, and gained practical experience. The primary role of SPECT in brain tumor patients lies on the noninvasive assessment of tumor aggressiveness, differentiation of treatment-induced necrosis from tumor recurrence, assessment of response to treatment, and estimation of overall prognosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece

    George A. Alexiou

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Ioannina, Medical School, Ioannina, Greece

    Spyridon Tsiouris & Andreas D. Fotopoulos

Authors
  1. George A. Alexiou
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  2. Spyridon Tsiouris
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  3. Andreas D. Fotopoulos
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Rudi A. J. O. Dierckx

  2. Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Medical Engineering and Computer Science, Offenburg University, Offenburg, Germany

    Andreas Otte

  3. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Erik F. J. de Vries

  4. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Aren van Waarde

  5. Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Klaus L. Leenders

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Alexiou, G.A., Tsiouris, S., Fotopoulos, A.D. (2021). Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography [Neuro-SPECT] Imaging of Brain Tumors. In: Dierckx, R.A.J.O., Otte, A., de Vries, E.F.J., van Waarde, A., Leenders, K.L. (eds) PET and SPECT in Neurology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53168-3_40

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