Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Applied to Stereotactic Interstitial Brain Brachytherapy for Malignant Glioma Patients

Abstract

Until now, CT and MRI scans have been the diagnostic studies of choice for the localization of tumors in the central nervous system. However, these radiological modalities have limited value for the accurate assessment of active tumor lesions, since they provide anatomical information only and are not able to identify active tumors. Recently, the new biological imaging modality of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) became available. The functional nature of PET allows diagnosis of tumor activity, which can not be demonstrated by anatomic imaging studies. We have treated six patients with high-grade malignant glioma using stereotactic interstitial brain brachytherapy since PET imaging studies became available in this facility. Our results indicate that PET is useful for follow up of brain tumor after brain brachytherapy.