Diagnostic Usefulness of 3’-Deoxy-3’-[18F]Fluorothymidine Positron Emission Tomography in Recurrent Brain Tumor

• DOI: 10.1097/rct.0b013e3182345b0e
• Publication Date: 2011-11-12T11:12:20Z
• Authors: Il Ki Hong; Jeong Hoon Kim; Young Shin Ra; Do Hoon Kwon; Seung Jun Oh; Jae Seung Kim
• Keywords: Positron emission

Objective We evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of 3′-deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) compared with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in recurrent brain tumors. Methods Twenty patients suspected recurrence after surgical removal primary tumors were studied. The uptake was assessed visually and quantified by standardized value (SUV) SUV ratio tumor to white matter, gray normal tissue. Final diagnoses made histopathology or clinical radiological follow-up. Results Of 20 lesions, 15 recurrences. 3′-Deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine PET showed high sensitivity (15/15 [100%]) moderate specificity (3/5 [60.0%]). (11/15 [73.3%]) (4/5 [80%]). All 4 without FDG FLT uptake. Tumor-to-normal tissue ratios (3.99 ± 1.72) on significantly higher than tumor-to-white matter (1.96 0.93) tumor-to-gray (1.32 0.33) (P < 0.001), although SUVs (0.62 0.32) lower those (2.44 1.02) 0.001). Conclusion has a but specificity, which limited role diagnosis as complimentary tool magnetic resonance imaging.