6533b85cfe1ef96bd12bc9be
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Contribution of thallium-201-SPECT to the grading of tumorous alterations of the brain
Peter KlawkiHelmut J. WielerAxel LinkampRüdiger BurkardThomas GöllerKlaus Peter KaiserLutz Mittelbachsubject
AdenomaAdultMalemedicine.medical_specialtychemistry.chemical_elementAstrocytomaSingle-photon emission computed tomographyMalignancyDiagnosis DifferentialMeningeal NeoplasmsmedicineHumansPituitary NeoplasmsGrading (tumors)AgedNeoplasm StagingTomography Emission-Computed Single-Photonmedicine.diagnostic_testBrain Neoplasmsbusiness.industryBrainGliomaNeuroma AcousticGeneral MedicineMiddle Agedmedicine.diseaseThallium RadioisotopeschemistryPositron emission tomographyThalliumFemaleSurgeryNeurology (clinical)NeurosurgeryMeningiomabusinessNuclear medicinedescription
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with thallium-201-chloride (201Tl) was used in 22 patients to assess the grade of malignancy of brain tumors. Low- and high-grade malignant gliomas could be well differentiated by calculating the Grade Index (GI), i.e., 201Tl uptake in the tumor area relative to a contralateral brain region. Low-grade gliomas (WHO-grade I-II) usually showed a GI of1.5. Tumors classified histologically as high-grade malignant (WHO-grade III-IV) had GI values greater than 1.42 and a mean value of 1.89. Until labelled amino-acid tracers for gamma-cameras become commercially available, thallium-201 brain-SPECT can provide an independent and complementary method to CT/MRI for the differential diagnosis of grading of brain tumors. This simple technique can help to reduce sampling errors during needle biopsies of brain tumors, particularly of high-grade lesions incorrectly graded as low-grade tumors due to inadequate biopsy material. In addition, pre- and post-therapy studies can influence the strategy of therapy itself and allow an early detection of recurrences.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-12-01 | Neurosurgical Review |