Advanced Methionine Positron Emission Tomography Imaging for Brain Tumor Diagnosis, Surgical Planning, and Treatment
Brain tumors are a heterogeneous group, with the most common being meningiomas (35.5% and gliomas (30% with 54% of gliomas being highly malignant glioblastomas. The projected survival for a patient is based upon histologic grading, which may not accurately represent the actual pathology, given the frequent heterogeneity of gliomas and nonspecific guidance that comes from traditional anatomic imaging such as magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography. Molecular imaging, including glucose and amino acid transporters, is increasingly implemented in neuro oncology since it provides additional metabolic and functional information about the tumor. Fully integrated within a comprehensive multidisciplinary clinical program, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with amino acid tracers, such as methionine, combined with traditional anatomic imaging information can be utilized to optimize the full course of patient care, including accurate initial diagnosis, fused PET/MR image guided surgery, and evaluation of response to therapy as part of a patient specific personalized treatment plan.