title: Positron emission tomographic evaluations in the diagnosis and therapy of multifocal glioblastoma. Report of a pediatric case.
abstract: A pediatric case of multifocal glioblastoma is reported with special reference to positron emission tomography (PET) evaluations in the diagnosis and therapy. A PET scan employing 15O and 18F positron tracers disclosed a right thalamic lesion high in regional cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume and metabolic glucose rate, suggesting a malignant tumor. In contrast, a left frontal lesion with low regional cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume and metabolic glucose rate was presumed to be rather hypodynamic and hypometabolic. Histological examination of these isolated masses showed both to be glioblastomas, and, as predicted by the PET findings, there were minor histological distinctions. In repeated PET scans following postoperative combined radiochemotherapy, metabolic glucose rate values at the thalamic tumor decreased to about 50% the levels before therapy, although there was no distinguishable change in tumor size on the concurrent computerized tomography scans. This therapeutic efficacy on tumor metabolism was highly consistent with the period of clinical relief.
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate