title: Microvessel density is not crucial for scintigraphic visualization of brain tumors using 99mTc-MIBI.
abstract: Functional imaging of brain tumors assists biopsy localization, therapy monitoring, and differentiating tumor recurrence from radiation necrosis. Tumor vascularization is a strong prognostic predictor in solid tumors and also a key factor of tracer uptake. However, the relationship of brain tumor vascularization and functional imaging has not yet been investigated sufficiently so far. In the present study, we correlated histologically assessed microvessel density as an objective parameter for brain tumor vascularization with imaging data. Four male patients were studied. After 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy, all patients had a MRI within 2 weeks. Histology showed microcystic astrocytoma, glioblastoma (n = 2), and anaplastic oligodendroglioma, respectively. Microvessel density was lowest in the microcystic astrocytoma, medium in the glioblastomas, and highest in the anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Scintigraphy visualized only the glioblastomas, but not the microcystic astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma. Our data showed no correlation between tumor microvessel density and 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy. Thus, we conclude that scintigraphic visualization of brain tumors is not strictly dependent on tumor vascularization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Vienna-AKH, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. anton.staudenherz@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staudenherz
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolfsberger
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Killer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nasel
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marosi
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leitha
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hainfellner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000473:pathology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D003287:Contrast Media; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi