title: [Contribution of PET to the management of patients with low-grade glioma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Management of patients with low-grade glioma is a major challenge for the neurosurgeon. When is neurosurgery indicated? Should chemotherapy or radiotherapy be used? Many questions without an answer. We reviewed our experience with 65 patients treated for low-grade glioma who had preoperative PET images (FDG or/and MET). We examined the prognostic value of PET and also determined the sensitivity and the specificity of PET images to predict outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients with a FDG or MET PET images were analyzed. We used two visual scales and had complete follow-up data for 63 patients. The free interval was the principal criterion for statistical analysis. The sensitivity and the specificity of PET images was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong FDG uptake was correlated with a short free interval (p=0.001). Similar results were found with the MET analysis (p=0.0076). We had a PET with MET and FDG for 36 patients. The sensitivity was 66% and the specificity 94% for FDG PET. Sensitivity was 100% and specificity 53% for MET PET.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET imaging provides a prognostic factor independent from histology. MET PET is the best exam for the follow-up of patients with low-grade glioma and is helpful for separating aggressive from low-grade glioma.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurochirurgie (Clinique Neurochirurgicale d'Oncologie), odewitte@ulb.ac.be
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De Witte
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oulad Ben Taib
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Branle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rorive
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brotchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008715:Methionine; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D008715:Methionine