title: [Utility of 11C-methionine PET/CT in neuro-oncology].
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-methionine (11C-methionine PET/CT) is a new technique used to evaluate primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. We describe our experience regarding the first 4 patients with glial tumors and 11C-methionine PET/CT. This is a descriptive, observational and prospective study of 4 patients between 38-50 years of age, with different gliomas (WHO classification). MRI and 11C-methionine PET/CT were performed in all cases. Case 1, gliomatosis cerebri grade II post-radiotherapy. Case 2, oligodendroglioma grade II diagnosed and treated with radiotherapy in 1993. Case 3, glioblastoma grade IV post-radiotherapy + temozolomide. Case 4, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma grade III post-radiotherapy + temozolomide. The pattern of 11C-methionine uptake compared with MRI showed tumor progression in cases 1, 3 and 4, and in case 2 showed uptake although the final diagnosis was pseudoprogression. Unlike 18fluordeoxiglucose PET/TC, 11C-methionine uptake in normal brain tissue and pseudoprogression is low, and gliomas are displayed as metabolically active areas. The 11C-methionine PET/CT provided valuable information on the tumoral behavior and extension, although in one case presented did not differentiate tumor progression from pseudoprogression. 11C-methionine PET/CT could be a useful tool in the study and follow-up to patients with gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. neurooncoroffo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casas Parera
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Igirio Gamero
authors.forename: Yamila
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blumenkrantz
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Báez
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tafur Canabal
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Báez
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuchkaryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018316:Gliosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C086242:carbon-11 methionine; D008715:Methionine
keywords: 11C-methionine PET/CT; gliomas; pseudo-progression