title: Quantitative imaging values of CT, MR, and FDG-PET to differentiate pineal parenchymal tumors and germinomas: are they useful?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quantitative values of CT attenuation, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and standardized uptake value (SUV) were investigated for differentiation between pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) and germinomas. Differences in age, sex, and calcification pattern were also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with PPTs and germinomas in 20 years were retrospectively enrolled under the approval of the institutional review board. CT attenuation, ADC, and SUV (20, 13, and 10 patients, respectively) were statistically compared between the two tumors. Differences in sex and patterns of calcification ("exploded" or "engulfed") were also examined. Mean patient ages were compared among three groups of pineoblastoma, pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation, (PPTID) and pineocytoma and germinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the quantitative values of CT attenuation, ADC, and SUV showed significant differences between PPTs and germinomas (p > .05). However, there was a significant difference in age (p < .05) among the three groups of pineoblastoma (mean age ± standard deviation 7.0 ± 8.7 years), PPTID, and pineocytoma (53.7 ± 11.4 years) and germinoma (19.1 ± 8.1 years). Sex also showed significant differences between PPTs and germinomas (p = .039). Exploded pattern of calcification was found in 9 of 11 PPT patients and engulfed pattern in 7 of 9 patients with germinomas. No reverse pattern was observed, and the patterns of calcification were considered highly specific of tumor types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the quantitative imaging values could differentiate PPTs from germinomas. Age, sex, and calcification patterns were confirmed useful in differentiating these tumors to some degree.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors: Takahide
authors: T
authors: Kakigi
authors: Tomohisa
authors: T
authors: Okada
authors: Mitsunori
authors: M
authors: Kanagaki
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Yasutaka
authors: Y
authors: Fushimi
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Yoshiki
authors: Y
authors: Arakawa
authors: Yoshiki
authors: Y
authors: Mikami
authors: Taro
authors: T
authors: Shimono
authors: Jun C
authors: JC
authors: Takahashi
authors: Kaori
authors: K
authors: Togashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18