title: Late Persistent Increased Putaminal 18F-DOPA Uptake Following Ipsilateral Frontal Resection: Evidence for Corticostriatal Synaptic Plasticity?
abstract: We report the finding of late persistent increased putaminal F-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) uptake following resection of a high-grade glioma involving the lateral portion of the ipsilateral precentral gyrus. Brain MRI findings were consistent with secondary putaminal degeneration. This F-DOPA PET phenomenon possibly represents elevated presynaptic dopamine function secondary to upregulation of the amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity, as a compensatory mechanism in response to cortical injury. In the setting of brain tumor surveillance, focal increased striatal F-DOPA uptake should be carefully interpreted in light of MRI findings and pathological changes related to corticostriatal connections.
authors.affiliation: From the *Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; †Nuclear Medicine Department, Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy; ‡Neuro-oncology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; and §Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morana
authors.forename: Arnoldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccardo
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garrè
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011699:Putamen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C043437:fluorodopa F 18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine