title: The Role of PET [18F]FDOPA in Evaluating Low-grade Glioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of 3,4-dihydroxy-6-[(18)F]-fluoro-L-phenylalanine ([(18)F]-FDOPA) positron-emission tomography (PET) in predicting the risk of radiological progression of disease in patients affected by low-grade glioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients affected by grade II glioma were consecutively enrolled in a prospective observational study at the Department of Neurology of Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome, Italy. At enrolment, all patients underwent PET [(18)F]-FDOPA and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and clinical and radiological assessments with MRI every six months to evaluate the progression of disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 50 patients affected by grade II glioma (30 males and 20 females) were included in the study. The multivariate analysis showed that standardized uptake value greater than 1.75 and disease duration were independent predictors of disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the PET [(18)F]-FDOPA may play an important prognostic role in evaluation of low-grade glioma.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Oncology Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy villani@ifo.it.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villani
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Carapella
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaravalloti
authors.affiliation: Biostatistic Unit, Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Terrenato
authors.affiliation: Service of Neuroradiology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piludu
authors.affiliation: Service of Neuroradiology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy IRCSS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schillaci
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Floris
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabi
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Oncology Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pace
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003710:Demography; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012372:ROC Curve; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine
keywords: Low-grade glioma; PET 18F-FDOPA; prognostic factors; progressive disease