title: 18F-DOPA Uptake of Developmental Venous Anomalies in Children With Brain Tumors.
abstract: We report the finding of increased F-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine uptake of the brain parenchyma adjacent to developmental venous anomalies, incidentally discovered in 3 pediatric patients with diffusely infiltrating gliomas. One patient presented 3 developmental venous anomalies located distant from the tumor, whereas in the remaining 2 patients, the vascular anomalies were inside the tumoral area mimicking a focal area of increased tumor metabolism. In the setting of brain tumor imaging, focal increased F-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine uptake should be carefully interpreted in light of MRI findings, and nuclear medicine physicians should be aware of any incidental minor vascular abnormality for proper interpretation of PET data.
authors.affiliation: From the *Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; †Nuclear Medicine Department, Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy; and ‡Neuro-oncology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 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: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabria
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005910:Glioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine