REVIEW  HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA 

The Quarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2018 September;62(3):254-66

DOI: 10.23736/S1824-4785.18.03092-3

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Role of amino-acid PET in high-grade gliomas: limitations and perspectives

Antoine VERGER ^{1, 2} ✉, Javier ARBIZU ³, Ian LAW ⁴

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine and Nancyclotep Imaging Platform, CHRU Nancy, Lorraine University, Nancy, France; ² IADI, INSERM, Lorraine University, Nancy, France; ³ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; ⁴ Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Positron emission tomography (PET) using radiolabeled amino-acids was recently recommended by the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) working group as an additional tool in the diagnostic assessment of brain tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize available literature data on the role of amino-acid PET imaging in high-grade gliomas (HGGs), with regard to diagnosis, treatment planning and follow-up of these tumors. Indeed, amino-acid PET applications are multiple throughout the evolution of HGGs. However, certain limitations such as lack of specificity, uncertain value for grading and prognostication or the limited data for treatment monitoring should to be taken into account, the latter of which are further developed in this review. Notwithstanding these limitations, amino-acid PET is becoming increasingly accessible in many nuclear medicine centers. Larger prospective cohort prospective studies are thus needed in order to increase the clinical value of this modality and enable its extended use to the largest number of patients.

KEY WORDS: Positron-emission tomography - Glioma - Amino acids