PET for meningioma – pro
Usually, diagnosis and treatment planning are based on neuroimaging using mainly MRI or, rarely, CT. Molecular imaging techniques such as PET can characterize specific metabolic and cellular features which may provide clinically relevant information beyond that obtained from structural MR or CT imaging alone. A recent guideline by Galidiks et al set forth certain recommendations, relevant primarily to surgicla planning; however, in a considerable number of cases, especially in tumors located at the skull base (meningiomas of the suprasellar region and the sphenoid wings are ~30% of cases), it is difficult to differentiate between normal dura tissue and tumor tissue, because both normal dura as well as bone show a high contrast enhancement. Moreover, in tumors infiltrating the bone it is difficult to define the infiltration depth with high precision, despite using the bone window on CT images. In these cases, PET imaging may add helpful information.
Galldiks N et al, PET imaging in patients with meningioma-report of the RANO/PET Group.
Neuro Oncol. 2017 Nov 29;19(12):1576-1587.
Tamrazi B et al, Advanced Imaging of Intracranial Meningiomas.Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2016 Apr;27(2):137-43.