Evaluation of PET/CT and Thallium-201 imaging for brain tumors vs. necrosis

Objectives The added benefit of using both Thallium-201 SPECT/CT and F-18 FDG PET/CT for differentiating recurrent metastatic brain tumors from radiation necrosis gives the physicians the ability to adequately access the correct diagnosis and treatment for each patient. The purpose of this study is to show the benefits and correlation between these two imaging techniques.

Methods During the study period 50 patients were identified who had been referred for evaluation of brain tumors or necrosis. These patients had a Thallium-201 SPECT/CT scan followed by a F-18 FDG PET/CT scan either the same day or in two separate appointments. The data was reviewed by nuclear medicine physicians. The SPECT/CT scan was performed by using a Phillips Precedence SPECT/CT camera while the PET/CT was performed on a GE Discovery LightSpeed PET/CT scanner.

Results The results of the Thallium-201 SPECT/CT scans were compared to the F-18 FDG PET/CT results to determine if there was a correlation between the two studies. After comparing the diagnosis from both studies together of either radiation necrosis or tumor for each patient the diagnosis matched up for both Thallium-201 and PET/CT scans.

Conclusions By analyzing images from Thallium-201 SPECT/CT and F-18 FDG PET/CT scans, physicians are better able to determine the best course of treatment for a patient and/or if surgery is needed. Also, surgeons are better able to locate lesions or necrotic tissue