Clinical application of O (2-Fluorine-18-Fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine PET for diagnosis of juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma and medulloblastoma in pediatric patients

Objectives O(2-Fluorine-18-Fluoroethyl)-L-Tyrosine (F-18-FET) PET may be used for diagnosis of juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma and medulloblastoma in pediatric patients. The objective was to gain experience in the diagnosis of these rare pediatric diseases.

Methods Twenty patients were scanned with F-18-FET-PET and were analyzed. Maximum and mean tumor to brain ratios were determined 20 to 45 minutes after injection. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using histology or clinical course.

Results In tumors, sensitivity was 80%. Specificity was 70%. Positive predictive value was 86%

Conclusions These findings suggest that F-18-FET can add information for decisionmaking in patients with pediatric brain tumors.

Research Support Advanced Imaging Projects, LLC.