RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Evaluation of Pediatric CNS Malignancies with 99mTc-Methoxyisobutylisonitrile SPECT JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 1438 OP 1443 VO 43 IS 11 A1 Adam Kirton A1 Reinhard Kloiber A1 Jane Rigel A1 Johannes Wolff YR 2002 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/43/11/1438.abstract AB SPECT has the potential to add valuable information to the diagnosis and management of central nervous system (CNS) malignancy. Radioactive tracers including 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI), or sestamibi, have been shown to be sensitive markers for brain tumors; however, their role in imaging children is poorly defined. Methods: We undertook a pilot study of 29 pairs of 99mTc-MIBI and MRI images from 20 children to explore the clinical usefulness of this tracer in CNS malignancy. Results: Tumor types that took up 99mTc-MIBI included brain stem glioma, fibrillary astrocytoma, other low-grade astrocytomas, and glioblastoma multiforme. Most tumors positive for 99mTc-MIBI uptake were astrocytomas, including those in the brain stem, cerebellum, and cortex. This method of nuclear imaging not only was able to identify the presence of a tumor but also could identify changes in the same tumor over time. Some correlation between histologic grade and 99mTc-MIBI uptake was observed. Several tumors, including craniopharyngioma, medulloblastoma, and optic glioma, were evident on MRI but not on 99mTc-MIBI SPECT. Conclusion: The results suggest that this modality is a potentially useful tool in the diagnosis and management of CNS malignancies, particularly higher-grade astrocytomas, in children.