[German guidelines for brain tumour imaging by PET and SPECT using labelled amino acids]

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is standard for brain tumor diagnosis.
• Functional imaging with amino acid-labeled positron emitting tomography (PET) and single photon emitting computerized tomography (SPECT) provides complementary diagnostic information.
• These advanced techniques address limitations of MRI in specific clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practical guidance on the use of brain PET/SPECT with labeled amino acids.
• To establish a high-quality standard for these advanced neuroimaging techniques.
• To assist clinicians in indication, examination procedures, and image analysis.

Main Methods:

• Detailed information on indications, patient preparation, and examination protocols.
• Guidance on data reconstruction, visual, and quantitative image analysis.
• Discussion of potential pitfalls and relevant literature.

Main Results:

• Amino acid-labeled PET and SPECT enhance biopsy targeting and tumor delineation for surgery and radiotherapy.
• These methods aid in differentiating tumor recurrence from post-therapeutic changes.
• They are valuable for predicting glioma prognosis and monitoring treatment response.

Conclusions:

• Amino acid-labeled PET and SPECT are crucial adjuncts to MRI for comprehensive brain tumor management.
• Dynamic PET protocols can improve non-invasive tumor grading through kinetic assessment.
• This guideline ensures standardized, high-quality application of these functional imaging modalities.