Clinical Application of PET in Pediatric Brain Tumors

While rare in adults, central nervous system tumor is the most common solid tumor in childhood and is the leading cause of cancer death in children. Childhood brain tumors are different from those in adults in epidemiology, histologic features, and responses to treatment. Gliomas make up over one-half of all childhood brain tumors. Clinical application of PET imaging in brain tumors has demonstrated that it is helpful in tumor grading, establishing prognosis, defining targets for biopsy, and planning resection. This article emphasizes PET applications in childhood brain tumors, focusing on mainly gliomas with regard to tumor-grading and prognosis, distinguishing tumor recurrence from radiation necrosis, and PET guided diagnosis and treatment.