Resection of gliomas using positron emission tomography/computed tomography neuronavigation

Abstract

Two patients presented with provisional diagnoses of glioma. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging failed to show the boundaries of the tumor clearly. Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT with [ 18F]fluorodeoxyglucose and 11C-methionine clearly showed the location, extent, and heterogeneity of the tumors. The tumors were resected under PET/CT neuronavigation guidance. Histological examination of the specimens showed that PET/CT neuronavigation provided reliable distinction between normal brain and glioma, and that the uptake of PET tracers can indicate the degree of proliferation.