Functional cerebral imaging in the evaluation and radiotherapeutic treatment planning of patients with malignant glioma

https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(92)90953-FGet rights and content

Abstract

zPurpose: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography are relatively new modalities of great potential value in the evaluation, treatment, and subsequent follow-up care of patients with malignant glioma. We report our experience with the incorporation of functional imaging data into radiation therapy three-dimensional (3-D) treatment planning.

Methods and Materials: Over a 24-month period, a total of 37 positron emission tomography and 29 functional MRI studies have been conducted on eight consecutive patients prior to, during, and following the completion of radiation therapy. Functional imaging was conducted prior to radiation therapy treatment planning and at approximate 3-month follow-up time intervals.

Results: In two patients, functional imaging provided additional information over conventional imaging modalities and resulted in subsequent modification of conventional radiation therapy treatment planning.

Conclusion: Although it is premature to make definitive statements regarding the use of these new imaging parameters in the prognostic setting, functional imaging may likely prove to be a useful adjunct in the initial evaluation, radiation treatment planning, and follow-up care of patients with malignant glioma.

References (20)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (58)

  • Functional and Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography for Tumor Volume Definition in High-Grade Gliomas

    2009, Seminars in Radiation Oncology
    Citation Excerpt :

    Conventional radiation typically is planned using multiple modalities, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) to more precisely define target volumes at risk.8-12

  • Malignancy assessment of brain tumours with magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI

    2008, European Journal of Radiology
    Citation Excerpt :

    A choline/creatine ratio equal or larger than 1.78 predicted malignancy with 80% sensitivity and 73% specificity [12]. The rationale for using perfusion analysis to characterize brain tumours is that tumours are associated with increased microvascularity, while necrosis is associated with decreased microvascularity [13–19]. Comparisons of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) with histologic sections in patients with glioma have indicated a significant relationship between tumour vascularity and maximum tumour rCBV [17].

  • Role of fusion in radiotherapy treatment planning

    2003, Seminars in Nuclear Medicine
    Citation Excerpt :

    The group from Massachusetts General Hospital arrived at the same conclusion. In a study of eight malignant glioma patients, only two had additional information provided by FDG-PET over MRI.34 There has recently been some interest in combining the FDG-PET with MRI for gamma knife radiosurgery of recurrent gliomas and metastatic lesions in improving target definition.35

  • Dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI of gliomas

    2002, Neuroimaging Clinics of North America
  • Radiobiological evaluation and optimisation of treatment plans

    2021, Handbook of Radiotherapy Physics: Theory and Practice, Second Edition, Two Volume Set
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text