Affiliations: Centro CNR per la Medicina Nucleare, Istituto di Scienze Radiologiche, Fondazione Pascale and Universita D., Napoli, Italy
CNR Medicina Nucleare, Universita degli Studi di Napoli F., Via Pansini 5-80131, Napoli, Italy
References: Not available.
Functional characterization of brain tumors: An overview of the potential clinical value
Early detection and characterization are still challenging issues in the diagnostic approach to brain tumors. Among functional imaging techniques, a clinical role for positron emission tomography studies with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose and for single photon emission computed tomography studies with [201Tl]thallium-chloride has emerged. The clinical role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy is still being defined, whereas functional magnetic resonance imaging seems able to provide useful data for presurgical localization of critical cortical areas. Integration of morphostructural information provided by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, with functional characterization and cyto-histologic evaluation of biologic markers, may assist in answering the open diagnostic questions concerning brain tumors.
Functional characterization of brain tumors: An overview of the potential clinical value