Neuroradiology
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Comparative Study
Gliomatosis cerebri evaluated by 18Falpha-methyl tyrosine positron-emission tomography.
Gliomatosis cerebri is a rare condition in which an infiltrative glial neoplasm spreads through the brain with preservation of the underlying structure. CT and MRI show diffuse abnormal density or signal, without mass effect, and because these findings are nonspecific, it is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis. Our purpose was to assess the usefulness of a new tumour-detecting amino acid tracer for positron-emission tomography (PET), L-[3-(18)F] alpha-methyl tyrosine (FMT), in patients with gliomatosis cerebri. ⋯ There were significant differences between the SUV of FMT and the T/N ratio of FMT in patients and in controls (both P<0.01), and between the T/N ratio of FMT and FDG in patients ( P<0.01). Increased uptake of FMT PET strongly suggests neoplasia. FMT PET is valuable for differentiating gliomatosis cerebri from non-neoplastic diseases showing similar diffuse high signal on T2-weighted images and little contrast enhancement.
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We present a case of Sturge-Weber syndrome with a bilateral lymphatic/venous malformation of the mandible. Modern biology suggests an explanation for such a case. The classification of cerebrofacial venous metameric syndromes (CVMS) enables us to recognise this lesion as involving the most caudal of the cranial metamere (CVMS 3).