SPECT imaging of gliomas with Thallium‐201 and Technetium‐99m‐HMPAO

Sequential Thallium‐201 and Technetium‐99m‐HMPAO SPECT images were obtained from 7 patients with high‐grade gliomas and 5 patients with low‐grade gliomas. The histo‐pathological tumor‐type was verified from either biopsy specimens or resected tissue from surgery. There was an intense uptake of Thallium‐201 in all high‐grade gliomas. Compared to the contralateral hemisphere the mean uptake was 4.6 times higher. Low‐grade gliomas showed only a marginally increased Thallium‐201 uptake (1.4 times). No overlap existed between the two groups. There was no correlation between Technetium‐99m‐HMPAO uptake and tumor type. Thallium‐201 appears to be a promising radiopharmaceutical for differentiating high‐ and low‐grade gliomas, whereas Technetium‐99m‐HMPAO is not.