62Cu-Diacetyl-Bis (N4-Methylthiosemicarbazone) PET in Human Gliomas: Comparative Study with

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 62Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) was developed as a hypoxic radiotracer in PET. We compared imaging features amongMR imaging and 62Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone)-PET, FDG-PET, and L-methyl-[11C]methionine)-PET in gliomas. MATERIALSANDMETHODS: Weenrolled 23 patientswhounderwent 62Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone)-PET and FDG-PET and 19 (82.6%) who underwent L-methyl-[11C]methionine)–PET, with all 23 patients undergoing surgery and their diagnosis being then confirmed by histologic examination as a glioma. Semiquantitative and volumetric analysis were used for the comparison. RESULTS: There were 10 newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme and 13 nonglioblastoma multiforme (grades II and III), including 4 recurrences without any adjuvant treatment. The maximum standardized uptake value and tumor/background ratios of 62Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone), as well as L-methyl-[11C]methionine, were significantly higher in glioblastoma multiforme than in non-glioblastomamultiforme (P .03 and P .03, respectively); no significant differenceswere observed on FDG. At a tumor/background ratio cutoff threshold of 1.9, 62Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) was most predictive of glioblastoma multiforme, with 90.0% sensitivity and 76.9 % specificity. The positive and negative predictive values, respectively, for glioblastoma multiforme were 75.0 % an