The Diagnostic Value of 18F-FET PET/MRI for CNS Tumors in Children and Adolescents

To investigate the diagnostic value of 18F-FET PET/MRI instead of MRI alone, children and adolescents with tumor in brain or spinal cord are included and scanned primarily at our hybrid PET/MRI using the amino acid analog 18F-FET. The scans are performed at primary diagnosis, before radiation therapy, before and after operation, when relapse is suspected and three or six months after initiation of chemotherapy.

Background. Tumors in the brain and spinal cord are among the most common causes of death and disability by cancer in children and adolescents. MRI is used for primary diagnosis as well as follow-up but is often challenged by tissue changes caused by the treatment. The amino acid analog 18F-FET is used increasingly in adults to delineate tumor and discriminate tumor from treatment effects. A hybrid PET/MRI scanner enables the simultaneous imaging with PET and MRI, which is important in especially the younger children needing anaesthesia to cooperate to the procedure. Aim The aim of the study is to compare diagnostics using MRI alone with 18F-FET PET/MRI (or sequential MRI and PET) in children and adolescents diagnosed with a central nervous system (CNS) tumor before the age of 18 years. The scans will be performed at primary diagnosis/before operation/biopsy, within 72 hours after operation, planning radiation therapy, evaluation of treatment effect, when relapse is suspected. Exclusion criteria are MRI contraindications, pregnancy, or a syndrome with increased sensitivity to radiation. The investigators wish to evaluate which cases and for which tumor types, 18F-FET PET/MRI will increase sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing CNS tumors. Side effects The side effects are mainly the side effect from the MRI with venous puncture, the MRI contrast leading that can lead to shortlived nausea or headache, fasting for 6 hours and the radioactivity exposure of 4.2 mSv (1,4 times the early background radiation) for each scan procedure. The maximal number of scans in the project is 3, 6 or 10 depending on the diagnosis. Data Analysis The correlation between 18F-FET uptake in tumor and tumor grading (obtained from operation/biopsy) will be investigated. When relapse is suspected, sensitivity and specificity for recurrence/progression for MRI alone versus PET/MRI will be compared. It will be analysed if the addition of PET influences the diagnosis/chosen treatment. A major impact of 6% will be regarded significant. The prognostic value of 18F-FET uptake after treatment will be investigated.