INCREASED TECHNETIUM-99M-HMPAO UPTAKE IN GRADE-II ASTROCYTOMA

Most brain tumors show decreased uptake of blood flow tracers in brain SPECT imaging and in some cases meningiomas show increased uptake, ma inly associated with high regional blood flow values (1-14). A reason for regionally increased tracer uptake is partial epilepsy when a trac er is injected during the ictal phase (15-17). We present a case of a histologically proven Grade II astrocytoma in the mesial part of the l eft temporal robe that caused complex partial seizures. After tracer i njection during a phase without signs of clinical seizure, markedly in creased uptake of Tc-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (Tc-99m-HMPAO) occurred, although the tumor was partially calcified.