CORRELATION OF GLUCOSE CONSUMPTION AND TUMOR-CELL DENSITY IN ASTROCYTOMAS - A STEREOTAXIC PET STUDY

To determine histological correlates of the variability of glucose con sumption in astrocytomas, the authors performed positron emission tomo graphy (PET) with F-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and matched th e PET scans three-dimensionally with computerized tomography scans obt ained in a stereotactic frame before biopsy. Ten patients with astrocy tomas of World Health Organization Grade 2 or 3 were studied; patients with glioblastomas, oligodendrogliomas, or oligoastrocytomas were exc luded from the study to avoid any confounding effects of different cel l types and necroses. In samples of pure tumor, glucose consumption co rrelated significantly with cell density, but not with nuclear polymor phism. It is concluded that tumor cell density is a major determinant of glucose consumption in astrocytomas. The use of PET with FDG may he lp to locate the highest cell density and thus improve the diagnostic yield of stereotactic biopsy.