SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN LONG-TERM SURVIVORS OF ADULT BRAIN-TUMORS

Sixteen patients with primary brain tumours were examined on average e ight years after treatment with surgery or whole brain irradiation usi ng standard clinical assessment, CT, a neuropsychological test battery , and single photon emission CT (SPECT) with Tc-99m- exametazime. Seve nteen lesions were discovered on inspection of SPECT images, 11 with x -ray CT. Quantitative assessment of tracer uptake compared with 16 mat ched healthy volunteers was consistent with the presence of lesions. M easurement of uptake in brain regions of the hemisphere not containing the primary tumour still showed significant reductions in patients. T his may be due to remote direct effects of the tumour or, more likely, to the whole brain irradiation received. Psychometric performance on most tests was significantly impaired in the patient group and was cor related with abnormalities of tracer uptake to relevant brain regions.