Usefulness of FDG, MET and FLT-PET Studies for the Management of Human Gliomas

Figure 3

Linear regression analysis of T/N ratio between FDG and MET (grade II (a), grade III (b), grade IV (c)), between FLT and MET (grade II (d), grade III (e), grade IV (f)) or between FDG and FLT (grade II (g), grade III (h), grade IV (i)). A significant but weak correlation is observed between the individual T/N ratio of FDG and MET (𝑟=0.57, 𝑃=0.03) (c). FDG T/N ratio tended to be high correlating with low MET T/N ratio showing a tendency toward the focus of the epileptic changes (black circle). On the other hand, no significant correlation is observed between the individual T/N ratio of FLT and MET (𝑟=0.13, 𝑃=0.61) (f). This relationship between FLT and MET is divided into three parts. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between FLT and MET (𝑟=0.21, 𝑃=0.008) in most areas and these areas appeared as astrocytic tumors (red circle). The T/N ratio of the MET tended to be high without correlating with increased T/N ratio of the FLT (𝑟=0.53, 𝑃=0.014) because the oligodendroglioma components were included (blue circle). The T/N ratio of the MET tended to be low without correlating with increased T/N ratio of the FLT (𝑟=0.12, 𝑃=0.11) because the necrotic components were included (green circle). A significant correlation is observed between the individual T/N ratio of FDG and FLT in the grade IV gliomas (𝑟=0.54, 𝑃=0.05) (i). Between FDG and FLT, T/N ratio of the FDG tended to be high with correlating with low T/N ratio of the FLT showing a tendency toward the focus of the epileptic changes (Figures 3(g) and 3(h) black circle). The T/N ratio of the FDG tended to be low without correlating with increased T/N ratio of the FLT, because the necrotic components were included in the grade IV gliomas (Figure 3(i), green circle).

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