Intracranial tumors: correlation of angiography with dynamic radionuclide studies

Visualisation of intracranial space-occupying lesions by means of transcranial duplex sonography: report on two cases

OBJECTIVE

A new method for the visualisation of intracranial lesions by means of transcranial duplex sonography is illustrated by two cases.

METHODS

The following methods were used to obtain images of a frontal glioblastoma and a meningioma: transcranial duplex sonography (2 MHz transducer), cerebral computed tomography (cCT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTS

Comparable to cerebral angiography, transcranial duplex sonography revealed displacement of the cerebral blood vessels and thus the presence of space-occupying lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcranial duplex sonography is a non-invasive method for the visualisation of the circle of Willis and its branches and therefore also an indirect indicator of space-occupying lesions within the cranial cavity. As a bedside investigation, it can be used for emergency or routine diagnostic procedures, and repeated as often as necessary for routine follow-up in everyday neurosurgical practice.

Pediatric applications in nuclear oncology

Imaging procedures (both as they apply to initial diagnosis and assessing the response to therapy) using radionuclides are indispensible in the evaluation of malignant diseases that afflict infants and children. The diagnosis and accurate staging are extremely critical because of continuing improvements in the survival of children with malignant disease when treated with appropriate therapy. The major role of nuclear medicine in this patient group serves to evaluate the skeletal system and the liver and spleen. It is important to keep the pediatric specialist well informed concerning the role that nuclear medicine can play in elucidating many of the clinical problems that this specialist faces.