Effects of Focal Radiation on [ F]-Fluoro-D-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography in the Brains of Miniature Pigs: Preliminary Findings on Local Metabolism.

Objectives: It would be a medically important advance if durable and focal neuromodulation of the brain could be delivered noninvasively and without ablation. This ongoing study seeks to elucidate the effects of precisely delivered ionizing radiation upon focal brain metabolism and the corresponding cellular integrity at that target. We hypothesize that focally delivered ionizing radiation to the brain can yield focal metabolic changes without lesioning the brain in the process.

Impact of residual (18)F-fluoride in (18)F-FDOPA for the diagnosis of neuroblastoma.

Objective: PET imaging with (18)F-FDOPA has been successfully applied in the diagnosis and surveillance of neuroblastoma (NB) by targeting the overexpression of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. This study aims to assess the impact of residual (18)F-fluoride on (18)F-FDOPA PET in NB and to implement a method to maintain low (18)F-fluoride content in future studies.

Methods: Automatic synthesis of (18)F-FDOPA was based on the electrophilic method using TRACERlab FXFE module.