Abstract
99mTc complex of hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO), which has been
used as a tracer for regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), has been shown to
localize in primary brain tumors with wide spectrum of its uptake. The causes of
the wide spectrum of tumor uptake, however, has not been understood in detail.
We performed autoradiographic study with this agent to get further knowledge
about HMPAO distribution in 10 cases of transplanted rat gliomas. Eight cases of
rat gliomas without tumor necrosis, showed decreased uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO in
the autoradiography (average tumor/normal (T/N) uptake ratio: 0.75, range:
0.40-0.90). On the other hand, two cases with tumor necrosis revealed increased
uptakes of this agent in central necrotic area. T/N uptake ratios of these two
cases were 1.23 and 1.42, respectively. In addition, three patients with
histologically proven glioblastoma with tumor necrosis were studied after
administration of 20mCi 99mTc-HMPAO. Two out of three patients showed higher
uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO in tumor necrotic area than the contralateral area. Our
findings suggest that the necrotic area of brain tumor may retain 99mTc-HMPAO
and causes an increased uptake.