PET and SPECT in Meningiomas: Pathological Correlation

Meningiomas are the most frequent primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor in adults. These tumors pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, since surgery is the only mainstay treatment and preoperative grade assessment is not straightforward. Herewith, we set out to review the role of positron-emitting tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in enhancing our understanding of meningiomas. PET and SPECT emerge as powerful tools in meningioma diagnosis and grading. While MRI and CT remain as primary diagnostic modalities, PET, particularly with 18F- fluorodeoxyglucose, demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity in preoperative grading and this could be proven crucial for guiding future treatment decisions. SPECT can accomplish similar results while being widely available. As the field evolves, a focused approach, possibly concentrating on a single radiopharmaceutical, can enhance the impact of these nuclear medicine techniques in meningioma diagnosis, grading, and treatment planning.