Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in central nervous system tumors: role of blood-brain barrier permeability.

Abstract

Combined somatostatin receptor and 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy may be helpful for noninvasive differentiation between meningiomas and other CNS tumors. False-negative scans were observed as a result of shielding by the intact blood-brain barrier. Interpretation of negative and positive somatostatin receptor scans in CNS tumors must therefore be done with caution.