Stroke detection with 3 different PET tracers

Abstract

Stroke is a common cause of patient morbidity and mortality, being the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a proven tool for oncology patients, and may have utility in patients with stroke. We demonstrate findings of stroke incidentally detected on oncologic PET/CTs using ¹⁸F-FDG, ¹¹C-Choline, and ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE radiotracers. Specifically, focal ¹¹C-Choline or ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATATE uptakes localized in areas of MRI confirmed ischemia, and paradoxically increased ¹⁸F-FDG activity was visualized surrounding a region of hemorrhage, in different patients. These cases demonstrate that PET may have utility in evaluating patients with stroke based on flow dynamics, metabolic activity, and receptor expression.