Advances in neuroscience research have led to substantial expansion and even revision of many concepts of neuronal structure and function. The essence of this progress is contained in the knowledge that there are multiple modes of information processing in neurons and even subneuronal elements such as the dendrite. The challenge and opportunity of the new findings lies in understanding how the various modes are integrated in complex brain function. Progress in this area should offer new insights into the pathophysiology of neurological disease.

Action Potentials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Positron emission tomographic study of suppression of gray-matter glucose utilization by brain tumors.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) was used to study 59 patients with astrocytomas and three patients with other cerebral mass lesions. Suppression of gray-matter glucose utilization ranging from 8% to 64% (mean, 30%) was seen in 92% of cases. Three categories of suppression were apparent, with the greatest degrees of suppression occurring in edematous gray matter adjacent to mass lesions. Lesser degrees of suppression were noted in nonedematous structures (normal attenuation on computed tomographic scan) adjacent to the lesion. Significant suppression was also present in gray matter spatially remote from but functionally linked to the site of the lesion. This approach may become a useful tool for improved understanding of the clinical presentation of certain pathologic entities and for evaluation of disease progression and response to treatment.

Astrocytoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Glycolytic rate (PET) and contrast enhancement (CT) in human cerebral gliomas.

A comparison of the glycolytic rate as determined by positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) and cerebral contrast computed tomography (CT) was carried out in 72 cases of cerebral glioma. FDG-PET is more accurate than contrast CT in predicting tumor grade.

Brain Neoplasms↗