ABSTRACT
Radiation therapy plays a key role in the treatment of central nervous system tumors. In modern radiation therapy applications such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, the precise delineation of tumor tissue from normal tissues is crucial for both tumor control and the reduction of treatment-related side effects. Current routine practices often use anatomical-morphological imaging methods, such as contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance, to delineate target volumes in radiation therapy planning. In contrast to conventional studies, positron emission tomography (PET) can provide further information about the biology, molecular characteristics, and viability of the tumor. PET, which allows us to determine biological treatment volumes, can guide the radiation therapy planning process in situations where conventional studies fall short. While PET-guided planning has become a standard tool in the radiation therapy planning of visceral tumors such as prostate, lung, and cervix, its use is still quite limited in neuro-oncological tumors. This review will focus on the current and potential future applications of PET in neuro-oncological radiation therapy planning.
Keywords:
Neuro-oncology, radiotherapy, PET
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