# Imaging in Neuro-oncology

**Authors:** Elizabeth Coffee, Cleopatra Elshiekh, Joshua A. Budhu

PMC · DOI: 10.1055/a-2719-5058 · 2025-10-30

## TL;DR

This review discusses the role of imaging in diagnosing and managing brain tumors, covering current and emerging techniques for neuro-oncology care.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive, clinically focused review of imaging modalities and innovations in neuro-oncology.

## Key findings

- Standard and advanced imaging techniques are essential for diagnosing and monitoring brain tumors.
- RANO criteria and emerging technologies like radiomics and AI are improving tumor assessment.
- Equitable access to advanced imaging remains a significant challenge in neuro-oncology.

## Abstract

Brain tumors are a diverse group of neoplasms that vary widely in treatment and prognosis. Imaging serves as the cornerstone of diagnosis, monitoring response to treatment and identifying progression of disease in neuro-oncologic care. This review outlines current and emerging imaging modalities with a focus on clinical application in glioma, meningioma, and brain metastasis. We cover standard imaging modalities, advanced magnetic resonance techniques such as perfusion and spectroscopic imaging, and nuclear imaging with positron emission tomography (PET), including amino acid PET. We summarize the standardized Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria, and explore innovations in radiomics, artificial intelligence, and targeted imaging biomarkers. Finally, we address challenges related to equitable access to advanced imaging. This review provides a practical, clinically focused guide to support neurologists in the imaging-based care of patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** glioma (MONDO:0021042), meningioma (MONDO:0003057)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IDH1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP(+)) 1) [NCBI Gene 3417] {aka HEL-216, HEL-S-26, IDCD, IDH, IDP, IDPC}, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7852] {aka CD184, D2S201E, FB22, HM89, HSY3RR, LCR1}, TSPO (translocator protein) [NCBI Gene 706] {aka BPBS, BZRP, DBI, IBP, MBR, PBR}, LAT2 (linker for activation of T cells family member 2) [NCBI Gene 7462] {aka HSPC046, LAB, NTAL, WBSCR15, WBSCR5, WSCR5}, LCT (lactase) [NCBI Gene 3938] {aka LAC, LPH, LPH1}, SLC7A5 (solute carrier family 7 member 5) [NCBI Gene 8140] {aka 4F2LC, CD98, D16S469E, E16, LAT1, MPE16}, SST (somatostatin) [NCBI Gene 6750] {aka SMST, SST1}, G6PC1 (glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 2538] {aka G6PC, G6PT, G6Pase, GSD1, GSD1a}
- **Diseases:** CNS lymphoma (MESH:D008223), low-grade glioma (MESH:D008228), necrosis (MESH:D009336), CNS infection (MESH:D002494), fungal lesions (MESH:D009181), radiation necrosis (MESH:D011832), Brain Tumor (MESH:D001932), Glioblastoma (MESH:D005909), renal cell carcinoma (MESH:D002292), astrocytomas (MESH:D001254), gliosis (MESH:D005911), brain metastasis (MESH:D009362), grade 3 and 4 (MESH:D008224), colorectal cancer (MESH:D015179), demyelinating lesions (MESH:D003711), brain (MESH:D001927), Meningiomas (MESH:D008579), breast (MESH:D061325), ischemic injury (MESH:D017202), ischemic stroke (MESH:D002544), infection (MESH:D007239), midline shift (MESH:D020178), CNS tumors (MESH:D016543), spinal cord tumors (MESH:D013120), hemorrhage (MESH:D006470), vasogenic edema (MESH:D001929), granulomatous disease (MESH:D006105), oligodendrogliomas (MESH:D009837), leptomeningeal disease (MESH:D008577), cerebellar enhancing lesion (MESH:D002526), neurologic deficit (MESH:D009461), ependymomas (MESH:D004806), medulloblastomas (MESH:D008527), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), melanoma (MESH:D008545), glioma (MESH:D005910), inflammation (MESH:D007249), abscesses (MESH:D000038), ventricular entrapment (MESH:D009408), occipital lesion (MESH:D006259), calcifications (MESH:D002114), Tumors (MESH:D009369), pituitary adenoma (MESH:D010911), edema (MESH:D004487), metastatic disease (MESH:D000092182)
- **Chemicals:** 18 F-FDOPA (MESH:C043437), steroid (MESH:D013256), glutamine (MESH:D005973), 11 C-MET (MESH:C086242), lipids (MESH:D008055), H (MESH:D006859), glucose (MESH:D005947), 18 F-fluciclovine (MESH:C117460), RANO (-), deuterium (MESH:D003903), N -acetyl aspartate (MESH:C000179), Amino Acid (MESH:D000596), Cr (MESH:D003401), 68 Ga (MESH:C000615430), 18 F-FDG (MESH:D019788), water (MESH:D014867), Glu (MESH:D018698), bevacizumab (MESH:D000068258), pyruvate (MESH:D019289), 2-HG (MESH:C019417), oxygen (MESH:D010100), DOTA (MESH:C071349), O -(2- 18 F-fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine (MESH:C117289), Cho (MESH:D002794), lactate (MESH:D019344), 68 Ga-DOTATATE (MESH:C513399), 18 F-FET (MESH:C545932)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** glutamine-glutamate

## Figures

10 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12803778/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12803778