Epileptic Activity Increases Cerebral Amino Acid Transport Assessed by ¹⁸F-Fluoroethyl-l-Tyrosine Amino Acid PET: A Potential Brain Tumor Mimic

O-(2-¹⁸F-fluoroethyl)-l-tyrosine (¹⁸F-FET) PET is a well-established method increasingly used for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring in gliomas. Epileptic activity, frequently occurring in glioma patients, can influence MRI findings. Whether seizures also affect ¹⁸F-FET PET imaging is currently unknown. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the brain amino acid metabolism during epileptic seizures by ¹⁸F-FET PET and to elucidate the pathophysiologic background. Methods: Ten patients with 11 episodes of serial seizures or status epilepticus, who underwent MRI and ¹⁸F-FET PET, were studied. The main diagnosis was glioma World Health Organization grade II–IV (n = 8); 2 patients suffered from nonneoplastic diseases. Immunohistochemical assessment of LAT1/LAT2/CD98 amino acid transporters was performed in seizure-affected cortex (n = 2) and compared with glioma tissues (n = 3). Results: All patients exhibited increased seizure-associated strict gyral ¹⁸F-FET uptake, which was reversible in follow-up studies or negative shortly before and without any histologic or clinical signs of tumor recurrence. ¹⁸F-FET uptake corresponded to structural MRI changes, compatible with cortical vasogenic and cytotoxic edema, partial contrast enhancement, and hyperperfusion. Patients with prolonged postictal symptoms lasting up to 8 wk displayed intensive and widespread (≥ 1 lobe) cortical ¹⁸F-FET uptake. LAT1/LAT2/CD98 was strongly expressed in neurons and endothelium of seizure-affected brains and less in reactive astrocytosis. Conclusion: Seizure activity, in particular status epilepticus, increases cerebral amino acid transport with a strict gyral ¹⁸F-FET uptake pattern. Such periictal pseudoprogression represents a potential pitfall of ¹⁸F-FET PET and may mimic brain tumor. Our data also indicate a seizure-induced upregulation of neuronal, endothelial, and less astroglial LAT1/LAT2/CD98 amino acid transporter expression.