123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine uptake in the nape of the neck of children: likely visualization of brown adipose tissue.
The distribution of radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) has been studied primarily in patients with neuroendocrine tumors-in pediatrics, particularly with neuroblastomas. Sometimes, symmetric accumulation in which no tumor is identified is seen in the nape-of-the-neck region. We estimated visually whether accumulation was found in the nape of the neck and studied the characteristics of the accumulation.


METHODS
Retrospectively, we investigated 266 (123)I-MIBG scintigraphic studies performed on pediatric patients who had been treated for neuroendocrine tumors or who were suspected of having such tumors.


RESULTS
Accumulation in the nape of the neck was seen in 32 of 266 studies (12%); in none of these cases was the accumulation identified as a tumor by other imaging modalities or follow-up studies. In the same individuals, the accumulation varied and it was observed more often during winter.


CONCLUSIONS
Symmetric (123)I-MIBG accumulations in the nape-of-the-neck region observed in children are thought to be related to the uptake in brown adipose tissue.
Okuyama
Chio
C
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. chio@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Ushijima
Yo
Y
Kubota
Takao
T
Yoshida
Toshihide
T
Nakai
Takako
T
Kobayashi
Kana
K
Nishimura
Tsunehiko
T
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine