title: Superiority of 6-[18F]-fluorodopamine positron emission tomography versus [131I]-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in the localization of metastatic pheochromocytoma.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to assess the diagnostic utility of 6-[(18)F]-fluorodopamine ([(18)F]-DA) positron emission tomography scanning (PET) vs. [(131)I]-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy in patients with metastatic pheochromocytoma (PHEO). We studied 10 men and six women (mean age 38.2 +/- 11.5 yr) referred to our institution for metastatic PHEO; two patients were studied twice within a 2-yr interval. Imaging modalities included computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), [(131)I]-MIBG scintigraphy, and [(18)F]-DA PET. Fifteen of 16 patients had positive findings on CT and/or MRI consistent with the presence of pheochromocytoma. [(18)F]-DA PET was positive in all patients, but seven patients had negative [(131)I]-MIBG scans. Thirty-eight foci of uptake were shown by both [(18)F]-DA PET and [(131)I]-MIBG scintigraphy, 90 only by [(18)F]-DA PET, and 10 only by [(131)I]-MIBG; most lesions were also visible on CT/MRI. In this initial series of patients with metastatic pheochromocytoma, [(18)F]-DA PET localized PHEO in all patients and showed a large number of foci that were not imaged with [(131)I]-MIBG scintigraphy. Thus, [(18)F]-DA PET was found to be a superior imaging method in patients with metastatic PHEO, in which correct detection of disease extension often determines the most appropriate therapeutic plan and future follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Reproductive Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ilias
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrasquillo
authors.forename: Clara C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eisenhofer
authors.forename: Millie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whatley
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McElroy
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pacak
mesh_terms: D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D004298:Dopamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; C029253:6-fluorodopamine; D004298:Dopamine