Whole-body PET/CT with 11C-meta-hydroxyephedrine in tumors of the sympathetic nervous system: feasibility study and comparison with 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT.
The 11C-labeled tracer meta-hydroxyephedrine (11C-HED) is a noradrenaline analog that was developed to visualize the sympathetic nervous system with PET. Initial clinical studies show a rapid uptake of 11C-HED in localized tumors of this system. Whole-body imaging with 11C-HED PET is now possible as PET/CT scanners allow a rather short examination time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of whole-body 11C-HED PET/CT for examination of tumors of the sympathetic nervous system and to directly compare the results with 123I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy, including SPECT/CT.


METHODS
In 19 consecutive patients, 9 mo to 68 y old (median, 32 y), 24 whole-body 11C-HED PET/CT (low-dose CT) examinations were performed. Scans were compared with attenuation-corrected 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT scans (24-h scan, low-dose CT). The intensity of tracer accumulation above background was visually analyzed in both scans, PET and SPECT, using a 4-value scale. In 11C-HED PET, mean and maximum standardized uptake values were determined for all lesions.


RESULTS
In 14 patients with 19 pairs of examinations, the following tumors were confirmed histologically: 6 neuroblastomas, 5 pheochromocytomas, 1 ganglioneuroblastoma, and 2 paragangliomas. In 5 patients, each having 1 pair of examinations, clinical follow-up and/or histologic examination did not reveal any tumor deriving from the sympathetic nervous system. 11C-HED PET/CT detected 80 of 81 totally depicted tumor lesions (sensitivity, 0.99; soft tissue, 61; bone, 19). 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT detected 75 of 81 lesions (sensitivity, 0.93; soft tissue, 56; bone, 19). With both methods, there were no false-positive lesions. The tumor-to-background contrast of 11C-HED uptake was higher in comparison with 123I-MIBG uptake in 26 lesions (0.32; soft tissue, 18; bone, 8), equal in 39 lesions (0.48; soft tissue, 30; bone, 9), and lower than 123I-MIBG uptake in 16 lesions (0.20; soft tissue, 14; bone, 2).


CONCLUSIONS
Whole-body imaging using 11C-HED PET/CT is feasible in the clinical setting of patients with tumors of the sympathetic nervous system. 11C-HED PET/CT detected more tumor lesions than 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT. However, tumor-to-background contrast of 11C-HED in lesions can be higher, equal, or lower compared with 123I-MIBG.
Franzius
Christiane
C
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Münster, Germany. franziu@uni-muenster.de
Hermann
Klaudia
K
Weckesser
Matthias
M
Kopka
Klaus
K
Juergens
Kai Uwe
KU
Vormoor
Josef
J
Schober
Otmar
O
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C065363:3-hydroxyephedrine; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D004809:Ephedrine