title: Detection rate of recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma using fluorine-18 dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of published data about the diagnostic performance of (18)F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (CT) in detecting recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search of studies indexed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase databases through January 2012 and regarding (18)F-DOPA PET or PET/CT in patients with suspected recurrent MTC was carried out. Pooled detection rates (DR) in per patient and per lesion analyses were calculated. A subanalysis considering serum levels of calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen, device used, and carbidopa pretreatment was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies including 146 patients with suspected recurrent MTC were included. The DRs of (18)F-DOPA PET and PET/CT in per patient and per lesion analyses were 66% and 71%, respectively. DRs significantly increased in patients with serum calcitonin ≥1000 ng/L (86%) and calcitonin doubling times <24 months (86%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluorine-18-DOPA PET and PET/CT may be useful functional imaging methods in detecting recurrent MTC. The DR of recurrent MTC using these imaging methods increases in patients with higher calcitonin levels and lower calcitonin doubling times.
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. giorgiomednuc@libero.it
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Treglia
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Cocciolillo
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Di Nardo
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Poscia
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: de Waure
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Giordano
authors: Vittoria
authors: V
authors: Rufini
mesh_terms: D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C043437:fluorodopa F 18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine