title: PET/CT imaging in neuroblastoma.
abstract: 123Iodine-metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy is currently the tracer of choice for neuroblastoma (NB). It has high diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value for the assessment of patients after chemotherapy. A positive 123I-MIBG scan is also used for the basis of targeted radionuclide therapy with 131I-MIBG. I-123 MIBG scan however has some limitations which should be taken into account. Moreover the reasons for false negative MIBG results have not been entirely elucidated. Meticulous correlation with radiological examinations and recognition of the normal distribution pattern of 123I-MIBG in children is vital to obtain optimal results. With its technical superiorities, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) can be successfully introduced into the diagnostic workup of NB. Different PET tracers have been offered for imaging in patients with NB, and the efficacy of this modality has been compared with that of 123I-MIBG scan. Our review aims to analyze the present role of PET/CT imaging and radiopharmaceuticals in NB.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Unit, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy. arnoldo.piccardo@galliera.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccardo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lopci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foppiani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garaventa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabria
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Villavecchia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cistaro
mesh_terms: D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; C499142:Ga(III)-DOTATOC; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; C065363:3-hydroxyephedrine; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004809:Ephedrine; D015282:Octreotide