title: ¹⁸F-DOPA PET/computed tomography imaging.
abstract: 18F-DOPA is a radiopharmaceutical with interesting clinical applications and promising performances in the evaluation of the integrity of dopaminergic pathways, brain tumors, NETs (especially MTCs, paragangliomas, and pheochromocytomas), and congenital hyperinsulinism. 18F-DOPA traces a very specific metabolic pathway and has a very precise biodistribution pattern. As for any radiopharmaceutical, the knowledge of the normal distribution of 18F-DOPA, its physiologic variants, and its possible pitfalls is essential for the correct interpretation of PET scans. Moreover, it is important to be aware of the potential false-positive and false-negative episodes that can occur in the various clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT Centre, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Viale Tre Martiri 140, Rovigo 45100, Italy.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chondrogiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT Centre, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Viale Tre Martiri 140, Rovigo 45100, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT Centre, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Viale Tre Martiri 140, Rovigo 45100, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.rubello@libero.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubello
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044903:Congenital Hyperinsulinism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055099:Neuroendocrine Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D002230:Carbidopa
keywords: (18)F-DOPA; (18)F-DOPA pitfalls; (18)F-DOPA variants; Biodistribution; Physiologic pattern; l-6-Fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine PET/CT