title: Clinical Value of 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine Positron Emission Tomography/Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (18F-DOPA PET/CT) in Patients with Suspected Paraganglioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate (18)F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine-positron emission tomography/ contrast-enhanced computed tomography ((18)F-DOPA PET/CT) for the detection of paragangliomas (PARA) without any patient selection, such as genetic predisposition for the development of these tumors, history of metastatic PARA or hormonal status.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, 28 consecutive patients (15 women, 13 men; mean age=46.4 years; age range=19-73 years), who were referred to our PET/CT center for the detection of clinically suspected PARA, were included. Final diagnosis was confirmed by histological reports of surgically proven lesions and/or clinical follow-up (including laboratory results and/or PET/CT follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On a per-lesion basis (45 lesions) analysis, there was a sensitivity of 64.3% for CT, 73.8% for PET, 100% for PET/CT and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.1% for CT, 96.9% for PET and 100% for PET/CT. On a per-patient basis analysis, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for CT was 86.7%, 84.6% and 85.7%, respectively, and, for PET 80%, 100% and 89.3%, respectively, and, for PET/CT 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our data, (18)F-DOPA PET/CT is a "one-stop diagnostic modality" for the assessment of patients with suspected PARA.
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Pediatric Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El-Rabadi
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Pediatric Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Pediatric Radiology, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakuz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitterhauser
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dudczak
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hacker
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria georgios.karanikas@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karanikas
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C043437:fluorodopa F 18; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine
keywords: 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA); Paraganglioma; computed tomography (CT); neuroendocrine tumor; positron emission tomography (PET)