
The aim of the study was to evaluate the current role of (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy in the detection and follow-up of patients with paragangliomas.117 patients were referred for diagnostic (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy based on a strong clinical suspicion, positive familial history and genetic testing, or for follow-up of paragangliomas.(123)I-MIBG images were analyzed and correlated with (111)In-octreotide scintigraphy, CT or MRI results. Accuracy of the imaging method was calculated per patient and per tumor per site.A total of 117 patients were referred for (123)I-MIBG diagnostic imaging; 80 patients were diagnosed with paraganglioma; 66 patients had a single neuroendocrine tumor and 14 patients multiple tumors. The total number of all lesions in these patients was 172. (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy demonstrated 65 lesions in 56 patients (overall sensitivity: 56.3%, specificity: 84%). Lesion-per-site analysis revealed that sensitivity and specificity significantly varied per tumor site (lowest sensitivity for the head and neck: 17.5% and lowest specificity for the abdomen: 87.5%). Hormones were elevated in 85 patients: 55 (123)I-MIBG tumors were positive and 35 tumors were negative. In 16 patients (13.7%) with a genetic burden and a single neuroendocrine tumor, (123)I-MIBG whole-body imaging was successful at detecting a second tumor. In 2 patients (1.7%) with paragangliomas, (123)I-MIBG unexpectedly detected metastases, so the restaging was properly done.(123)I-MIBG scintigraphy remains important in pheochromocytoma and functioning neuroendocrine tumors. The value of (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy is high in familial syndromes with multiple neuroendocrine tumors at different sites, multifocal tumors, and relapsing and metastatic disease.
Adult, Male, Indium Radioisotopes, Pheochromocytoma, Middle Aged, Thoracic Neoplasms, Octreotide, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neoplasms, Multiple Primary, Paraganglioma, 3-Iodobenzylguanidine, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Abdominal Neoplasms, Humans, Female, Neoplasm Metastasis, Radiopharmaceuticals, Radionuclide Imaging, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Aged
Adult, Male, Indium Radioisotopes, Pheochromocytoma, Middle Aged, Thoracic Neoplasms, Octreotide, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neoplasms, Multiple Primary, Paraganglioma, 3-Iodobenzylguanidine, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Abdominal Neoplasms, Humans, Female, Neoplasm Metastasis, Radiopharmaceuticals, Radionuclide Imaging, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Aged
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