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Review
. 2011 Sep;41(5):364-8.
doi: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2011.03.003.

Current role of metaiodobenzylguanidine in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and medullary thyroid cancer

Ioannis Ilias  1 , Chaitanya Divgi, Karel Pacak
Affiliations
Review

Current role of metaiodobenzylguanidine in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and medullary thyroid cancer

Ioannis Ilias et al. Semin Nucl Med. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

Despite early reports of excellent diagnostic characteristics of [(131)I]/[(123)I]-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in the evaluation of pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PHEOs/PGLs) or medullary thyroid cancer as experience with it was accumulated, the sensitivity dropped. Nevertheless, this modality is still useful in the diagnostic work-up of PHEOs/PGLs because it is widely available, and in case of positive scans it might indicate patients who are potential candidates for [(131)I]MIBG therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Whole body (left) and anterior reprojected images (right) with [123I]-MIBG of a patient with PHEO; multiple metastatic lesions are seen
Figure 2
Figure 2
Anterior (left) and posterior (right) reprojected images with [123I]-MIBG of a patient with metastatic PHEO; uptake is seen in the left clavicle, the left pelvis whereas bilateral adrenal uptake is normal. Additional lesions were seen with [18F]-DA, [18F]-DOPA and [18F]-FDG PET in the thoracic spine and pulmonary carina.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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