Possibility of using 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors differing from pheochromocytomas
Troncone, L.; Rufini, V.; Maini, C.L.; Valenza, V.; Danza, F.M.; Lasorella, A.
La Radiologia Medica 72(12): 963-968
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-8362 PMID: 3797720 Document Number: 268170
The results obtained using 131I-MIBG to diagnose different neuroendocrine tumors in 17 patients are discussed. In 8 of the neuroblastomas studied the examination gave a wide spectrum of scintigraphic results according to the various stages of evolution of the tumors, thus supplying additional useful information for metabolic treatment. Contradictory data were obtained in 5 cases of medullary cancer of the thyroid. The overall results were unexpectedly negative for 2 carcinoid tumors and, as expected, negative for 2 ganglioneuromas. These data confirm that 131I-MIBG is a non invasive, reliable and easy-to-perform technique which is no longer limited to the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas, but can also be used for the diagnosis of other tumors derived from neural crest cells.