JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

18F-FDOPA PET and PET/CT accurately localize pheochromocytomas.

UNLABELLED: Successful treatment of pheochromocytoma requires accurate diagnosis and localization of tumors. Herein, we investigated the accuracy of PET using 3,4-dihydroxy-6-(18)F-fluoro-phenylalanine ((18)F-FDOPA), an amino acid transporter substrate, as an independent marker for detection of benign and malignant pheochromocytomas.

METHODS: The study comprised 25 consecutive patients (9 men, 16 women) whose median age was 51 y (range, 25-68 y), with known or suspected pheochromocytoma. Eleven patients underwent standardized (18)F-FDOPA PET and 14 patients underwent (18)F-FDOPA PET/CT studies, with a median of 511 MBq of (18)F-FDOPA (range, 206-625 MBq). Two readers, unaware of the reports of other imaging studies and clinical data, analyzed all scans visually and quantitatively (maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax] and maximum transverse diameter). Histology and long-term clinical follow-up served as the gold standard. Correlation between SUVmax of tumors and biochemical markers was evaluated. SUVmax of the benign and malignant tumors was compared.

RESULTS: Seventeen patients underwent surgery. Histology confirmed pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma in 11 cases (8 adrenal, including 2 malignant tumors, and 3 extraadrenal, including 1 malignant tumor). The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was established by follow-up in 2 additional patients (1 adrenal and 1 unknown location) and ruled out in 6 patients. Visual analysis detected and localized pheochromocytoma in 11 of 13 patients without false-positive results (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 100%; accuracy, 92%). These lesions had an SUVmax of 2.3-34.9 (median, 8.3). Evaluation of the false-negative cases revealed a 13 x 5 mm lesion with an SUVmax of 1.96 in 1 case; no lesion was localized in the second case using multiple additional modalities. Spearman nonparametric analysis did not show statistically significant correlation between SUVmax of the tumors and biochemical markers. The Mann-Whitney nonparametric test did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the SUVmax of (18)F-FDOPA in malignant and benign tumors.

CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDOPA PET and PET/CT are highly sensitive and specific tools that can provide additional independent information for diagnosis and localization of benign and malignant pheochromocytomas.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app