I-123 MIBG scintigraphy and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT negative but F-18 DOPA PET/CT positive pheochromocytoma: a case report

Clin Nucl Med. 2011 Feb;36(2):124-6. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e318203bc4f.

Abstract

We observed a 34-year-old man who was incidentally found to have an adrenal mass during surgical follow-up for perforated ulcer. The patient was subjected to I-123 MIBG scintigraphy, 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT, and F-18 DOPA PET/CT. Only F-18 DOPA PET/CT showed evidence of an avid adrenal mass. A CT-guided biopsy was performed and it was suggestive for pheochromocytoma. He underwent surgery and a pheochromocytoma, about 40 mm in diameter, was detected. Traditionally, I-123 MIBG scintigraphy has been used in detecting chromaffin cell tumors, but more recently it had been demonstrated that a certain part of pheochromocytoma could be false-negative on scintigraphy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Adult
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Organometallic Compounds*
  • Pheochromocytoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pheochromocytoma / pathology
  • Pheochromocytoma / physiopathology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • 68Ga-DOTANOC
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • fluorodopa F 18
  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine