Current and Future Anatomical and Functional Imaging Approaches to Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

H.J.L. M. Timmers; D. Taieb; K. Pacak

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1299712

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(05): 367-372
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1299712

Review

Current and Future Anatomical and Functional Imaging Approaches to Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

H.J.L. M. Timmers

¹Department of Endocrinology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

,

D. Taieb

²Department of Nuclear Medicine, La Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

,

K. Pacak

³Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

After establishing a biochemical diagnosis, pheochromocytomas and extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PPGLs) can be localized using different anatomical and functional imaging modalities. These include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine or ¹¹¹In-DTPA-pentetreotide, and positron emission tomography (PET) using 6-[¹⁸F]-fluorodopamine (¹⁸F-FDA), 6-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (¹⁸F-DOPA), and 2-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose. We review the currently available data on the performance of anatomical imaging, SPECT, and PET for the detection of (metastatic) PPGL as well as parasympathetic head and neck paragangliomas. We show that there appears to be no ‘gold-standard’ imaging technique for all patients with (suspected) PPGL. A tailor-made approach is warranted, guided by clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics. In the current era of a growing number of PET tracers, PPGL imaging has moved beyond tumor localization towards functional characterization of tumors.

Key words

FDG PET - MIBG scintigraphy - FDOPA PET - FDA PET

Full Text

References

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