Pheochromocytoma other imaging findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohammed Abdelwahed M.D [2]

Overview

¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy coupled with CT scan imaging can be used for the localization of distant metastasis of pheochromocytoma.

Other imaging studies for pheochormocytoma include:^[1]

¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy
- Done in case of negative or inconclusive CT and MRI
- Demonstrates the uptake of the compound by tumor cells which is analogous to norepinephrine uptake by adrenergic tissues^[2]
¹¹¹In-octreotide scintigraphy^[3]
¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography
- More sensitive than I-MIBG
PET CT
- High sensitivity for small lesions
- More sensitive than I-MIBG
Adrenal venous sampling (AVS)
- High false positive results^[4]
Image-guided needle biopsy
- Associated with many surgical complications^[5]

↑ National Cancer Institute. Physician Data Query Database 2015. http://www.cancer.gov/types/pheochromocytoma/hp/pheochromocytoma-treatment-pdq#link/_94_toc
↑ Bravo EL (1991). “Pheochromocytoma: new concepts and future trends”. Kidney Int. 40 (3): 544–56. PMID 1787652.
↑ Lin JC, Palafox BA, Jackson HA, Cohen AJ, Gazzaniga AB (1999). “Cardiac pheochromocytoma: resection after diagnosis by 111-indium octreotide scan”. Ann Thorac Surg. 67 (2): 555–8. PMID 10197697.
↑ Freel EM, Stanson AW, Thompson GB, Grant CS, Farley DR, Richards ML; et al. (2010). “Adrenal venous sampling for catecholamines: a normal value study”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 95 (3): 1328–32. doi:10.1210/jc.2009-2253. PMID 20061413.
↑ Vanderveen KA, Thompson SM, Callstrom MR, Young WF, Grant CS, Farley DR; et al. (2009). “Biopsy of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas: potential for disaster”. Surgery. 146 (6): 1158–66. doi:10.1016/j.surg.2009.09.013. PMID 19958944.