18F-DOPA PET/CT in the Evaluation of Hereditary SDH-Deficiency Paraganglioma-Pheochromocytoma Syndromes

• DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0b013e31829aface
• Publication Date: 2013-07-13T12:32:43Z
• Authors: Maria Cristina Ma...; Sotirios Chondrog...; Gaia Grassetto; Lucia Rampin; Anna Margherita M...; Alice Ferretti; Giuseppe Opocher; Francesca Schiavi; Patrick M. Colletti; Domenico Rubello
• Keywords: SDHD; SDHB; Fluorodeoxyglucose

This study aims to evaluate the role of F-DOPA PET/CT in staging and follow-up paraganglioma syndromes succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-mutation-related patients, comparing results with morphological imaging biochemical results.We retrospectively studied 10 consecutive patients (3 F, 7 M, mean age 32 yrs), all a genetically demonstrated SDH mutation (5 SDH-D, 4 SDH-B, 1 SDH-C) addressed scan. Seven had already been operated on for one or more pheochromocytomas and/or paragangliomas were submitted scan according clinical, biochemical, radiological suspicion recurrence, while 3 only positive, no previous symptom/sign disease. For analysis (plasma urinary catecholamine) high-resolution studies (CT MRI) available. Histologic/cytologic findings taken as gold standard cases.Seven out showed areas pathological accumulation. presence disease 4/6 increase catecholamine levels ("biochemically silent"). Positive detection rate was 100% SDH-D 40% "non-SDHD". Analyzing per lesion, lesions than anatomical (16 vs. 7) especially head neck paragangliomas.F-DOPA seems be accurate method restaging SDH-mutations-related syndromes. is particularly useful detecting biochemically silent paragangliomas, also apparently healthy mutation-carrying people.