[Treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma with 131I MIBG: a long survival]

131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) is a structural analogue of adrenal hormone norepinephrine employed to localise tumours derived of neural crest and in the treatment of malignant pheochromocytomas. Although the number of patients is low, in the revised literature there are objective remissions and reduction of hormonal activity, with symptomatic answers. However, the reduction of size of tumour only has been described in some times and hardly ever in the presence of osseous metastasis. We present one patient diagnoses of malignant pheochromocytoma with osseous metastasis, who was treated with 131I-MIBG. It was administrated a total dose of 1,800 mCu, with an excellent tolerance and short adverse symptoms. There were a partial tumour response and a complete hormonal response, with a survival of 30 years after the diagnoses.