Catecholamines influence myocardial 123I MIBG uptake in neuroblastoma patients
R L F van der Palen, B F Bulten1, A M C Mavinkurve-Groothuis
1Ben F. Bulten, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (internal postal code 756), P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Tel. +31/243 61 40 48, Fax +31/243 61 89 42,
Insights
Cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake in neuroblastoma patients is inversely related to catecholamine levels. High catecholamine levels from tumors can lower MIBG uptake, not indicating cardiac dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine
- Pediatric oncology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiac 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging is used in neuroblastoma assessment.
- Factors influencing cardiac MIBG uptake require clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between catecholamine measurements and cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake in neuroblastoma patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 30 neuroblastoma patients.
- Assessment of cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake using heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratios and standard deviation scores (SDS).
- Measurement of urinary catecholamines (dopamine) and metabolites (homovanillic acid [HVA], vanillylmandelic acid [VMA]).
Main Results:
- 17 patients (57%) had H/M ratio SDS below -1.0; 12 patients (40%) had SDS below -2.0.
- Significant inverse correlation between average urine metabolites (HVA and VMA) and H/M ratio SDS (r = -0.39, p = 0.04).
- Significant correlation between urinary HVA and H/M ratio SDS (r = -0.40, p = 0.04).
Conclusions:
- Routine H/M ratio calculation in 123I-MIBG scintigraphy is not useful for identifying cardiac dysfunction in neuroblastoma.
- Low cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake is associated with elevated catecholamine levels secreted by neuroblastoma tumors.
Aim:
Cardiac 123I metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) imaging can be influenced by several factors. We evaluated the relationship between catecholamine measurements and cardiac 123I MIBG uptake in neuroblastoma patients.
Patients, Methods:
30 neuroblastoma patients were retrospectively assessed on cardiac 123I MIBG uptake and urinary catecholamine dopamine and metabolites, homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA). Cardiac 123I MIBG uptake was quantified by heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratios, which were calculated into standard deviation scores (SDS) using age-specific reference values.
Results:
In 17 (57%) and 12 patients (40%) H/M ratio measurements were below -1.0 and -2.0 SDS at diagnosis. A significant inverse correlation between the average of urine metabolites HVA and VMA, and H/M ratio SDS was observed (r -.39, p = 0.04). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the urinary catecholamine metabolite HVA and H/M ratio SDS (r -.40, p=0.04).
Conclusion:
Routine calculation of H/M ratios in 123I MIBG scintigrams of neuroblastoma patients is not helpful because it will not identify cardiac ventricular dysfunction in this patient category. A low H/M ratio on 123I MIBG scintigraphy is explained by increased cathecholamine levels secreted by neuroblastoma tumours.
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