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Published on: November 16, 2011
F-18 DOPA PET/CT in pediatric patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia: A correlation with genetic analysis
Sambit Sagar1, Geetanjali Arora1, Nishikant Damle1
1Department of Nuclear Medicine.
Aim:
Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is a rare but life-threatening disease of infancy and childhood. 18F-DOPA PET/CT has been shown to be a useful modality in the localization of focal pancreatic lesions in these patients. We aimed to assess the role of 18F-DOPA PET/CT in such patients at our institution.
Materials And Methods:
In this prospective study, 18F-DOPA PET/CT scans and clinical details of 20 children with clinical diagnosis of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia were reviewed. Scans were acquired at 5 min postinjection of 2-3 mCi of 18F-DOPA on dedicated PET/CT scanners (Biograph mCT, Siemens Inc and Discovery PET/CT, GE). Abdominal spot images over 1-2 bed positions were acquired. Additionally, genetic mutation status, where available, was correlated to the scan findings.
Results:
Out of 20 children (7 female and 13 male), 13 were infants. The age of the children ranged from 3 months to 8 years. Fifteen children had undergone gene analysis, 12 were positive for mutation in ABCC8, 1 for GLUD-1, 1 for GCK mutations and 1 had not shown any mutation. 18F-DOPA PET/CT scan showed 5 focal pancreatic lesions in 5 children (1 in each), two focal lesions in 1 child and diffuse pancreatic uptake in 14 children.
Conclusion:
18F-DOPA PET/CT is a useful modality for localizing focal pancreatic lesions in children with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. The detection rate is significantly higher in patients with ABCC8 paternal monoallelic recessive gene mutation. 18F-DOPA PET/CT scan consequent to findings on genetic analysis appears to be useful in planning the management of children with hyperinsulinism.
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