The Role of Radiopharmaceuticals MIBG and (V) DMSA in the Diagnosis of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Authors

Uberta Verga
Fabrizio Muratori
Gianleone Di Sacco
Franceso Banfi
Alfonso Libroia

Abstract

The diagnostic value of 123/131I meta-iodo-benzylguanidine (MIBG) and 99mTc (V) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) was investigated in 12 patients with proven medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Scintigraphic imaging with DMSA was negalive in nine of 12 patients. Scintigraphy with MIBG was positive in only one case. In proven primary or recurrent disease, DMSA sensitivity was 50% and MIBG sensitivity was 25%. Such sensitivities become much lower in subjects wilh high calcitonin (CT) levels who have had negative surgical explorations: DMSA 17% and MIBG 0%. DMSA delected tumor in 25% of the patients and MIBG in only 8%. The positivity of these scintigraphies appears to be unrelated to carcinoembryonic antigen and CT plasma levels. Such data suggest that scintigraphies wilh MIBG and DMSA are only modestly useful in the diagnosis of MTC.

Recommended Citation

Verga, Uberta; Muratori, Fabrizio; Di Sacco, Gianleone; Banfi, Franceso; and Libroia, Alfonso (1989) "The Role of Radiopharmaceuticals MIBG and (V) DMSA in the Diagnosis of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma," Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal : Vol. 37 : No. 3 , 175-177.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol37/iss3/27