Current status of functional imaging in neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and paraganglioma disease

Abstract

Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in the detection of paraganglioma (PGL), pheochromocytoma (PCC), and neuroblastoma (NB). Anatomic imaging, for example CT or MRI, offers high sensitivity in these neuroendocrine tumors (NET) but only moderate specificity, often associated with difficulties in clearly distinguishing between NET and non-NET. Functional imaging, as in the use of different radioisotopes, is indispensable in oncological imaging. The introduction of PET and PET/CT, respectively, led to a dramatic improvement in both malignant and non-malignant PGL, PCC, and NB, assessing the exact tumor extent. This review gives an overview of functional and anatomical imaging in PGL, PCC, and NB.

Pseudotumoral form of schistosomiasis mimicking neuroendocrine tumor: a case report and brief review of the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal masses

“…Biochemical testing of urinary and/or plasma fractionated metanephrines and catecholamines is indicated for all paragangliomas, even if clinically non-functional [ 12 ]. Radiologic imaging is an important component of assessment being the most commonly used tests: CT, MRI, radioisotope imaging using MIBG, positron emission tomography (PET), octreoscan, and integrated PET/CT [ 13 , 14 ]. In our case, the CT findings of the retroperitoneal lesion ( Figure 1A ) pointed out a paraganglioma as the first possibility, however, urinary fractionated metanephrines and catecholamines were negative as were also the radioisotope imaging using MIBG and the octreoscan ( Figure 2 ).…”

Horse riding, energy drinks and cardiogenic shock: A clinical conundrum

“…Metaiodobenzylguanidine scans are more likely to have false negatives (sensitivity <70%) in extra-adrenal tumours or patients with SDHB mutations and may also miss metastatic disease. 3,4 68 Ga-DOTA-TATE PET has a high affinity for somatostatin surface receptor type 2 and is now considered the gold standard imaging modality for paragangliomas.…”

Paraganglioma vulvovaginal primario. Reporte de caso

“…Los paragangliomas tienen una tasa de crecimiento promedio de 1 milímetro por año y el tiempo necesario para duplicar su tamaño es de 4,2 años (14) . La resección quirúrgica es el tratamiento principal, ya que estos tumores no responden bien a la quimio-radioterapia (3) . La mortalidad perioperatoria es superior al 30% en ausencia de preparación preoperatoria suficiente (bloqueadores alfa-y beta-adrenérgico y bloqueadores de los canales de calcio, para evitar los efectos de la liberación excesiva de catecolaminas), generalmente debida a diagnóstico indefinido.…”

“…El pronóstico depende de múltiples factores, como tipo de cirugía, tamaño del tumor y margen quirúrgico, atipia celular, necrosis, metástasis a ganglios linfáticos e invasión de vasos sanguíneos. La resección completa del tumor es clave para evitar recaídas y aumentar las tasas de supervivencia (3) .…”

“…El diagnóstico se basa principalmente en la morfología histopatológica (1) . Estos tumores se distribuyen principalmente en áreas de acumulación de los paraganglios, como glándulas suprarrenales, cuello, mediastino o retroperitoneo (1)(2)(3) . Existen pocos informes de su aparición en el tracto genital femenino, incluido ovario, ligamento ancho, útero, vagina y vulva (4)(5)(6) .…”