| Abstract: | Twenty neuroblastoma and 4 nonneuroblastoma patients were studied by 131I-MIBG imaging. The primary tumor was detected in 89% of patients (8/9) before therapy. Bone marrow metastasis was also visualized in 4 of the 8 patients with primary positive scan. True negative results were obtained in 4 nonneuroblastoma patients. After therapy, of 10 tumor-bearing patients, eight showed positive scans and 9 of 12 lesions (75%) were visualized. The accuracies of presence or absence of neuroblastoma were compared between 131I-MIBG imaging and several tumor markers. The accuracies before and after therapy were as follows: 131I-MIBG imaging; 92% (12/13), 88% (15/17), serum NSE; 80% (4/5), 93% (13/14), serum LDH; 92% (11/12), 76% (13/17), urinary VMA; 54% (7/13), 56% (9/16), and urinary HVA; 77% (10/13), 56% (9/16). It appears that 131I-MIBG imaging is useful for both locating and excluding neuroblastoma. In addition, 131I-MIBG imaging appears to be the most efficient diagnostic and follow up study for neuroblastoma when it is combined with measurements of serum NSE. |
