Objective:

This study aimed to compare planar imaging with I-123 MIBG sintigraphy and SPECT-CT imaging for pheochromocytoma and evaluate the incremental value of I-123 MIBG hybrid SPECT-CT over planar scintigraphy.

Material and Method:

24 patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had undergone I-123 MIBG whole body planar scintigraphy and SPECT-CT of adrenal region. The planar scintigraphy, SPECT and SPECT-CT images were evaluated by a nuclear medicine specialist with over 10 years experience. The number of lesions assessed with planar images and the number of lesions SPECT-CT were recorded. The difference between the level of significance was tested using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, SPSS 12 software package. Special cases were evaluated by investigating with lesion based analysis.

Results:

21 foci were detected on planar images and 36 foci were detected on SPECT-CT images. Difference between the number of detected lesions was found to be a statistically significant (p=0.001<0.05). SPECT-CT added diagnostic value in 11 of 24 patients over planar imaging.

Conclusion:

In patients with pheochromocytoma, there was a statistically significant difference between the number of lesions detected on whole body scan planar imaging and the number of lesions detected on SPECT-CT.

Keywords: adrenal, I-123 MIBG, SPECT-CT