The objective of this case report is to highlight the role of Iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) cardiac scintigraphy in discriminating Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) from other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease. This patient is a known case of Parkinson’s disease and has been treated as such since 2011. However, the patient also concurrently deals with visual hallucinations and because of this, the patient’s attending neurologist wanted to rule in the diagnosis of DLB rather than AD. Hence, an I-131 MIBG cardiac scan was requested in order to support the diagnosis of DLB. The use of I-131 MIBG cardiac scintigraphy as a diagnostic tool for diagnosing Lewy Body Dementia is not prevalent and to our knowledge, this was the first time in the country that this procedure was done (December 9, 2019).
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Lewy Body Disease ; Radionuclide Imaging

PURPOSE: We underwent this study to evaluate the diagnostic potential of I-123/I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy alone in the initial diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, compared with biochemical test and anatomic imaging. MATERIALS & METHODS: Twenty two patients (M:F=13:9, Age: 44.3+/- 19.3 years) having the clinical evaluation due to suspicious pheochromocytoma received the biochemical test, anatomic imaging modality (CT and/or MRI) and I-123/I-131 MIBG scan for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, prior to histopathological confirmation. MIBG scans were independently reviewed by 2 nuclear medicine physicians. RESULTS: All patients were confirmed histopathologically by operation or biopsy (incisional or excisonal). In comparison of final diagnosis and findings of each diagnostic modality, the sensitivities of the biochemical test, anatomic imaging, and MIBG scan were 88.9%, 55.6%, and 88.9%, respectively. And the specificities of the biochemical test, anatomic imaging, and MIBG scan also were 69.2%, 69.2%, and 92.3%, respectively. MIBG scan showed one false positive (neuroblastoma) and one false negative finding. There was one patient with positive MIBG scan and negative findings of the biochemical test, anatomic imaging. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that I-123/I-131 MIBG scan has higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy than those of biochemical test and anatomic imaging. Thus, we expect that MIBG scan is e tectively used for initial diagnosis of pheochromocytoma alone as well as biochemical test and anatomic imaging.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Nuclear Medicine ; Pheochromocytoma ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Diagnostic I-131 MIBG scintigraphy is an important imaging modality for evaluation of patients with neuroblastoma (NB) especially in centers where I-123 MIBG is not available. Single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) could potentially improve lesion detection over planar scintigraphy, but studies regarding its usefulness as an add-on to diagnostic I-131 MIBG scintigraphy are limited. This study aimed to determine the usefulness and factors related to usefulness of SPECT/CT in diagnostic I-131 MIBG scintigraphy in NB patients.METHODS: Usefulness of SPECT/CT for lesion detection, lesion localization, resolving suspicious findings, and clarifying the nature of lesions on anatomical imaging were retrospectively reviewed in 86 diagnostic planar I-131 MIBG scintigrams with add-on SPECT/CT.RESULTS: SPECT/CT detected additional lesions in 23.2%(20/86), helped localize lesions in 21.1%(8/38), resolved suspicious findings in 85.7%(6/7), determined functional status of lesions on anatomical imaging in 94.4%(17/18), and changed diagnosis from a negative to a positive study in 19.5%(8/41). Independent predictors of SPECT/CT being useful included presence of suspicious findings on planar imaging (OR 99.08; 95% C.I. 6.99–1404.41; p = 0.001), positive findings on planar imaging (OR 4.61; 95% C.I. 1.05, 20.28; p < 0.001), and presence of structural lesions on anatomical imaging (OR 32.54; 95% C.I. 5.37–196.96; p < 0.001).CONCLUSION: SPECT/CT is a useful add-on to diagnostic planar I-131 MIBG scintigraphy. Predictors of usefulness of SPECT/CT include suspicious or positive findings on planar scintigraphy and the presence of structural lesions on anatomical imaging.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography(CT) is currently considered as the initial imaging procedure of choice for the localization of pheochromocytomas in most of the cases. 131I-or 123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy(MIBG scan) was proven to be a highly specific tool for the detection of adrenal and extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, but was less sensitive than CT. The present study is aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a MIBG scan in diagnosis and localization of pheochromocytoma when compared to CT. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 27 patients who underwent a MIBG scan for a pheochromocytoma at the Seoul National University Hospital from the year 2000 and 2002. According to the pathological and clinical findings, in 16 the patients pheochromocytoma was confirmed to be positive and the rest 11 of the patients were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Pheochromocytomas was identified in 16 patients. Eleven of them were localized in adrenal gland and 5 were extra-adrenal lesions. The sensitivity to MIBG scan in adrenal lesions and extra-adrenal lesions, was 72%(8/11) and 40%(2/5) respectively. In our study, the overall sensitivity to MIBG scan was 62%(10/16), and overall specificity was 90.9%(10/11). By CT four were identified to have equivocal biochemical abnormalities, but were definite and extraadrenal tumors by MIBG scan showed abnormal uptakes in two of them. CONCLUSION: The MIBG scan was especially useful in 2 of the 27 patients but we had no experienced about the additional benefits of a MIBG scan in the other 25 cases. Our results reveal that a MIBG scan should be performed carefully for the diagnosis and localization of a pheochromocytoma, while considering cost and time of operation.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine* ; Adrenal Glands ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul

Paragangliomas are rare tumors that arise from the extra-adrenal chromaffin cells, and malignancy is defined by the presence of metastases to sites that normally lack chromaffin tissue. The main therapeutic targets are tumor reduction and control of excessive catecholamine secretion. Currently, the adjuvant therapy to surgery is radiotherapy treatment using high-dose MIBG; chemotherapy is currently evolving. We report herein a case of malignant paraganglioma with lung and spine metastasis that occurred 16 years after primary tumor excision and was treated with high dose MIBG radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Chromaffin Cells ; Drug Therapy ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Paraganglioma* ; Radiotherapy ; Spine*

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) consist of a heterogeneous group of tumors that are able to uptake neuroamine and/or specific receptors, such as somatostatin receptors, which can play important roles of the localization and treatment of these tumors. When considering therapy with radionuclides, the best radioligand should be carefully investigated. 131I-MIBG and beta-particle emitter labeled somatostatin analogs are well established radionuclide therapy modalities for NETs. 111In, 90Y and 177Lu radiolabeled somatostatin analogues have been used for treatment of NETs. Further, radionuclide therapy modalities, for example, radioimmunotherapy, radiolabeled peptides such as minigastrin are currently under development and in different phases of clinical investigation. For all radionuclides used for therapy, long-term and survival statistics are not yet available and only partial tumour responses have been obtained using 131I-MIBG and 111In-octreotide. Experimental results using 90Y-DOTA-lanreotide as well as 90Y-DOTA-D-Phe1-Tyr3-octreotide and/or 177Lu-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate have indicated the possible clinical potential of radionuclides receptor-targeted radiotherapy. It may be hoped that the efficacy of radionuclide therapy will be improved by co-administration of chemotherapeutic drugs whose antitumoral properties may be synergistic with that of irradiation.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Hope ; Neuroendocrine Tumors* ; Peptides ; Radioimmunotherapy ; Radioisotopes ; Radiotherapy ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; Somatostatin

Nuclear theranostics functions as a bridge which connects targeted diagnosis to targeted therapy, just like Turkey functions as a geographical bridge which connects Asia to Europe. This unique geographical site of the country plays an important role with regard to introduction of novel scientific and technologic improvements, which originate from one continent to another, in the era of accelerated information. The first nuclear medicine practice in Turkey started in the beginning of 1950s with the first radioiodine treatment, which actually was a debut for nuclear theranostics in Turkey, years before many other countries in the world. For the time being, along with radioiodine treatment, many other theranostic applications such as I-131 MIBG treatment, Lu-177/Y-90 DOTA peptide treatment, Lu-177 PSMA treatment, Y-90 microsphere treatment, and bone palliative treatment are being performed in many centers countrywide. As science and technology improves, novel theranostic applications are eagerly awaited to be introduced in near future. This paper summarizes the story of nuclear theranostics in Turkey and aims to give an overview on the current status of theranostic applications in Turkey.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Asia ; Diagnosis ; Europe ; Microspheres ; Nuclear Medicine ; Palliative Care ; Theranostic Nanomedicine ; Turkey

Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is an analog of norepinephrine that accumulates in sympathetic nerve endings soon after intravenous administration. The degree of accumulation reflects the uptake, storage and release of transmitters by noradrenergic neurons. Myocardial imaging with ¹²³I labeled MIBG ( ¹²³I-MIBG) can be used to estimate the extent of local myocardial sympathetic nerve damage, which has been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various heart diseases. In recent years, numerous studies have been carried out on the application of ¹²³I-MIBG in the diagnosis of degenerative diseases of the nervous system (such as Parkinson's disease and dementia of Lewy body), and have made some achievements. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current clinical application of ¹²³I-MIBG myocardial imaging in the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies, the problems in imaging technology and the possible research directions in the future, so as to provide valuable reference information for clinicians to reasonably and accurately apply this technology in the early diagnosis and discrimination of dementia.
Humans ; Lewy Bodies ; 3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Lewy Body Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Iodine Radioisotopes

BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction is common in patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) and may precede the development of parkinsonian motor symptoms. Cardiac sympathetic denervation, which can be visualized by a cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan, is common in patients with PD. In this study, we evaluated olfactory functions in patients with IPD and MSA, and investigated an association between olfaction and cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake in these patients. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 26 patients with PD, 19 patients with MSA, and 18 healthy controls. Olfactory function was evaluated with a 12-Item Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT) and Butanol threshold. 123I-MIBG (111 mBq) was injected intravenously into each subject, and cardiac uptake was imaged 3 hours later. The regions of interest were the whole heart and the mediastinum of the front image, and the ratio of 123I-MIBG uptake in the heart to that in the mediastinum (H/M ratio) was calculated. The clinical stages of parkinsonism were assessed according to the classification of Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) and the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS). RESULTS: The mean CC-SIT score in patients with PD was 4.4+/-2.2, which was significantly lower than that in patients with MSA (6.7+/-2.0) or in controls (7.3+/-2.6). There was a significant positive correlation between cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake and the CC-SIT score in patients with PD (r=0.56, p=0.003). Neither the CC-SIT score nor cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake were significantly correlated with the disease duration, the H&Y stage or motor UPDRS score. In the patients with MSA, the CC-SIT and cardiac 123I-MIBG uptake did not show a significant correlation with age (r=0.01 and r=0.11, each p>0.05), and they were not significantly correlated with each other (r=0.01, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the functional loss of the olfactory and cardiac sympathetic systems is closely coupled in PD.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Classification ; Heart ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Multiple System Atrophy* ; Olfaction Disorders ; Parkinson Disease* ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Prospective Studies ; Smell ; Sympathectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 123I cardiac meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), an analogue of norepinephrine, has been used to estimate myocardial sympathetic nerve function. We investigate whether cardiac-MIBG SPECT is clinically applicable in the differentiation of Parkinson's disease (PD) from parkinsonian syndromes. METHODS: Cardiac-MIBG scintigraphy was performed in 27 controls, in 40 patients with PD and in 52 patients with other parkinsonian syndromes comprising 23 with multiple system atrophy (MSA), 26 with drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP), and 3 with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). The heart to mediastinum (H/M) uptake ratio was calculated for each subjects. Patients who either had medical conditions that confused the MIBG SPECT results or who took medications that interfere with MIBG accumulation were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Both early and delayed H/M ratios were in patients with PD significantly lower than in controls (early, 1.34+/-0.15 vs 1.79+/-0.19; delayed, 1.29+/-0.15 vs 2.06+/-0.29, p<0.001). In patients with PD, both early and delayed H/M ratios were significantly lower than those in patients with MSA (early, 1.68+/-0.23; delayed, 1.80+/-0.34, p<0.001), DIP (early, 1.83+/-0.24; delayed, 2.07+/-0.4, p<0.001), or CBD (early, 1.85+/-0.01; delayed, 1.99+/-0.19, p<0.001). Two patients with DIP, who were within the range of patients with PD, showed clinically similar courses of PD. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that cardiac-MIBG is a clinically powerful tools to differentiate PD from other parkinsonian syndromes.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine ; Heart ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Multiple System Atrophy ; Norepinephrine ; Parkinson Disease ; Parkinsonian Disorders* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*