(18)F-DOPA PET/CT for assessment of response to induction chemotherapy in a child with high-risk neuroblastoma

Pediatr Radiol. 2014 Mar;44(3):355-61. doi: 10.1007/s00247-013-2807-x. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Abstract

Functional imaging plays a crucial role in the assessment of neuroblastoma. The evaluation of response to induction chemotherapy is a cornerstone in scheduling proper treatment management in patients affected by high-risk neuroblastoma. (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine has been recognized as the radiopharmaceutical of choice in neuroblastoma assessment. To date, the clinical role of PET/CT in pediatric malignancy is not well established.(18)F-DOPA-PET/CT has been recently used in neuroblastoma, and compared with (123)I-MIBG-scan. Scant new data are available about the role of this tool in the evaluation of treatment response after induction chemotherapy. We investigate the role of (18)F-DOPA-PET/CT in characterizing the response to induction chemotherapy in a child affected by high-risk-neuroblastoma, in whom the rare association of (123)I-MIBG-negative primary tumor and MIBG-positive bone marrow metastases was observed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Induction Chemotherapy*
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Neuroblastoma / diagnosis*
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Prognosis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • fluorodopa F 18
  • Dihydroxyphenylalanine