Case report: drug interference with MIBG uptake in a patient with metastatic paraganglioma

Br J Radiol. 2004 Jun;77(918):525-7. doi: 10.1259/bjr/23668769.

Abstract

Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) labelled with iodine-131 ((131)I) has become a well established therapeutic tool for inoperable metastastic tumours of paraganglioma. There are different pharmacological substances known to interfere with MIBG-uptake which may result in a false negative MIBG scan. We present the case of a 26-year-old male polytoxicomanic patient with metastatic paraganglioma, who underwent MIBG therapy. During earlier therapies, MIBG uptake in the metastatic lesions was very high. A post-therapeutic whole-body scan subsequent to recent (131)I-MIBG therapy failed to detect the vast majority of metastatic lesions-except for two. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) showed metastases with a similar distribution to the initial MIBG scan. The possible reasons for the discrepancy in the findings of the MIBG scans and the (18)F-FDG-PET scan are discussed with special emphasis on drug intake prior to MIBG administration, increased MIBG turn-over and unknown drug mixture interference with MIBG uptake.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine* / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Interactions
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Male
  • Methadone / therapeutic use
  • Narcotics / therapeutic use
  • Paraganglioma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Paraganglioma / drug therapy
  • Paraganglioma / secondary*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals* / pharmacokinetics
  • Radiopharmaceuticals* / therapeutic use
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Narcotics
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
  • Methadone