Unexpected detection of melanoma brain metastasis by PET with iodine-124 betaCIT

Clin Nucl Med. 2009 Oct;34(10):698-9. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e3181b53654.

Abstract

To study the potential impact of iodine-124-beta-carbomethoxy-3beta(4-iodophenyl)tropane (I-124 betaCIT) in Parkinson disease, a I-124 betaCIT-PET scan was performed in 30-year-old man with suspected early Parkinson disease. The scan showed normal striatum uptake together with a focal spot in the left parietal cortex. The subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a corresponding nodular lesion, presumably representing a metastasis. After clinical and diagnostic evaluation, a malignant metastatic melanoma was discovered. betaCIT is a cocaine derivative with a high affinity for dopamine and serotonin transporters mainly used to image the density of the dopamine reuptake transporter. In fact the role of I-123 betaCIT is typically represented by Parkinsonian syndromes of uncertain classification. The iodine-124 betaCIT uptake is a marker of dopamine transporters density, and the presence of focal uptake corresponding to a lesion on magnetic resonance images suggests a specific binding in this case of melanoma brain metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Cocaine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Melanoma / pathology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)tropane
  • Cocaine