Staging and functional characterization of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography

Abstract

Background: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare tumors of the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal sympathetic chromaffin tissues; their anatomical and functional imaging are critical to guiding treatment decisions. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for tumor localization and staging of PPGLs with that of conventional imaging by [123I]- metaiodobenzylguanidine single photon emission CT (123I-MIBG SPECT), CT, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 216 patients (106 men, 110 women, aged 45.2 ± 14.9 years) with suspected PPGL underwent CT or MRI, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT. Sensitivity and specificity were measured as endpoints and compared by the McNemar test, using two-sided P values only. Results: Sixty (28%) of patients had nonmetastatic PPGL, 95 (44%) had metastatic PPGL, and 61 (28%) were PPGL negative. For nonmetastatic tumors, the sensitivity of 18F-FDG was similar to that of 123I-MIBG but less than that of CT/MRI (sensitivity of 18F-FDG = 76.8%; of 123I-MIBG = 75.0%; of CT/MRI = 95.7%; 18F-FDG vs 123I-MIBG: difference = 1.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 214.8% to 14.8%, P = .210; 18F-FDG vs CT/MRI: difference = 18.9%, 95% CI = 9.4% to 28.3%, P