[F]MFBG PET/CT outperforming [I]MIBG SPECT/CT in the evaluation of neuroblastoma.

Peipei Wang, Tuo Li, Zhikai Liu, Mei Jin, Yan Su, Jingjing Zhang, Hongli Jing, Hongming Zhuang, Fang Li

Journal: European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 2023;50(10):3097-3106

PMID: 37160439

Abstract

PURPOSE

Iodine 123 labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine ([I]MIBG) scan with SPECT/CT imaging is one of the most commonly used imaging modalities in the evaluation of neuroblastoma. [F]-meta-fluorobenzylguanidine ([F]MFBG) is a novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracer which was reported to have a similar biodistribution to [I]MIBG. However, the experience of using [F]MFBG PET/CT in the evaluation of patients with neuroblastoma is limited. This preliminary investigation aims to assess the efficacy of [F]MFBG PET/CT in the evaluation of neuroblastomas in comparison to [I]MIBG scans with SPECT/CT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective, single-center study, 40 participants (mean age 6.0 ± 3.7 years) with history of neuroblastoma were enrolled. All children underwent both [I]MIBG SPECT/CT and [F]MFBG PET/CT studies. The number of lesions and the Curie scores revealed by each imaging method were recorded.

RESULTS

Six patients had negative findings on both [I]MIBG and [F]MFBG studies. Four of the 34 patients (11.8%) were negative on [I]MIBG but positive on [F]MFBG, while 30 patients were positive on both [I]MIBG and [F]MFBG studies. In these 34 patients, [F]MFBG PET/CT identified 784 lesions while [I]MIBG SPECT/CT detected 532 lesions (p < 0.001). The Curie scores obtained from [F]MFBG PET/CT (11.32 ± 8.18, range 1-27) were statistically higher (p < 0.001) than those from [I]MIBG SPECT/CT (7.74 ± 7.52, range 0-26). 30 of 34 patients (88.2%) with active disease on imaging had higher Curie scores based on the [F]MFBG study than on the [I]MIBG imaging.

CONCLUSION

[F]MFBG PET/CT shows higher lesion detection rate than [I]MIBG SPECT/CT in the evaluation of pediatric patients with neuroblastoma.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT05069220 (Registered: 25 September 2021, retrospectively registered); Institute Review Board of Peking Union Medical College Hospital: ZS-2514.

Address: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy in Nuclear Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Department of Medical Oncology, Pediatric Oncology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.; Department of Medical Oncology, Pediatric Oncology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China. [email protected].; Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy in Nuclear Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China. [email protected].; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [email protected].; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy in Nuclear Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06221-4

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MeSH Terms: Child, Child, Preschool, Humans, 3-Iodobenzylguanidine, Neuroblastoma, Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography, Positron-Emission Tomography, Prospective Studies, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography, Tissue Distribution