METAIODOBENZYLGUANIDINE (METAIODOBENZYLGUANIDINE) SCANNING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA

During the period 1984-90, 23 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scans we re performed in 23 patients with suspected phaeochromocytoma seen at t he Hammersmith Hospital. Sixteen patients had a histologically proven phaeochromocytoma and in 14 of these patients the tumour was demonstra ted by abnormal uptake of MIBG. Seven patients did not have a phaeochr omocytoma and in all of these the MIBG scan was negative. These findin gs gave the procedure a sensitivity of 87.5% with a specificity of 100 %; positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 77.7%, respec tively. MIBG scanning is an extremely valuable technique in the manage ment of patients with suspected phaeochromocytoma but is best employed to localise a tumour which has been confirmed biochemically.