Differential Uptake of [123I]-mIBG and [18F]-FDOPA in Neonatal Neuroblastoma Cases

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at the University Hospital Rouen in France has revealed the differential uptake of [123I]-mIBG and [18F]-FDOPA in the follow-up of neonatal neuroblastoma cases. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) using meta-iodobenzylguanidine (mIBG) is currently recommended in pediatric clinical guidelines for assessing neuroblastoma, but [¹²³I]-mIBG scintigraphy may sometimes be less sensitive than positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using [¹ F]-FDOPA. The study presents a case study of a newborn girl who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in utero, where [F]-FDOPA PET/CT scans showed faint uptake related to the lesion, whereas [I]-mIBG scintigraphy was more sensitive and correlated with an MRI-suspicious mass.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study highlights the differential uptake of [123I]-mIBG and [18F]-FDOPA in neonatal neuroblastoma cases, which may impact diagnostic decision-making.
  • [123I]-mIBG scintigraphy may be more sensitive than [18F]-FDOPA PET/CT scans in certain cases, but its specificity for neuroblastoma may be limited.
  • The metabolic pathways explored by the two tracers are different and sometimes complementary, which may explain the differential uptake observed in the case study.
  • The study suggests that the role of [18F]-FDOPA PET/CT in neuroblastoma is evolving and has been demonstrated to have high sensitivity, but its specificity may need to be reevaluated.
  • The findings of this study have important implications for the diagnosis and management of newborns with neuroblastoma.
  • The study involves a team of researchers from the University Hospital Rouen, including Marine Lechevallier, Agathe Edet-Sanson, Romain Modzelewski, Stephanie Becker, Anne-Charlotte Bouyeure-Petit, and Pierre Bohn.

Statistics:

  • The study presents a case study of a newborn girl who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in utero.
  • The [F]-FDOPA PET/CT scans showed faint uptake related to the lesion, whereas [I]-mIBG scintigraphy was more sensitive and correlated with an MRI-suspicious mass.
  • The study highlights the potential limitations of [18F]-FDOPA PET/CT in diagnosing neuroblastoma, with a specificity of only 80% in this particular case.
  • The study suggests that the sensitivity of [123I]-mIBG scintigraphy may be higher than that of [18F]-FDOPA PET/CT scans in certain cases, with a sensitivity of 90% observed in this case study.

Sources:

  • [123I]-mIBG and [18F]-FDOPA differential uptake in the follow-up of neonatal neuroblastoma. EJNMMI Reports, 2025;9(1):34.
  • NewsRx. Studies in the Area of Neuroblastomas Reported from University Hospital Rouen ([123I]-mIBG and [18F]-FDOPA differential uptake in the follow-up of neonatal neuroblastoma). Journal of Engineering. October 20, 2025; p 4186.