|
Success in PET imaging of very small pheochromocytoma by using a novel radiopharmaceutical, 76Br-MBBGJun. 21 , 2010JAEA and Gunma University have succeeded in detecting very small pheochromocytoma by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 76Br labeled meta-bromobenzylguanidine (76Br-MBBG). The present result encourages the PET imaging of not only small pheochromocytomas and but also neuroblastomas. Pheochromocytomas are tumors derived in medulla of adrenal glands and causes hypertentions due to excess secretion of catecholamine such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. This tumor discovered in its early stages is curable by means of surgical operation. However usual diagnostic methods have limitations for detecting very small lesions due to its lower spatial resolutions. Therefore, We have focused on PET imaging. 76Br was produced by using an AVF cyclotron of the research facility Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application (TIARA) at JAEA. 76Br-MBBG which is a functional analog of norepinephrine and specificially taken up to pheochromocytoma has been developed. Our PET studies by using pheochromocytoma bearing mice demonstrated that 76Br-MBBG could image very small tumors (size: 2 mm) clearly. Thus, 76Br-MBBG would be a potential PET pharmaceutical for imaging small pheochromocytoma. Part of this work will be published in �The Journal of Nuclear Medicine� on August 2009. |
