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Unlabelled: The high sensitivity of metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy for sympathomedullary tumors such as neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma is well documented. The specificity of MIBG scintigraphy for these tumors is also high but has been incompletely characterized for other neural crest tumors and non-neural crest tumors of childhood., Methods: The medical records and MIBG scans of all children who had undergone MIBG scintigraphy for known or suspected neuroblastoma or pheochromocytoma were retrospectively reviewed at five major referral centers. Those patients found to have pathologies other than neuroblastoma or pheochromocytoma form the basis of this study., Results: One hundred children with a total of 110 lesions met the inclusion criteria. All had negative MIBG scans except 1 of 2 children with infantile myofibromatosis, 1 of 2 with neuroendocrine carcinomas, 1 of 2 with pancreaticoblastomas and 1 of 10 with primitive neuroectodermal tumors., Conclusion: MIBG scintigraphy is highly specific for neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. Only 4% (4/100) of nonsympathomedullary tumors (non-pheochromocytoma and non-neuroblastoma) in childhood showed MIBG uptake, of which only 2% (2/100) were of non-neural crest origin.

Two methods for Ga-67 citrate imaging were compared on 20 patients. Scans were performed using approximately equal procedure time with two instruments: (A) a dual 5-in. rectilinear scanner with medium-energy collimator, with a single window spanning both the 93-keV and the 185-keV spectral peaks; and (B) a large-field (15-in. diam) Anger camera equipped with moving table, medium-energy collimator, and three windows covering the 93-keV, 185-keV, and 300-keV peaks separately. Sixteen abnormal sites and 24 normal sites were selected for comparison. Each site was evaluated by four physicians experienced in interpreting Ga-67 citrate images. The observers performed significantly better using the images obtained with the large-field camera (three windows) than with the dual 5-in. scanner (single window).

The kinetics of N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine in rat brains were determined by serial measurements of brain uptake index (BUI) after intracarotid injection; also studied were its effects on amine uptake and release in rat's brain cortical synaptosomes; and its in vivo distribution in the dog and monkey. Serial BUI correspond to a first-pass extraction efficiency of 100% and a washout half-time of approximately 318 sec. The S-(+)-isomer inhibited norepinephrine uptake in synaptosomes as strongly as D-amphetamine, but was more potent in inhibiting synaptosomal uptake of serotonin. Both isomers were comparable to D-amphetamine in causing release of serotonin from synaptosomes, but the S-(+)-isomer promoted release of dopamine, whereas D-amphetamine did not. No specific localization in brain nuclei of the dog was seen, but there was progressive accumulation in the eyes. Rapid initial brain uptake in the ketamine-sedated monkey was noted, and further slow brain uptake occurred during the next 20 min but without retinal localization. High levels of brain activity were maintained for several hours. The quantitative initial single-pass clearance of the agent in the brain suggests its use in evaluation of regional brain perfusion. Its interaction with brain amine-binding sites suggests its possible application in studies of cerebral amine metabolism.