Diagnosis and Localization of Focal Congenital Hyperinsulinism by 18F-Fluorodopa PET Scan

Olga T. Hardy, Miguel Hernandez-Pampaloni, Janet R. Saffer, Mariko Suchi, Eduardo Ruchelli, Hongming Zhuang, Arupa Ganguly, Richard Freifelder, N. Scott Adzick, Abass Alavi, Charles A. Stanley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

137 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of 18F-fluoro-l-dihydroxyphenylalanine ([18F]-DOPA) PET scans to diagnose focal versus diffuse disease and to localize focal lesions in infants with congenital hyperinsulinism. Study design: Twenty-four infants with hyperinsulinism unresponsive to medical therapy were studied. Patients were injected intravenously with [18F]-DOPA, and PET scans were obtained for 1 hour. Images were coregistered with abdominal CT scans. Results: The diagnosis of focal or diffuse hyperinsulinism was correct in 23 of the 24 cases (96%) and equivocal in 1 case. [18F]-DOPA PET identified focal areas of high uptake of radiopharmaceutical in 11 patients. Pathology results confirmed that all 11 had focal adenomatosis, and the locations of these lesions matched the areas of increased [18F]-DOPA uptake on the PET scans in all of the cases. Conclusions: [18F]-DOPA PET scans were 96% accurate in diagnosing focal or diffuse disease and 100% accurate in localizing the focal lesion. These results suggest that [18F]-DOPA PET imaging should be considered in all infants with congenital hyperinsulinism who need to have pancreatectomy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-145
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume150
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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