Current Role of Metaiodobenzylguanidine in the Diagnosis of Pheochromocytoma and Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Despite early reports of excellent diagnostic characteristics of [131I]/[123I]-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in the evaluation of pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PHEOs/PGLs) or medullary thyroid cancer as experience with it was accumulated, the sensitivity dropped. Nevertheless, this modality is still useful in the diagnostic work-up of PHEOs/PGLs because it is widely available, and in case of positive scans it might indicate patients who are potential candidates for [131I]MIBG therapy.