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. 2021 Apr 4;11(4):270. doi: 10.3390/jpm11040270

Table A1.

characteristics of radiotracers for nuclear imaging of neuroblastoma.

Tracer Molecular Target Radioisotope (Half-Life) Advantages Limitations
[123I]mIBG norepinephrine transporter iodine-123
(13 h)
  • -

    validated scoring systems

  • -

    possible to select patients for [131I]mIBG therapy
  • -

    two-day imaging

  • -

    scintigraphy/SPECT imaging (limited spatial resolution, limited tomographic range, long acquisitions, as opposed to PET imaging)

  • -

    need for thyroid protection

  • -

    negative in 10% neuroblastomas
[124I]mIBG norepinephrine transporter iodine-124
(100 h)
  • -

    PET imaging

  • -

    possibility for [131I]mIBG therapy dosimetry
  • -

    two-day imaging

  • -

    high radiation exposure

  • -

    poor image quality (only 23% positron abundance)

  • -

    need for thyroid protection

  • -

    limited experience & availability
[18F]mFBG norepinephrine transporter fluorine-18
(110 min)
  • -

    PET imaging

  • -

    one-day imaging
  • -

    limited experience & availability
[18F]FDG glucose
metabolism		 fluorine-18
(110 min)
  • -

    PET imaging

  • -

    one-day imaging

  • -

    widely available

  • -

    often positive in mIBG non-avid neuroblastoma

  • -

    prognostic value
  • -

    not tumor-specific

  • -

    impaired detection of bone marrow and skull lesions

  • -

    negative in neuroblastomas with low glucose metabolism

  • -

    fasting

  • -

    not possible to select patients for [131I]mIBG therapy
[18F]F-DOPA catecholamine
metabolism		 fluorine-18
(110 min)
  • -

    PET imaging

  • -

    one-day imaging

  • -

    prognostic value
  • -

    fasting

  • -

    not possible to select patients for [131I]mIBG therapy

  • -

    limited experience & availability
[68Ga]Ga-DOTA peptides somatostatin receptors gallium-68
(68 min)
  • -

    PET imaging

  • -

    one-day imaging

  • -

    relatively low radiation exposure

  • -

    gallium generator (often easier available than cyclotrons)

  • -

    possible to select patients for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy
  • -

    not specific for tumors of sympathetic nervous system

  • -

    negative in neuroblastomas with low SSTR expression

  • -

    limited experience
[11C]mHED norepinephrine transporter carbon-11
(20 min)
  • -

    PET imaging

  • -

    one-day imaging

  • -

    relatively low radiation exposure
  • -

    rigid time schedule

  • -

    limited experience & availability

Abbreviations: mIBG meta-iodobenzylguanidine, mFBG meta-fluorobenzylguanidine, FDG fluorodeoxyglucose, F-DOPA fluoro-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, mHED meta-hydroxyephedrine, SPECT single-photon emission computed tomography PET positron emission tomography.