The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Apr 2007
Fluorine-18-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography as a tool to localize an insulinoma or beta-cell hyperplasia in adult patients.
Fluorine-18-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising method in localizing neuroendocrine tumors. Recently, it has been shown to differentiate focal forms of congenital hyperinsulinism of infancy. The current study was set up to determine the potential of 18F-DOPA PET in identifying the insulin-secreting tumors or beta-cell hyperplasia of the pancreas in adults. ⋯ 18F-DOPA PET was useful in most patients with insulinoma and negative CT, MRI, and ultrasound results. In agreement with previous findings in infants, preoperative 18F-DOPA imaging seems to be a method of choice for the detection of beta-cell hyperplasia in adults. It should be considered for the detection of insulinoma or beta-cell hyperplasia in patients with confirmed hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemias when other diagnostic work-up is negative.