Diagnostic efficacy of I-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy for pheochromocytoma

The diagnostic efficacy of I-131-MIGB scintigraphy for detection of localized pheochromocytoma was studied in patients with this disease and 15 other patients suspected of pheochromocytoma. Five of the six patients with pheochromocytoma were true positive, while the other one was false negative. Fifteen suspected cases were true negative and none was false positive. The rate of sensitivity was 83.3 %, specificity 100 % and accuracy 95 % in diagnosis using this method, thus showing that MIBG scintigraphy is highly useful for diagnosis of localized pheochromocytoma. (author)