Radionuclide Imaging Metabolic Activity of Brown Adipose Tissue in a Patient with Pheochromocytoma (original) (raw)

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2004; 112(10): 601-603
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830407

Case Report

J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

K. Fukuchi1 , M. Tatsumi2 , Y. Ishida1 , N. Oku3 , J. Hatazawa3 , R. L. Wahl2

• 1Department of Radiology, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
• 2Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
• 3Division of Tracer Kinetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

Further Information

Publication History

Received: October 27, 2003 First decision: January 22, 2004

Accepted: May 13, 2004

Publication Date:
02 December 2004 (online)

• Abstract
• Full Text
• References

Abstract

We describe a patient with extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma and high plasma norepinephrine levels. Radionuclide images of this patient obtained using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine revealed bilateral tracer accumulation in the shoulder and lower neck. The regions of radiotracer uptake corresponded to the location of human brown adipose tissue (BAT). Excessive sympathetic stimulation by high circulating catecholamine concentrations augmented the metabolic activity and tracer uptake in the BAT. This study showed that radionuclide imaging can noninvasively visualize human BAT in terms of metabolic and functional activity.

Key words

Fat - pheochromocytoma - radionuclide imaging - Positron emission tomography (PET)

References

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M. D. Kazuki Fukuchi

Department of Radiology
National Cardiovascular Center

Fujishiro-dai 5 - 7 - 1

Suita, Osaka, 565-8565

Japan

Phone: + 81668335012

Fax: + 81 6 68 72 74 86

Email: kfukuchi@hsp.ncvc.go.jp