Applications of [ ‘ 31 I ] m - 1 odobenzylguanidine ( [ 1311 ] MIBG )

The development of the aralkylguanidine [13’I]m-iodobenzylguanidine ([i3’I]MIBG) in the University of Michigan Nuclear Medicine Division has led to diagnostic and therapeutic evaluations of all the neuroendocrine tumors. These tumors share the property of uptake, storage and release of [‘3’I]MIBG uptake in chromaffin granules. This property has allowed the detection of pheochromocytomas, the detection of metastases in 46% of such patients, the treatment of malignant pheochromocytomas, the detection of neuroblastoma metastases. the treatment of neuroblastomas and the detection of a percent of apudomas. We have learned how to improve our results and this is discussed.