A patient has been scheduled for a metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) study. What pathology does it aim to confirm or rule out?

The metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) study is primarily used in the diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumors, specifically pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma, both of which are derived from neural crest cells. MIBG is a radiopharmaceutical that mimics norepinephrine and is taken up by neuroendocrine cells. This characteristic allows it to highlight certain tumors that have the ability to concentrate this compound.

While both pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma can be assessed using MIBG, the study is particularly significant in detecting pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal gland that secretes catecholamines and can lead to serious symptoms such as hypertension. The uptake of MIBG in these tumors confirms the presence of pheochromocytoma.

Neuroblastoma, on the other hand, is a pediatric malignancy and although it can also be detected with MIBG, the context of the question appears to be oriented towards ruling out or confirming pheochromocytoma specifically. Thus, when considering the most common and clinically relevant application of MIBG in an adult patient, it is predominantly associated with the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

In contrast