Neuroblastoma: The Role of 123I-mIBG Scintigraphy

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid extracerebral malignant tumor in young children. Imaging plays a key role in the management of these tumors, particularly 123I-mIBG scintigraphy. We conducted a retrospective study over a four-year period, including 30 patients who underwent at least one 123I-mIBG scintigraphy. A total of 45 examinations were performed. As part of preoperative staging (22 cases), it identified a hyper-uptake neuroblastoma in all 22 cases, associated with regional metastases in 11 patients and distant metastases in 12 children. As part of the postoperative staging evaluation (3 cases), it demonstrated the persistence of residual tumor in one case and regional metastases in one patient. In the end-of-treatment evaluation (15 cases), it demonstrated locally a good response to treatment in eight cases, a partial response in two cases, and no response in five cases, with regression of metastases in six cases, stability in five cases, and progression in one case. In screening for recurrences (5 cases), the examination detected a lymph node recurrence in a single case.