I-123 MIBG and Tc-99m MDP Scintigraphy in Diagnosing Paraganglioma Extension

A 35-year-old man operated on 3 years earlier for preaortic extra-adrenal paraganglioma was examined for dorsal spine pain. MRI showed metastases in the thoracic spine (at T3, T5, and T7), with a tumoral mass extending to the posterior epidural space, which was later removed. Pathologic study confirmed that it corresponded to a metastasis of paraganglioma with a high degree of malignancy. I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine whole-body scintigraphy and a Tc-99m MDP bone scan were performed to determine the extent of the disease.