MIBG scintiscan is a nuclear scan test that uses injected radioactive material (radioisotope) and a special scanner to locate or confirm the presence of pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma, which are tumors of specific types of nervous tissue.
A radioisotope (MIBG, iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine) is injected into a vein. This compound attaches to specific tumor cells.
Later that day (or the next day) you lie on a table that is positioned under the arm of the scanner. The abdomen is scanned. You may be asked to return for repeated scans for 1 - 3 days. Each scan takes 1 - 2 hours.
Before or during the test, you may be given an iodine solution to prevent the thyroid from absorbing too much of the radioisotope.
How to prepare for the test:
You must sign an informed consent form. You will be asked to wear a hospital gown. However, loose-fitting clothing may be allowed. Remove jewelry or metal objects before each scan.
How the test will feel:
There is a sharp needle prick when the material is injected. The table may be cold or hard. You must lie still during the scan.
Review Date: 7/17/2007
Reviewed By: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Nuclear Medicine
