Diagnostic performance of fluorine-18-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography in diagnosing and localizing the focal form of congenital hyperinsulinism: a meta-analysis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

We performed a meta-analysis on published data on the diagnostic performance of fluorine-18 dihydroxyphenylalanine ((18)F-DOPA) positron emission tomography (PET) in diagnosing and localizing focal congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A comprehensive computer literature search of studies published up to 31 January 2012 regarding (18)F-DOPA PET or PET/CT in patients with CHI was performed. Pooled sensitivity and specificity, area under the ROC curve and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of (18)F-DOPA PET or PET/CT in diagnosing focal CHI were calculated. The localization accuracy of focal CHI was also estimated. Seven studies comprising 195 CHI patients were included.

RESULTS:

The pooled sensitivity and specificity of (18)F-DOPA PET or PET/CT in differentiating between focal and diffuse CHI were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI]:81-95%) and 98% (95% CI:89-100%), respectively. The DOR was 74.5 (95% CI:18-307). The area under the ROC curve was 0.95. The pooled accuracy of these functional imaging methods in localizing focal CHI was 80% (95% CI:71-88%).

DISCUSSION:

In CHI patients, (18)F-DOPA PET or PET/CT demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between focal and diffuse CHI. (18)F-DOPA PET or PET/CT are accurate methods of localizing focal CHI. Nevertheless, possible sources of false-negative results for focal CHI should be kept in mind.

• Authors: Giorgio Treglia, Paoletta Mirk, Alessandro Giordano, Vittoria Rufini
• Journal: Pediatric radiology (Pediatr Radiol) Vol. 42 Issue 11 Pg. 1372-9 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1432-1998 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 22885604 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review)

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• fluorodopa F 18
• Dihydroxyphenylalanine

Topics

• Congenital Hyperinsulinism (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Dihydroxyphenylalanine (analogs & derivatives)
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Positron-Emission Tomography (statistics & numerical data)
• Prevalence
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Reproducibility of Results
• Risk Factors
• Sensitivity and Specificity