What is an MIBG test?

An MIBG scintiscan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer). A scanner finds or confirms the presence of pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma. These are types of tumors that affect nerve tissue.

How is an MIBG scan performed?

A radioisotope (MIBG, iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine) is injected into a vein. 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.

What is the I 131 MIBG therapy?

I-131-MIBG therapy is a type of radiation therapy used to kill cancer cells in children with certain kinds of cancer. It’s a way to get radiation inside your child’s body to target cancer cells wherever they are. The medicine is a clear fluid that looks like water.

How long is MIBG injection?

The procedure used to put the MIBG inside your child’s body is called an infusion, and it takes less than 2 hours.

Is MIBG a radiation?

Although it looks like water, MIBG is actually a special medicine that contains radiation. Radiation used for therapy can be provided in two different ways. Typically, a machine delivers it from outside of the patient’s body. However, radiation also can be given inside the body through a central line or IV.

Is MIBG FDA approved?

HSA-I-131-MIBG was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with MIBG-avid MPPGs in 2018. As the only FDA-approved therapy for patients with MPPGs, HSA-I-131-MIBG is considered the standard of care in the US for patients with MIBG-avid tumors.

How effective is MIBG therapy?

The overall rate of complete plus partial response was 46%. Patients ≥18 years old at time of first MIBG treatment had a significantly higher response rate compared to patients 10–17 years old (56% vs 39%, p=0.023).

What should I avoid before MIBG scan?

Before an MIBG scan, your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain drugs that can interfere with the test, including:

  • ACE inhibitors.
  • Allergy and cold medications.
  • Amiodarone for arrhythmia.
  • Antidepressants.
  • Calcium channel blockers.
  • Opioids.

How long does it take to get results from MIBG scan?

An MIBG scan is usually done in the nuclear medicine department of a hospital as an outpatient procedure (you will not stay overnight). The test is done in stages and takes 2 to 4 days to complete.