Abstract
Background This study aimed to compare the sensitivity of (68) Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with other imaging modalities in the detection of head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL). Methods The data of consecutive HNPGL patients ( n = 34) who had undergone at least (68) Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and anatomical imaging (contrast-enhanced computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging [CECT/MRI]) were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of HNPGL (the primary tumor) was confirmed either by histopathology ( n = 10) or was based on clinical follow-up and correlation of anatomical with functional imaging in whom histopathology was not available ( n = 24). The sensitivities of (68) Ga DOTATATE PET/CT, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( (18) F-FDG-PET/CT), (131) I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ( (131) I-MIBG) scintigraphy, and CECT/MRI for primary HNPGL, associated primary pheochromocytoma + sympathetic paraganglioma (PCC + sPGL), and metastatic lesions were analyzed. Results Thirty-four patients (males: 15) [isolated HNPGL: 26, HNPGL + PCC: 04, HNPGL+ sPGL: 03, HNPGL + PCC + sPGL: 01] harboring 50 primary lesions were included. For total lesions, (68) Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT (99.3%) had significantly higher lesion-wise sensitivity than (18) F-FDG PET/CT (81.6%, p = 0.0164), (131) I-MIBG (15.2%, p ≤0.0001), CECT (46.3%, p ≤ 0.0001) but similar sensitivity as MRI neck (97%, p = 0.79). On head-to-head comparison (21 primary HNPGL and 39 metastatic lesions), (68) Ga DOTATATE PET/CT had significantly higher lesion-wise sensitivities for the detection of metastatic (100 vs. 71.9%, p = 0.04) and total lesions (100 vs. 77.2%, p ≤ 0.0001). Conclusion (68) Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT was the most sensitive imaging modality for the detection of HNPGL and related lesions with significantly higher lesion-wise sensitivities than those of (18) F-FDG PET/CT, (131) I-MIBG, and CECT.