Key result
99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT detects brown adipose tissue uptake in ~6% of adults, more commonly in younger patients.
Why the study?
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) can be retained into adulthood and has been imaged with various radiopharmaceuticals, but the frequency and pattern of (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake in BAT on SPECT/CT were unclear.
Observational (n=205)
Uptake of 99mTc-MIBI in brown adipose tissue is a relatively common physiologic variant in adults that should not be mistaken for tumors on SPECT/CT.
Warrants recognition as physiologic variant on parathyroid SPECT/CT to avoid misinterpretation; extends prior reports but leaves open prevalence in other indications.
UNLABELLED: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is retained into adulthood in some patients. It has been imaged using several radiopharmaceuticals, including (18)F-FDG. Using SPECT/CT, we assessed whether and how frequently uptake of (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) was present in expected locations of BAT. METHODS: A total of 205 SPECT/CT scans using (99m)Tc-MIBI for parathyroid imaging were reviewed for the presence of (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake in expected locations of BAT. RESULTS: We detected (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake in BAT in 13 of 205 patients (6.3%). When BAT was visualized, it was detected on both early and delayed scans. The patients with (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake in BAT were younger than the patients with no (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake (P=0.044). CONCLUSION: Uptake of (99m)Tc-MIBI in BAT is relatively common in this adult patient population and should not be confused with (99m)Tc-MIBI-avid-tumors. SPECT/CT can be useful for defining such tracer uptake as a normal physiologic variant.
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Goetze et al. (2008) conducted an observational in Parathyroid imaging (n=205). 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT was evaluated on Presence of 99mTc-MIBI uptake in expected locations of brown adipose tissue. 99mTc-MIBI uptake in brown adipose tissue was detected in 6.3% of adult patients undergoing SPECT/CT for parathyroid imaging, and was more common in younger patients (P=0.044).
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