Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to systematically review literature, exploring the role of radioguided surgery with iodine-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in resection of neuroendocrine tumors. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, COCHRANE, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and references of key articles were searched to identify potentially relevant studies. RESULTS: Twenty studies were included. A total of 130 procedures in 120 patients were performed. Ninety percent of included studies concerned case reports or case series. It is described that radioguided surgery with iodine-labeled MIBG can improve the quality of macroscopic resection of neuroendocrine tumors in selected cases, ie, in cases where the tumor is small, nonpalpable, difficult to visualize on conventional imaging studies, or located in an area with adhesional scar tissue from previous surgery. However, in a substantial number of cases the gamma probe failed due to technical problems. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is limited evidence that radioguided surgery contributes substantially in resection of neuroendocrine tumors, we cannot advocate its use in general. However, we can conclude that it can seemingly improve the quality of resection in selected cases. When radioguided surgery is performed in neuroendocrine tumors, we advocate the use of I to label MIBG.
