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PET studies with l-[1-11C]tyrosine, l-[methyl-11C]methionine and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in prolactinomas in relation to bromocryptine treatment

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Abstract

Aspects of metabolism in prolactinomas were investigated by positron emission tomography using l-[1-11C]tyrosine, l-[methyl-11C]methionine and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG). Using l-[1-11C]tyrosine, four patients were monitored prior to and 18 h after an injection of 50 mg bromocryptine. At 18 h after bromocryptine intervention, l-[1-11C]tyrosine uptake into tumour was reduced with 28% (P<0.07). A correlation analysis of the bromocryptine-induced decrease in l-[1-11C]tyrosine uptake and the reduction of serum prolactin levels indicated that the action of bromocryptine on prolactin synthesis and prolactin release is not coupled. In the untreated situation, the four patients were investigated with 18FDG as well, but the prolactinomas could not be visualized. Three untreated patients were studied with l-[methyl-11C]methionine. The tumour-imaging potential of l-[methyl-11C]methionine and l-[1-11C]tyrosine appeared to be nearly equivalent for prolactinomas. Unlike prolactinoma tissue, the salivary glands showed a pronounced preference for l-[1-11C]tyrosine as compared to l-[methyl-11C]methionine. l-[1-11C]tyrosine is a valuable tool to obtain information on the metabolism and treatment of prolactinomas.

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Author notes

  1. Bernard J. G. Daemen

    Present address: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Oostersingel 59, NL-9713 EZ, Groningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Bernard J. G. Daemen, Philip H. Elsinga, Anne M. J. Paans & Willem Vaalburg

  2. Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Rolf Zwertbroek & Hieronymus Doorenbos

Authors
  1. Bernard J. G. Daemen
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  2. Rolf Zwertbroek
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  3. Philip H. Elsinga
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  4. Anne M. J. Paans
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  5. Hieronymus Doorenbos
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  6. Willem Vaalburg
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Daemen, B.J.G., Zwertbroek, R., Elsinga, P.H. et al. PET studies with l-[1-11C]tyrosine, l-[methyl-11C]methionine and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in prolactinomas in relation to bromocryptine treatment. Eur J Nucl Med 18, 453–460 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181283

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00181283

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