Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Initial Experience

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, majority of which express somatostatin (SST) receptors. Recently, with the widespread use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and development of novel PET tracers like Ga-68 DOTA peptide which specifically bind to somatostatin receptors (SSTR), Ga-68 DOTA peptide PET/CT is used in management of NET. Objective: To study the various indications for which Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scan was performed and the utility of the scans. Materials and methods: Retrospective evaluation of the patients data was performed who underwent Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT as part of their diagnostic workup between June 2011 and July 2012. A total of 145 patients aged 1 to 71 years (mean: 37.4 years) were studied during this period. Results: Ga-68 DOTATATE PET scan was positive in 23/39 patients referred for characterization or diagnosis, in 6/19 patients for localization, in 13/24 patients for detection of unknown NET primary, in 16/17 patients for staging, in 6/7 patients for recurrence assessment, 12/12 patients for response evaluation, 7/18 patients in restaging and in 5/5 differentiated thyroid cancer patients with thyroglobulin elevated but negative iodine scan. Conclusion: Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT is a useful modality in characterization, localization, detection of unknown NET primary, staging, restaging, recurrence and response evaluation to treatment in patients with NET.