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6-[F-18]Fluoro-l-DOPA Positron Emission Tomography in the Imaging of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Preliminary Report of Three Cases with 2-Deoxy-2-[F-18]Fluoro-d-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography or Pentetreotide-(111In) SPECT Data

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Abstract

Purpose

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon and aggressive cutaneous neoplasm of neuroendocrine origin. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) and positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) have been proposed to stage MCC and to detect early recurrences. As 6-[F-18]fluoro-l-DOPA (FDOPA) is taken up by other neuroendocrine tumors, we speculated that FDOPA-PET could image MCC.

Procedure

FDOPA-PET was performed together with FDG-PET (three patients) and SRS (two patients) in different clinical settings: localization of the primary tumor, staging, and suspicion of recurrence.

Results

Uptake of FDOPA-(18F) by MCC was observed in the two true-positive cases, with an agreement between the results of FDOPA-PET, FDG-PET, and SRS; however, the contrast was lower on FDOPA-PET than on FDG-PET images. In the last patient suspected of recurrence repeatedly on SRS and with inconclusive FDG-PET, FDOPA-PET was negative, and a 12-month follow-up demonstrated a true-negative result.

Conclusion

MCC takes up FDOPA-(18F). The potential role of FDOPA-PET in its management warrants clarification.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the clinicians who referred the patients, kept us informed during patients' follow-up, and evaluated the impact of imaging examinations on their diagnostic thinking, Dr. Gautier, Pr. Izrael, Dr. Selle, and are also to our colleagues at HIA, Val de Grace, Pr. Foehrenbach and Dr. Mazelin, who performed and forwarded us the FDG-PET examination of patient no. 3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Médecine nucléaire et Centre TEP AP-HP, Hopital Tenon, Paris, France

    Jean-Noël Talbot MD, PhD, Khaldoun Kerrou MD, Filda Missoum MD, Dany Grahek MD, Nicolas Aide MD & F. Montravers MD, PhD

  2. Médecine nucléaire, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

    Jean Lumbroso MD

Authors
  1. Jean-Noël Talbot MD, PhD
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  2. Khaldoun Kerrou MD
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  3. Filda Missoum MD
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  4. Dany Grahek MD
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  5. Nicolas Aide MD
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  6. Jean Lumbroso MD
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  7. F. Montravers MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Noël Talbot MD, PhD.

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Talbot, JN., Kerrou, K., Missoum, F. et al. 6-[F-18]Fluoro-l-DOPA Positron Emission Tomography in the Imaging of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Preliminary Report of Three Cases with 2-Deoxy-2-[F-18]Fluoro-d-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography or Pentetreotide-(111In) SPECT Data. Mol Imaging Biol 7, 257–261 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-005-0006-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-005-0006-3

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