The diagnostic role of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in the detection of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Comparison with 111In-octreotide scintigraphy and CT scan

Objectives To evaluate the diagnostic and additional effective value of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT,in comparison with CT and scintigraphy in GEP-NET’s.

Methods Between November 2010 and December 2011,27 patients who pathologically confirmed GEP NET had been refered to our nuclear medicine department for 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging. The primary tumor localisation were:7 in stomach,7 in liver,4 in pancreas,4 in abdominal lymph nodes or masses,2 in intestine,2 in choledoc and 1 in appendix.25/27 patients had underwent abdomen CT and 18/27 had 111In-oct scintigraphy as well. PET/CT acquisitions were performed using standard techniques, 45-60 min. after the i.v injection of 95-190 MBq 68Ga-DOTATATE.Results has compared with CT and 111In-oct scintigraphy imaging.

Results PET/CT was positive in 22/27 patients. 5 pts had normal PET/CT.We could find 10/27 liver NET lesions,were seen with PET/CT,whereas CT scan detected 14/25 liver lesions. About intestinal, abdominal lymph nodes and masses,gastric and bone lesions PET/CT detected more pathologic uptakes.PET/CT and CT results almost were equal in splenic and pancreatic lesions.111In-oct scintigraphy detected only 5 liver,4 abdominal masses,2 thoracic and 1 splenic lesions.6/18 111In-OCT scintigraphy were found normal.

Conclusions 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT, CT scan and 111In-OCT scintigraphy showed comparable overall detection rates for organ involvement in GEP NET’s. Although CT detected more liver lesions than PET/CT, most of these lesions were nondiagnostic. In organ-based detection rates we showed superiority of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT for gastric,intestinal,abdominal LN’s and masses, bone and also liver lesions due to WB scan and small lesion detection capability of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT.