Functional imaging of neuroendocrine tumors with combined PET/CT using 68Ga-DOTATATE (Dota-DPhe1, Tyr3-octreotate) and 18F-FDG

Abstract

BACKGROUND. The aim was to assess the relevant distribution of the novel PET tracer 68Ga-DOTATATE in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) with combined positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) and compare its performance with that of 18F-FDG PET/CT. METHODS. The imaging findings with 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG on 38 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of primary or recurrent NET were compared and correlated with tumor grade on histology based on ki67 and mitotic index. RESULTS. The sensitivity of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT was 82% (31 of 38) and that of 18F-FDG PET/CT was 66% (25 of 38). The sensitivity of combined 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG PET/CT was 92% (35 of 38). There was greater uptake of 68Ga-DOTATATE than 18F-FDG in low-grade NET (median SUV 29 vs 2.9, P