Validation of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in the localization of neuroendocrine tumors.
Somatostatin analogs are used in the control of hormonal hypersecretion and tumor growth of patients with acromegaly, islet cell carcinomas and carcinoids. Recently we showed that somatostatin receptor positive tumors can be visualized in vivo after the administration of radionuclide-labeled somatostatin analogs. Receptor imaging was positive in 18/21 islet cell tumors, 32/37 carcinoids, 26/28 paragangliomas, 9/14 medullary thyroid carcinomas, and 5/7 small cell lung cancers. Somatostatin receptor imaging is an easy, harmless and painless diagnostic method. It localizes multiple and/or metastatic tumors, predicts the successful control of hormonal hypersecretion by octreotide and seems to be of prognostic value in certain types of cancer. This scintigraphic method might help in patient selection for clinical trials with somatostatin analogs in the treatment of neuroendocrine cancers.
Lamberts
S W
SW
Department of Medicine, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Reubi
J C
JC
Krenning
E P
EP
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin