title: The role of radiolabeled somatostatin analogs in adrenal imaging.
abstract: We investigated the role of radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SAs) in adrenal imaging. We evaluated 15 patients (6 men and 9 women, mean age 47 +/- 17 years) with imaging-detected adrenal tumors. Patient population was divided into two groups on the basis of the nature of adrenal lesions. Group 1 consisted of patients with benign adrenal lesions (n = 10). Group 2 consisted of patients with malignant adrenal lesions (n = 5). Pathology examinations were obtained in 13 cases: 7 pheochromocytomas, 2 adenomas, 2 cysts, 1 carcinoma, and 1 fibro-histiocytoma. One patient had a proven diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer associated with the presence of a right adrenal mass. The last patient had a clinical diagnosis of Werner syndrome associated with the presence of a large left adrenal mass. All patients underwent scientigraphic studies using radiolabeled SAs, of which indium-111 (In-111) pentetreotide was used in 11 cases and technetium-99m (Tc-99m)-labeled peptides (P-587 or P-829) were used in the remaining four cases. No significant labeled SAs uptake was observed in the majority (8 of 10, 80%) of the benign adrenal lesions (Group 1); however, increased uptake was found in two benign pheochromocytomas. Conversely, significant labeled SAs uptake was observed in the majority (4 of 5, 80%) of the malignant adrenal lesions (Group 2); however, the last lesion (carcinoma) did not show abnormal uptake. Results of this study show that the majority of benign adrenal tumors do not concentrate radiolabeled SAs; conversely, the majority of malignant adrenal lesions show significant SAs uptake, suggesting the presence of somatostatin receptors. This finding may allow the use of somatostatin as a treatment agent in malignant adrenal tumors. Thus, the main role of labeled SAs in adrenal imaging consists of lesion characterization rather than tumor detection and localization.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Universita Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maurea
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lastoria
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caracò
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klain
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varrella
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Acampa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatore
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017556:Technetium Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017556:Technetium Compounds; C071632:SDZ 215-811; D013004:Somatostatin; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D015282:Octreotide