Octreotide scans are positive in a subset of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
In vitro data suggest that a proportion of hepatocellular carcinomas express the somatostatin receptor. However, in vivo data are lacking. There has been little reported use of octreotide scans in hepatocellular carcinomas. This study was performed to determine the percentage of positive results of octreotide scanning in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
In-111 octreotide scans were performed in the standard manner in eight patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Computer fusion imaging of the nuclear medicine and computed tomographic scans was performed in selected patients.


RESULTS
Five of eight (63%) patients tested had hepatocellular carcinomas that displayed focal tracer uptake.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of positive uptake of octreotide scans in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. These findings may have implications for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with octreotide. Furthermore, these results may broaden the differential diagnosis in patients with positive results of octreotide scanning.
Rabinowitz
Ian
I
Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. irabinowitz@salud.unm.edu
Telepak
Robert
R
Lee
Fa-Chyi
FC
D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
C094279:indium-111-octreotide; D015282:Octreotide