Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy might be useful for detecting skeleton abnormalities in patients with multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma.
OBJECTIVE
Somatostatin receptor expression has been demonstrated on a number of plasma cell lines. Therefore, we questioned whether somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) can be used to demonstrate in vivo multiple myeloma (MM) activity.


METHODS
SRS was performed in newly diagnosed (n = 9) or relapsing (n = 18) MM patients or in patients with localized plasmacytoma (n = 2). The results were compared with radiographic findings.


RESULTS
A positive SRS was demonstrated in 44% of the newly diagnosed patients, in 83% of the relapsed patients and in both patients with plasmacytoma. The SRS findings corresponded with radiographic abnormalities in 40% of the patients. However, in relapsed patients 60% demonstrated increased SRS uptake in areas without new radiographic abnormalities. The positive SRS corresponded with histologically proven disease activity and responded upon treatment. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining of MM material demonstrated concordant somatostatin receptor sst3 staining in five of six patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that SRS is a valuable tool to detect disease activity, especially in relapsing MM patients.
Agool
Ali
A
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen and University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.agool@ngmb.umcg.nl
Slart
Riemer H J A
RH
Dierckx
Rudi A J O
RA
Kluin
Philip M
PM
Visser
Lydia
L
Jager
Pieter L
PL
Vellenga
Edo
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D013004:Somatostatin; C081788:pentetreotide