Ga-68 DOTATOC PET, endoscopic ultrasonography, and multidetector CT in the diagnosis of duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a single-centre retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
In this report, we compared endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), multidetector CT (MDCT), and Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We report our experience with use of these methods in patients suspected to have duodenopancreatic primitive NET.


METHODS
Nineteen consecutive patients (mean age, 56; 21-80), who underwent both Ga-68 DOTATOC PET/CT and EUS between March 2007 and November 2008 were retrospectively included in the study (16 underwent MDCT). Suspicion of NET was confirmed by EUS-FNA and/or surgery. Operative characteristics of PET, EUS, and MDCT were compared.


RESULTS
Twenty-three neuroendocrine lesions were diagnosed in 13/19 patients. EUS, PET, and MDCT correctly identified as affected 13/13 (100%), 12/13 (92%), and 10/11 (91%) patients, respectively. On a lesion basis, EUS, PET, and MDCT identified correctly as NETs 22/23 (96%), 20/23 (87%), and 13/18 (72%) lesions (P = 0.08 EUS vs. CT). Both on a patient and on a lesion basis, specificity was 67%, 83%, and 80% for EUS, PET, and MDCT, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
EUS, Ga-68 DOTATOC PET, and MDCT seem to have comparable accuracy in diagnosis of duodenopancreatic NET and their combination may allow an optimal preoperative diagnosis.
Versari
Annibale
A
Nuclear Medicine Unit, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Camellini
Lorenzo
L
Carlinfante
Gabriele
G
Frasoldati
Andrea
A
Nicoli
Franco
F
Grassi
Elisa
E
Gallo
Carmine
C
Giunta
Francesca P
FP
Fraternali
Alessandro
A
Salvo
Diana
D
Asti
Mattia
M
Azzolini
Francesco
F
Iori
Veronica
V
Sassatelli
Romano
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D015282:Octreotide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D015282:Octreotide; C106246:Edotreotide