title: The diagnostic role of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in the detection of neuroendocrine tumours.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computer tomography (CT) using (68)Ga-DOTATATE is a promising method for the evaluation of patients with recognised or suspected neuroendocrine tumours (NET). The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in the visualisation of the expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) and identification of new lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2009 and January 2011 ninety-seven patients with confirmed (88 cases) or suspected (9 cases) NET underwent (68)Ga DOTATATE PET/CT. The primary, confirmed or suspected, NET localizations were: GEP tumours--71 patients; medullary thyroid carcinoma--4 patients; cancer of an unknown primary--14 patients; and NET in other localisations--8 patients. PET/CT acquisitions were performed using standard techniques, 45 to 60 minutes after the intravenous injection of 111-185 MBq (68)Ga-DOTATATE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT detected the presence of lesions demonstrating the somatostatin receptor affinity in 50 of the 97 patients (51.5%) and was negative in 47 patients (48.5%). Among 14 patients with metastatic unknown primary cancer, in 5 patients (45.5%) the primary tumour site was identified, and in 4 patients with medullary thyroid cancer distant metastases with SSTR expression were localized in only one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings confirm the diagnostic role of (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT as an accurate method of identifying primary tumours and distant metastases. It provides information on tumour cell receptors status, which has a significant bearing on planning target radionuclide therapy. Overall, (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT can be used in staging, re-staging, and in regular follow up of oncology patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Oncological Endocrinology, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Cancer Centre-Institute, ul. W.K. Roentegena 5, Warsaw, Poland. g-lapinska@o2.pl
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Łapińska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryszewska
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fijołek-Warszewska
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kozłowicz-Gudzińska
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ochman
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sackiewicz-Słaby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; C513399:gallium Ga 68 dotatate