Diagnostic role of Gallium-68 DOTATOC and Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Gallium-68 somatostatin receptor positron emission tomography (PET) has been used in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The compounds often used in molecular imaging of NETs with PET are 68Ga-DOTATOC, 68Ga-DOTATATE, and 68Ga-DOTANOC. There is varying affinity to different somatostatin receptors.


OBJECTIVE
To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published data regarding the diagnostic role of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs.


METHODS
A comprehensive literature search of studies published through 30 April 2013 regarding 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs were calculated. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to measure the accuracy of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs.


RESULTS
Ten studies comprising 416 patients with NETs were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs calculated on a per-patient-based analysis was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI] 89-96%) and 96% (95% CI 91-99%). The pooled specificity of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in diagnosing NETs was 85% (95% CI 74-93%) and 100% (95% CI 82-100%). The area under the ROC curve of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET was 0.96 and 0.98, respectively, on a per-patient-based analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The molecular imaging agents 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of NETs on PET scan. Although both are accurate tools in the diagnosis of NETs, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET may be more sensitive and specific than 68Ga-DOTATOC PET scan.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China.
Jigang
J
Yang
Ying
Y
Kan
Benjamin H
BH
Ge
Leilei
L
Yuan
Chunlin
C
Li
Wenrui
W
Zhao
D006801:Humans; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
C504894:68Ga-DOTANOC; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C513399:gallium Ga 68 dotatate
68Ga-DOTATATE; 68Ga-DOTATOC; Neuroendocrine tumors; PET