title: PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Evaluation of Receptor Status and Metabolism.
abstract: In-111 Octreoscan is considered the gold standard for imaging of neuroendocrine tumors (NET). However, in the absence of morphologic imaging correlation, the exact localisation of the tumor is often difficult. Also the sensitivity of PET imaging is more than Gamma camera (SPECT) imaging. Ga-68 labelled somatostatin analogs (SMS-R) are interesting radiopharmaceuticals for PET receptor imaging of NET. Some other radiopharmaceuticals e.g. F-18 DOPA can also be used to assess metabolism and functional status of NET. The importance of these radiopharmaceuticals, especially SMS-R increases in the absence of any specific biochemical marker or clinical parameter for follow-up of patients after therapy (eg peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, surgery, chemoembolisation, etc). New criteria based on molecular, metabolic and morphologic imaging needs to be developed for correct assessment of response to therapy for these slow-growing, solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Center for PET/CT, Zentralklinik Bad Berka GmbH, Robert Koch Allee-9, 99437 Bad Berka, Germany.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 110 Donner Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Abass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Center for PET/CT, Zentralklinik Bad Berka GmbH, Robert Koch Allee-9, 99437 Bad Berka, Germany. Electronic address: info@rpbaum.de.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Baum
keywords: F-18 DOPA; Ga-68; Neuroendocrine tumors; PET/CT; Somatostatin receptor imaging