Single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography in the evaluation of neuroendocrine tumours: a review of the literature.

Abstract

The scintigraphic investigation of neuroendocrine tumours such as carcinoids has depended on standard techniques such as I-metaiodobenzylguanidine and In-pentetreotide imaging. More recently, the use of PET techniques such as Ga-DOTATATE has been advocated. An alternative improved modality is high-quality single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), which has the advantages of better sensitivity and specificity and has shown improved localization in up to 60% of cases. These advantages are especially true for pancreatic and lymph node lesions. Overall, SPECT/CT can result in a change in clinical management in 25% of patients. Although it is possible to combine SPECT and CT performed at different time points, there is better anatomical localization and improved reporter confidence when SPECT and CT are performed simultaneously.

• Authors: Suat-Jin Lu, Gopinath Gnanasegaran, John Buscombe, Shaunak Navalkissoor
• Journal: Nuclear medicine communications (Nucl Med Commun) Vol. 34 Issue 2 Pg. 98-107 (Feb 2013) ISSN: 1473-5628 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23222696 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Iodine Radioisotopes
• 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
• Somatostatin

Topics

• 3-Iodobenzylguanidine
• Humans
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Multimodal Imaging (methods)
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (diagnostic imaging, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Positron-Emission Tomography
• Somatostatin (analogs & derivatives)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed