[Detection of endocrine tumors of the digestive tract. Value and limitations of scintigraphy of somatostatin receptors].

Abstract

Most neuroendocrin tumors (excepting insulinomas) carry a high density of somatostatin receptors which readily bind somatostatin analogs, allowing tumor and metastasis imaging with indium-labeled somatostasin analogs. For primary tumors (gastrinomas, carcinoid tumors), detection sensitivity is about 80%. The scintiscan adds complementary information to other imaging techniques including echoendoscopy. By combining indium-scan with echoendoscopy we have been able to detect 90% of the tumors in the upper duodenopancreatic area. In addition, scintigraphy detects tumors in about half of the patients with characteristic laboratory tests but negative imaging with other techniques. Metastases can also be detected; sensibility for liver is > 90%. The indium-scan is also positive in up to 20-30% of the patients after other imaging methods failed to identify metastasis. Finally, tumors found to be receptor-positive would respond better to treatment with somatostatin analogs.

• Authors: D Le Guludec, G Cadiot, R Lebtahi, M Mignon
• Journal: Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983) (Presse Med) Vol. 25 Issue 14 Pg. 677-82 (Apr 20 1996) ISSN: 0755-4982 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Détection des tumeurs endocrines du tube digestif. Intérêts et limites de la scintigraphie des récepteurs de la somatostatine.
• PMID: 8685125 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Somatostatin

Topics

• Digestive System Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging)
• Humans
• Methods
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (diagnostic imaging, secondary)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Receptors, Somatostatin (analysis)
• Sensitivity and Specificity