Abstract |
Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors ( pNETs) arise from bronchial mucosal cells known as enterochromaffin cells which are part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. The pathological spectrum of pNETs ranges from low-/intermediate-grade neoplasms such as bronchial carcinoids (BCs), also known as typical or atypical carcinoids, to high-grade neoplasms as large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer. The tumor biology of pNETs still represents a matter of open debate. The distinct features among the different pNETs include not only their pathologic characteristics but also their clinical behavior, epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis. In this sense, a correct pathological identification in the preoperative setting is a key element for planning the best strategy of care in pNETs and especially in BCs. Controversial results have been reported on the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET or PET/CT) in BCs. On the other hand, there is increasing evidence supporting the use of PET with somatostatin analogues ( DOTA-TOC, DOTA-NOC, or DOTA-TATE) labeled with gallium-68 (Ga-68) in pNETs. Herein, we review the pertinent literature aiming to better define the current state of art of PET/CT in the detection and histological differentiation of pNETs with special emphasis on BCs.
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Authors | Filippo Lococo, Alfredo Cesario, Massimiliano Paci, Angelina Filice, Annibale Versari, Cristian Rapicetta, Tommaso Ricchetti, Giorgio Sgarbi, Marco Alifano, Alberto Cavazza, Giorgio Treglia |
Journal | Tumour biology : the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine
(Tumour Biol)
Vol. 35
Issue 9
Pg. 8369-77
(Sep 2014)
ISSN: 1423-0380 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 24850179
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Chemical References |
- Ga(III)-DOTATOC
- Organometallic Compounds
- Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
- Octreotide
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Topics |
- Bronchial Neoplasms
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging)
- Carcinoid Tumor
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, mortality)
- Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging)
- Neuroendocrine Tumors
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging)
- Octreotide
(analogs & derivatives)
- Organometallic Compounds
- Positron-Emission Tomography
(methods)
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
(methods)
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