TY - JOUR
T1 - Fluorine-18-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine Positron-emission Tomography Scans of Neuroendocrine Tumors (Carcinoids and Pheochromocytomas)
AU - Zanzi, Italo
AU - Studentsova, Yana
AU - Bjelke, David
AU - Warner, Richard
AU - Babchyck, Barry
AU - Chaly, Thomas
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Journal of Clinical Imaging Science Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Objectives: Conventional methods of imaging neuroendocrine tumors with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, indium-111-octreotide, or radiolabeled metaiodobenzilguanidine scintigraphy have limitations. This pilot study tried to improve the localization of these tumors with fluorine-18-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (F-DOPA) positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning. Materials and Methods: We studied 22 patients, the majority of whom were referred with clinical diagnosis or suspicion of carcinoid (n = 11), neuroendocrine tumors (n = 7) or pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PGL) (n = 4). The comparison was made with the prior conventional imaging. Results: The F-DOPA findings were compared with the results of subsequent surgery (2), endoscopy (1), or a long-term follow-up (mean duration, 49 months) for 17 patients. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Foci of F-DOPA deposition were detected in eight patients (final diagnosis of carcinoid in six, of neuroendocrine tumors in one, and of PGL in another). Comparison with the final diagnoses revealed concordance in 16 of the 22 patients. F-DOPA results appeared superior to those obtained with conventional imaging. Despite the small number and diagnostic heterogeneity, in a substantial fraction of patients F-DOPA PET added information relevant to clinical management. Conclusion: F-DOPA scanning added prognostic value, particularly when multiple abnormal foci versus a negative examination were considered.
AB - Objectives: Conventional methods of imaging neuroendocrine tumors with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, indium-111-octreotide, or radiolabeled metaiodobenzilguanidine scintigraphy have limitations. This pilot study tried to improve the localization of these tumors with fluorine-18-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (F-DOPA) positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning. Materials and Methods: We studied 22 patients, the majority of whom were referred with clinical diagnosis or suspicion of carcinoid (n = 11), neuroendocrine tumors (n = 7) or pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PGL) (n = 4). The comparison was made with the prior conventional imaging. Results: The F-DOPA findings were compared with the results of subsequent surgery (2), endoscopy (1), or a long-term follow-up (mean duration, 49 months) for 17 patients. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Foci of F-DOPA deposition were detected in eight patients (final diagnosis of carcinoid in six, of neuroendocrine tumors in one, and of PGL in another). Comparison with the final diagnoses revealed concordance in 16 of the 22 patients. F-DOPA results appeared superior to those obtained with conventional imaging. Despite the small number and diagnostic heterogeneity, in a substantial fraction of patients F-DOPA PET added information relevant to clinical management. Conclusion: F-DOPA scanning added prognostic value, particularly when multiple abnormal foci versus a negative examination were considered.
KW - Carcinoid
KW - fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine positron-emission tomography
KW - neuroendocrine tumor
KW - pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85019990163&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4103/jcis.JCIS_107_16
DO - 10.4103/jcis.JCIS_107_16
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85019990163
SN - 2156-7514
VL - 7
JO - Journal of Clinical Imaging Science
JF - Journal of Clinical Imaging Science
IS - 1
M1 - 20
ER -