Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, majority of which express somatostatin (SST) receptors. Recently, with the widespread use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and development of novel PET tracers like Ga-68 DOTA peptide which specifically bind to somatostatin receptors (SSTR), Ga-68 DOTA peptide PET/CT is used in management of NET.

To study the various indications for which Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scan was performed and the utility of the scans.

Retrospective evaluation of the patients data was performed who underwent Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT as part of their diagnostic workup between June 2011 and July 2012. A total of 145 patients aged 1 to 71 years (mean: 37.4 years) were studied during this period.

Ga-68 DOTATATE PET scan was positive in 23/39 patients referred for characterization or diagnosis, in 6/19 patients for localization, in 13/24 patients for detection of unknown NET primary, in 16/17 patients for staging, in 6/7 patients for recurrence assessment, 12/12 patients for response evaluation, 7/18 patients in restaging and in 5/5 differentiated thyroid cancer patients with thyroglobulin elevated but negative iodine scan.

Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT is a useful modality in characterization, localization, detection of unknown NET primary, staging, restaging, recurrence and response evaluation to treatment in patients with NET.

Mittal BR, Agrawal K, Shukla J, Bhattacharya A, Singh B, Sood A, Bhansali A. Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Initial Experience. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2013;47(1):1-6.