Frequency and characterization of gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor patients with high-grade of uptake at somatostatin receptor scintigraphy

Endocr Relat Cancer. 2013 Mar 22;20(2):229-39. doi: 10.1530/ERC-12-0169. Print 2013 Apr.

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that the somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) grade of uptake is a predictor of response to peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). To identify and characterize patients with well-differentiated (WD) neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) displaying a high-grade uptake at SRS. Patients with WD-NEN, whose SRS films were available for review, were retrospectively included. SRS was reviewed by three independent readers and classified into four subgroups based on a modified Krenning's scale (mKS): no uptake (group-0), homogeneous grade 1-2 uptake (group-1), homogeneous grade 3-4 (group-2), and heterogeneous grade 1-4 (group-3). A simplified scale (sS) of SRS was also used to look for characteristics of patients with high-grade uptake. One hundred and six WD-NEN patients were enrolled. Group-0, group-1, group-2, and group-3 were found in 17, 8, 33, and 42% of cases respectively. High-grade uptake at sS (75% of cases) was correlated with older age, functioning NEN, high chromogranin-A level, and grade 1 (G1) NEN based on mitotic count. Based on the mKS or sS scales, no difference on survival was found. Thirty-three to seventy-five percent of metastatic NEN patients can be considered candidates for PRRT based on homogeneous or heterogeneous high-grade uptake. Functioning G1 NEN patients could be the best candidates for PRRT. Randomized trials are expected to confirm this result.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chromogranin A / blood
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / metabolism
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Chromogranin A
  • Receptors, Somatostatin