68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in Nonneuroendocrine Tumors: A Pictorial Essay

Clin Nucl Med. 2017 Jun;42(6):e313-e316. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001620.

Abstract

PET-CT with somatostatin analogs labeled with Ga is increasingly recognized as the best imaging modality for the evaluation of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, somatostatin receptor (SSR) is not an exclusive marker for NET. A variety of tumors other than NETs express SSR, leading to a significant risk of false-positive PET/CT results. We illustrate false-positive Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT findings due to high uptake by non-Hodgkin lymphoma, metastatic meningioma, breast cancer, thyroid adenoma, and papillary carcinoma. Although Ga-DOTATATE is a noteworthy tracer for oncological application, pathological conditions with overexpression of SSR should be recognized to prevent misinterpretation of PET/CT images.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / metabolism
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Organometallic Compounds*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / metabolism

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • gallium Ga 68 dotatate