177 Lu-DOTATATE (Lutathera) Therapy in 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT-Negative Liver Metastases of a Neuroendocrine Tumor

Clin Nucl Med. 2023 Dec 1;48(12):e585-e587. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004888. Epub 2023 Oct 23.

Abstract

A 73-year-old man with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor was evaluated with 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Both PET-positive and negative lesions were seen in the liver, along with extrahepatic metastases. Histopathology was obtained from one of the PET-negative liver lesions to exclude secondary malignancy. Histology confirmed a well-differentiated (G2) metastasis of pNET with high somatostatin receptor expression. We initiated peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with close monitoring of the PET-negative liver metastases. We present a rare case, where posttherapeutic scintigraphy revealed vigorous uptake of 177 Lu-DOTATATE even in the 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET-negative liver metastases. Follow-up PET/CT showed a partial response to therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms*
  • Male
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors* / pathology
  • Organometallic Compounds*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / metabolism

Substances

  • copper dotatate CU-64
  • lutetium Lu 177 dotatate
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • Gallium-68
  • Gallium Radioisotopes