Questions and answers: what can be said by diagnostic imaging in neuroendocrine tumors?

Minerva Endocrinol. 2012 Dec;37(4):367-77.

Abstract

The neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the gastro-entero-pancreatic area (GEP) represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies from the histologic, clinico-laboratoristic (functioning and non-functioning variants), and therapeutic point of view. It is an issue becoming more frequent for the diagnostic imager, being radiologist as well as nuclear physician. Imaging (together with biopsy) plays a key role in the diagnostic assessment and staging (including grading and prognostic definition), in evaluating response to treatment, and in follow-up of GEP-NET. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT), octreoscan and PET-CT are the most widely diffuse and accurate imaging modalities employed in this setting. Other methods, such as Magnetic Resonance and Endoscopic Ultrasound, may also play a significant role.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Imaging*
  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / chemistry
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnosis*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnostic imaging
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / epidemiology
  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital
  • Oligopeptides
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / analysis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Somatostatin / analogs & derivatives
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Fluorine Radioisotopes
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oligopeptides
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Somatostatin
  • pentetreotide