Functional imaging of neuroendocrine tumors: a head-to-head comparison of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, 123I-MIBG scintigraphy, and 18F-FDG PET

Tina Binderup, Ulrich Knigge, Annika Loft, Jann Mortensen, Andreas Pfeifer, Birgitte Federspiel, Carsten Palnaes Hansen, Liselotte Højgaard, Andreas Kjaer, Tina Binderup, Ulrich Knigge, Annika Loft Jakobsen, Jann Mortensen, Andreas Pfeifer, Birgitte Hartnack Federspiel, Carsten Palnaes Hansen, Liselotte Højgaard, Andreas Kjær

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Abstract

Functional techniques are playing a pivotal role in the imaging of cancer today. Our aim was to compare, on a head-to-head basis, 3 functional imaging techniques in patients with histologically verified neuroendocrine tumors: somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) with (111)In-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-octreotide, scintigraphy with (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), and (18)F-FDG PET. METHODS: Ninety-six prospectively enrolled patients with neuroendocrine tumors underwent SRS, (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy, and (18)F-FDG PET on average within 40 d. The functional images were fused with low-dose CT scans for anatomic localization, and the imaging results were compared with the proliferation index as determined by Ki67. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity of SRS, (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy, and (18)F-FDG PET was 89%, 52%, and 58%, respectively. Of the 11 SRS-negative patients, 7 were (18)F-FDG PET-positive, of which 3 were also (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy-positive, giving a combined overall sensitivity of 96%. SRS also exceeded (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy and (18)F-FDG PET based on the number of lesions detected (393, 185, and 225, respectively) and tumor subtypes. (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy was superior to (18)F-FDG PET for ileal neuroendocrine tumors, and (18)F-FDG PET was superior to (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy for pancreaticoduodenal neuroendocrine tumors. The sensitivity of (18)F-FDG PET (92%) exceeded that of both SRS (69%) and (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy (46%) for tumors with a proliferation index above 15%. CONCLUSION: The overall sensitivity of (123)I-MIBG scintigraphy and (18)F-FDG PET was low compared with SRS. However, for tumors with a high proliferation rate, (18)F-FDG PET had the highest sensitivity. The results indicate that, although SRS should still be the routine method, (18)F-FDG PET provides complementary diagnostic information and is of value for neuroendocrine tumor patients with negative SRS findings or a high proliferation index.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine
Volume51
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)704-12
Number of pages9
ISSN0161-5505
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2010

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