Tony Abraham DO, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yusuf Menda MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas O Dorisio MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

David L. Bushnell MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Malik Juweid MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michael M. Graham MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the role of FDG PET in evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors.

This is a retrospective analysis of 57 pts with 66 PET scans with histologically proven or suspected neuroendocrine tumors. There were 47 carcinoid tumors, 2 islet cell tumors, 1 medullary thyroid cancer, 5 unspecified neuroendocrine tumors. In-111 Pentetreotide scans (n=59) were obtained within 3 months of the FDG PET scans. PET scans were performed either on a dedicated PET scanner (n=49) or on an integrated PET-CT system (n=17) 60-90 min after the intravenous administration of 370-555 MBq of F-18 FDG. In-111 pentetreotide scans, histopathology, intravenous contrast CT and/or MRI, clinical and imaging follow-up were used to definitively establish the presence of neuroendocrine tumor.

Of the 66 PET scans, FDG PET was true positive in 38 studies, false negative in 11, true negative in 16 and false positive in one study, with a calculated sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 94%. FDG PET was concordant with In-111 Pentetreotide scans in 36 studies and discordant in 23. FDG PET showed more disease sites than In-111 Pentetreotide in 11 patients. FDG PET was positive in 8 pts with negative In-111 Pentetreotide scans with one being false positive and seven being true positives. In these patients, FDG PET detected histologically proven neuroendocrine tumors in the lungs in two pts, in the duodenum in two pts, pancreas in two pts and subcutaneous nodules and radiologically confirmed progressive liver metastases in one patient each respectively.

FDG PET is a sensitive modality for detection of neuroendocrine tumors and may be particularly helpful in patients with negative In-111 Pentetreotide scans.

FDG PET is useful in detecting primary and recurrent neuroendocrine tumors especially in patients with negative pentetreotide scans.

Abraham, T, Menda, Y, O Dorisio, T, Bushnell, D, Juweid, M, Graham, M, FDG PET Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4442089.html