Role of 18F - DOPA PET/CT in evaluation of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)

Full text: NETs are heterogeneous group of tumors which take up amino acids, transform them into biogenic amines and store the amines in vesicles, this forms the basis of uptake of 18F-DOPA in these tumors. These tumors can be small and situated almost throughout the body and may also present as advanced disease with multiple metastatic sites. Like in management of any other tumor it is imperative to stage the status of disease in NETs for the effective management of these patients and 18F-DOPA PET/CT is one such imaging modality used in the evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Here is our initial experience using 18F-DOPA PET/CT imaging in these patients. Twenty-seven patients with NETs (carcinoids, medullary thyroid carcinomas, phaeochromocytomas Insulinoma) were prospectively enrolled and scheduled for 18F-DOPA PET/CT. Wherever possible, tissue diagnosis was attempted. Results obtained were compared with other conventional diagnostic procedures (mainly 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT, and with ultrasound, CT, etc) and with follow-up. 18F-DOPA PET/CT identified 17/24 positive cases in either the primary/metastatic/recurrent tumor. In case of Insulinoma 18F-DOPA was found to be most superior than other imaging modalities in localizing the disease and staging of disease