Objectives

Understand through cases, the behavior of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) by positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) images with Gallium 68 (68Ga), detailing their physiological distribution, pathological expression of their main sites, and also highlight the complementary role of 2- [fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG).

Background

Studies have shown that PET / CT 68Ga is more accurate than conventional imaging methods, as CT, Magnetic Ressonance (MR), and octreotide single photon emission computed tomography SPECT/CT, in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic NETS, with sensitivity and specificity values around 93%.

PET / CT 68Ga should be considered the first-line diagnostic imaging modality of choice for tumors with high somastotatin expression.

Imaging findings OR Procedure findings

This presentation will address a series of cases of NETS and their presentation on PET / CT 68Ga exams.

We will emphasize the peculiarities in the expression by this drug among the tumors considered differentiated and poorly differentiated, besides the demonstration of the main pitfalls.

Will also be demonstrated conditions in which the correlation with FDG PET has provided importante information helping to identify NETs phenotypes.

Conclusion

PET / CT 68Ga has an array of clinical applications in gastroenteropancreatic and other NETs, in which it is proving to represent a new standard of reference given its superior accuracy compared with conventional imaging techniques.

Getting used to the behavior of NETS in this imaging method allows the gastrointestinal radiologist to provide relevant information for a better diagnosis and therapeutic management of these patients.