Molecular imaging of PET/CT with Ga-68 DOTATOC and F-18 FDG in the detection of neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors (GEP NETs)

Aim: Functional imaging methods, such as somatostatin-receptor (SSR) scintigraphy in combination with anatomical techniques like CT can be regarded as advanced and elegant molecular imaging procedures enabling mapping of SSRs in GEP NETs. The SSR status of GEP NETs is of great relevance, because receptor-negative lesions may be poorly differentiated and characterised by aggressive growth and poor prognosis – with consequences for the choice of therapy. Ga-68 DOTA-D-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-octreoide (Ga-68 DOTATOC) is a newly developed PET-radiotracer with a high specific binding to SSR2, a subtype of SSRs, most often expr…