DOTANOC

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) up to 80% may have metastatic disease to lymph nodes, liver, and bones upon diagnosis due to their indolent course and benign nature. However, metastasis to the breast from gastropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) is unusual and rarely reported. Furthermore, such metastases may mimic a primary breast carcinoma clinically and radiologically. This case report illustrates an unusual presentation of metastasis to the right breast in addition to liver, pancreas, and lymph nodal metastases in a patient with ileal NET who was operated upon 5 years back...

The development of drugs targeting somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), generally overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumors, is focus of intense research. A few molecules in conjugation with radionuclides are in clinical use for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. These radiopharmaceuticals are composed of a somatostatin analogue biovector conjugated to a chelator moiety bearing the radionuclide. To date, despite valuable efforts, a detailed molecular-level description of the interaction of radiopharmaceuticals in complex with SSTR2 has not yet been accomplished...

Neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the prostate is an extremely rare entity which represents <1% of the prostatic cancers, but with increasing incidence. Its spectrum encompasses several histological variants ranging from well-differentiated tumor which are often indolent in nature; to aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma which portends aggressive management. Hence, such rare entities are to be characterized and treated accordingly. We report an unusual case of well-differentiated NET of prostate which was flagged on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET/CT) performed for other indication and confirmed on Gallium-68 DOTANOC PET/CT...

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a rare clinical entity that results from prolonged exposure to supraphysiological levels of glucocorticoids. It may result from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent or nondependent stimuli. In very rare cases, ACTH production does not derive from the pituitary gland but is of an ectopic origin. We present a case of a 51-year-old woman with cushingoid physical features, who was admitted to the emergency department with a hypertensive crisis, hyperglycemic state, and severe hypokalemia...

Primary neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the kidney are rare. They present with varied symptoms, making their diagnosis difficult clinically as well as pathologically. We present to you the case of a renal NET, which presented in a young female patient. A 48-year-old female patient came with an incidentally detected right renal mass during the evaluation of a nonspecific gynecological problem. She underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen, which showed a 57*45*34 mm mass with enlarged retrocaval and aortocaval nodes (25*12 mm)...

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has become an established treatment for patients with inoperable and/or metastatic, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors with overexpression of somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR-2). The post-therapy 177 Lu-DOTATATE whole-body scan not only assesses the biodistribution of the lesions seen on pre-therapy 68  Ga-SSTR PET/CT scan but also provides a quick assessment of disease status and dosimetry during treatment. Like any other radionuclide scan, the whole-body 177 Lu-DOTATATE scan may also show abnormal radiotracer uptake, which may require further imaging to establish its exact etiology...

Somatostatin receptor (SSTR) imaging is a useful method in the diagnosis of acute myocarditis. We present a case of a 54-year-old male with a clinical diagnosis of acute myocarditis in whom, 68Ga-DOTANOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography PET/CT showed diffuse left ventricular myocardial uptake. SSTR imaging can act as a surrogate marker of active inflammation. SSTR imaging is useful in deciding site of biopsy, assessing response to therapy and for prognostication.

Background: A theranostic probe for accurate staging and treatment is crucial for the management of medullary thyroid cancers (MTCs). The abundance of stroma in most of thyroid cancers, including MTC, opens new avenues for selecting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as new molecular imaging and therapeutic targets. [68 Ga]Ga-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPi) molecules have gained importance as alternative molecular imaging agents in the imaging of thyroid cancers. The purpose of this study was to compare the detection efficiency of primary and metastatic lesions of MTCs between [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA...

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome (EAS) is rare in children, and localizing the source of EAS is often challenging. Here, we report EAS in an adolescent boy who presented with Cushingoid features and had endogenous ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism on hormonal evaluation. Abdominal ultrasound and CT revealed a hepatic lesion with characteristics suggestive of hemangioma, whereas the lesion was tracer non-avid on 68 Ga-DOTANOC positron emission tomography/CT. A regional sampling of ACTH was done to confirm the hepatic lesion as the source of EAS, and a definitive ACTH gradient was observed between the hepatic vein and the right internal jugular vein...

BACKGROUND: Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome associated with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (PMTs). Localization of the causative tumor in these cases is an arduous task since the culprit lesions are usually small, slow-growing, and can be located almost anywhere from head to toe. PURPOSE: To describe the morphological characteristics of histologically proven PMTs on various radiological modalities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After institutional ethical approval, this retrospective study analyzed 20 cases with a histopathological evidence of PMT...

We present the case of a 60-year-old man who was being evaluated for 2 intra-abdominal masses. The masses were tracer avid on 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and were suggestive of neuroendocrine tumor. Histopathology, however, confirmed the masses to be hemangiopericytoma. Hemangiopericytoma comes under the umbrella of solitary fibrous tumors, a rare tumor group arising from the mesenchymal cells. Solitary fibrous tumors commonly arise from the pleura but can occur anywhere in the body. Intra-abdominal hemangiopericytoma are extremely rare and should be kept in mind as one of the differential diagnoses for 68Ga-DOTA peptide-avid tumors...

Gastro-entero-pancreatic tumors comprise a group of heterogenous neoplasms, with medical imaging being paramount in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning of these tumors. Moreover, with the advent of newer radiopharmaceuticals, such as 68 Ga-labeled and 64 Cu-labeled somatostatin analogs (eg, 68 Ga-DOTATOC, 68 Ga-DOTATATE, 68 Ga-DOTANOC, and 64Cu-DOTATATE) that bind to the somatostatin receptor (SSTR), molecular imaging plays an increasing and critical role in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning of these neoplasms...

Hepatic cystic lesions are commonly seen in radiology and can occur due to infective or neoplastic causes. It is imperative to determine the precise nature of these hepatic cysts owing to significant therapeutic and prognostic differences. Hepatic metastases from gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) mostly present as solid hypervascular lesions. Cystic presentation of the metastatic NETs is extremely rare. A 64-year-old woman presented with an abdominal lump of 3 months duration and high-grade fever from the last 2 days...

The aim of this multicentric study was to prospectively compare 68 Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT versus somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) with SPECT/CT, combined with multiphasic CT scan and MRI in patients with grade 1 or 2 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET). Patients with histologically proven grade 1 or 2 GEP-NET with suspicion of recurrence or progression, or with typical aspects of GEP-NET on morphological imaging, were explored with conventional imaging (CI): SRS with SPECT/CT, multiphasic CT scan and/or liver MRI followed by 68 Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT...

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin that most commonly involves the pleura but can be found anywhere in the body. SFT can range from indolent benign tumors to aggressive malignant tumors, and pre-operative diagnosis is based mainly on imaging. In this case report, we describe an extremely rare case of SFT of left maxilla on F-18 FDG PET-CT and Ga-68 DOTANOC PET-CT. Very few cases of PET-CT findings in SFT are reported in literature; and to our knowledge, none involving the maxilla...

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are rare and heterogeneous tumors, originating mostly from the gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) tract followed by the lungs. Multidisciplinary discussion is mandatory for optimal diagnostic and therapeutic management. Well-differentiated NEN (NET) present a high expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) and can be studied with [68Ga]-DOTA-peptides ([68Ga]Ga-DOTANOC, [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC, [68Ga]Ga-DOTATATE) PET/CT to assess disease extension and the eligibility for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT)...

PNETs (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors) are a rare sub-type of pancreatic tumors, with the majority of them being insulinomas. The vast majority of insulinomas (90%) are benign and solitary, with only 10% being malignant. It has a wide range of clinical manifestations and requires a high level of suspicion to diagnose. Surgical excision has long been the gold standard for treating localized PNET and is still the therapy of choice. Recurrent hypoglycemia is usual in diabetic patients, but this is a rare finding in non-diabetic individuals...

A child presented with anxiety and weight gain which were overlooked until she had epistaxis. She was found to have hypertension secondary to paraganglioma. She was managed with curative surgery involving multidisciplinary care. The tumor removal led to the amelioration of symptoms and marked control of hypertension.

Adrenal schwannoma is a rare adrenal incidentaloma. It is a benign tumor arising from the Schwann cells. Differentiating benign from malignant adrenal lesions requires a combination of clinical, biochemical, imaging, and histopathological findings. 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT is one of the sensitive imaging modalities to detect adrenal lesions such as pheochromocytoma. Multiple benign and malignant lesions show somatostatin receptor expression causing a high probability of false-positive findings on somatostatin receptor imaging...

Tumor induced osteomalacia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused by usually small mesenchymal tumors. The tumors are commonly located in the extremities whereas occurrence in the nasal cavity is quite rare. An 18 year old male presented with asymmetric weakness of both lower limbs and difficulty in walking since one year. On evaluation he was found to have open femur head physes and iliac apophyses, low serum Phosphorus, low vitamin D, normal serum calcium, elevated PTH & alkaline phosphatase levels...