PET-CT with Gallium 68-DOTA-peptides

68Ga-DOTA-peptide PET is used for: identification and staging of neuroendocrine neoplasia, evaluation of prognosis, monitoring of a detected disease, evaluation before starting somatostatin analogue therapy.        

• neuroendocrine tumor

The total time of patient's staying in the department for the examination is about 1.5 and 2.5 hours. The 68Ga-DOTA-peptide radiopharmaceutical is injected intravenously and in 45-90 minutes the patient is placed on the PET/TC or PET/RM tomograph couch in a supine position, remaining motionless during the acquisition and breathing quietly. The examination lasts approximately 20 minutes.  The PET investigation can be integrated with CT with contrast medium or MRI with contrast medium for diagnostic purposes, which requires the presence of the radiologist.

This is a non-invasive procedure, which exposes to a dose of ionizing radiation halved compared to the scintigraphic investigation with Octreoscan labelledwith In-111, the radiopharmaceutical used so far in this kind of pathologies, however comparable to that of the most common radiological investigations used for the same clinical indications (CT and angiography). After the examination, it is advisable to keep away from pregnant women and young children for the whole day of the examination. The preparation foresees the suspension of the somatostatin therapy (24 hours for short half-life molecules, 3-4 weeks for long half-life molecules); however, it is necessary to obtain the opinion of the physician in charge to determine this suspension.