Factors related to long-term survival in patients affected by well-differentiated endocrine tumors of the pancreas

Aim. To identify factors related to survival in patients affected by well-differentiated PETs (benign, uncertain behavior, and carcinoma) who underwent R0 pancreatic resection. Methods. Retrospective study of 74 consecutive patients followed up from January 1980 to December 2011. Prognostic factors were sex, age, type of tumor, presence of symptoms, type of surgical procedure, size of tumor, lymph nodes status, WHO classification, and TNM stage. Overall survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with prognosis in univariate and multivariate analysis. Results. The mean follow-up of all the patients was 106 ± 89 months. The 5-10-year long-term survival was 90.9% and 79.1%, respectively. At univariate analysis, patient age <55 years was significantly related to a better long-term survival compared to patients age ≥55 years (307 ± 15 months versus 192 ± 25 months; P = 0.010). Multivariate analysis showed that female gender (P = 0.006), patients without comorbidities (P = 0.033), and patients affected by well-differentiated benign pancreatic endocrine tumors (P = 0.008 and P = 0.002 in relation to tumors with uncertain behavior and carcinomas, resp.) were factors significantly related to a better long-term survival. Conclusions. Patients factors were strongly related to a better long-term survival in patients observed. WHO classification is a very useful prognostic tool for well-differentiated PETs.

Synchronous association of two neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors, an adenocarcinoma of the cecum, and a Meckel's diverticulum: a case report

Neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, with the primary tumors being located in the gastric mucosa, pancreas, and small and large intestine. The development of a second primary malignancy in patients with these tumors is a well-described phenomenon, and the reported incidence ranges from 12% to 46%. The most common site of associated noncarcinoid malignancies is the gastrointestinal tract, which involves from 30% to 60% of the tumors. We report a case of concurrent colon carcinoma and two neuroendocrine tumors of the duodenum.

New WHO classification for pancreatic endocrine tumors: Is time to leave the previous one?

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Background: In 2010 WHO released a new classification (NWHO) system for endocrine pancreatic tumours (NETs). The aims of this study was to compare the NWHO and previous one (OWHO) in patients affected by NETs. Methods: From January 1980 to December 2010, 89 consecutives patients underwent surgical intervention for PNETs Data regarding sex, age, presence of symptoms, hormonal status, presence of MEN1, surgical procedure, R status, TNM stage, older and new WHO classification and disease specific survival (DSS) were prospectively collected. Multivariate analysis, including OWHO and NWHO, was carried out to evaluate the independent factors related to DSS. A sensitivity analysis was performed to include patients in which NWHO was impossible to be calculated. Results: Mean age of patients was 54.7 ± 14.2 years. There were 46 (51.7%) female and 43 (48.3%) male. Symptoms were present in 68 (76.4%) patients. Fifty-two (58.4%) patients had non-functioning NETs. Left pancreatectomy was performed in 48 (53.9%) cases, atypical resection in 22 (24.7%), pancreaticoduodenectomy in 12 (13.5%), total pancreatectomy in 2 (2.2%) and palliative surgery in 5 (5.6%). R0/1 resection was carried out in 79(88.7%) cases. According TNM stage there were: I, 27 (30.3%); II 29 (32.6%); III, 22 (24.7%); IV, 11 (12.4%). According OWHO 46 (51.7%) patients had a well differentiated tumours (WDT), 32 (36%) well differentiated carcinoma (WDCa), 11(12.4%) poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDCa). The NWHO was available only in 49 (55.1 %) patients: 20 (22.5%) NET G1, 25 (28.1%) NET G2, 4 (4.5%) neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) G3. At multivariate analysis OWHO and R2 status were the only independent factors related to DSS (RR=6.7, p<0.001 and RR 2.0, p=0.018 respectively). OWHO stratifies DSS better than NWHO: RR 0.12 (C.I. 95% 0.01-0.99; p=0.049) and RR 0.16 (C.I 95% 0.16-0.05; p=0.002) comparing WDT vs WDCa and WDCa vs PDCa, respectively. The sensitivity analysis confirmed in two model the superiority of OWHO while in others two we did not find any difference. Conclusions: In our experience OWHO still remains the best prognostic factor to predict DSS in patients with NETs .

Multivariate analysis including biomarkers in the phase III RADIANT-2 study of octreotide LAR plus everolimus (E+O) or placebo (P+O) among patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET)

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Background: In this large phase III trial, median progression-free survival (PFS) improved by 5.1 mo with E+O compared to P+O in patients (pts) with NET associated with carcinoid syndrome. Baseline imbalances including WHO performance status (PS) and primary site favoring P+O confounded primary analysis. Chromogranin A (CgA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) are important biomarkers in NET. Analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors and adjust for baseline imbalances. Methods: Pts were randomized to E+O (n=216) or P+O (n=213). Potential prognostic factors including baseline CgA (≤2×ULN vs >2×ULN), baseline 5-HIAA (≤median vs >median at baseline), age (<65 vs ≥65), gender, race, WHO PS (0 vs 1, 2), primary site (lung vs other), prior somatostatin analog use (yes vs no), duration from diagnosis (<6 mo, 6-24 mo, 2-5 yr, >5 yr), and organs involved (liver, bone) were assessed in univariate analysis using the log rank test and stepwise regression using Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Median PFS (mo) was significantly longer for pts with nonelevated CgA (27 vs 11; p<.001) and nonelevated 5-HIAA (17 vs 11; p<.001). Analyses also indicated age (14 vs 12; p=.01), WHO PS (17 vs 11; p=.004), liver involvement (14 vs not reached; p=.02), bone metastases (8 vs 15; p<.001), and lung as primary site (11 vs 14; p=.06) as potentially prognostic. Multivariate analysis indicated that significant prognostic factors for PFS included baseline CgA (HR, 0.47; CI, 0.34-0.65; p<.001), WHO PS (HR, 0.69; CI, 0.52-0.90; p=.006), bone involvement (HR, 1.52; CI, 1.06-2.18; p=.02), and lung as primary site (HR, 1.55; CI, 1.01-2.36; p=.04). Adjusted for covariates, a 38% reduction in risk of progression was observed for E+O (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.51-0.87; p=.003). Conclusions: In the phase III RADIANT-2 trial, baseline CgA levels, WHO PS, lung as primary site, and bone involvement were important prognostic factors. Exploratory analysis adjusted for these prognostic factors indicated significant benefit of everolimus therapy.

Is ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT indicated in patients with clinical, biochemical or radiological suspicion of neuroendocrine tumour?

PURPOSE

In recent years, (68)Ga-DOTA-peptides positron emission tomography (PET)/CT has been increasingly used to study patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET). However, performing specialized examinations in the appropriate contest is mandatory for both medical and economic reasons. The aim of the study is to evaluate the potential usefulness of (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT in patients with suspected NET.

METHODS

Among the patients undergoing (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT at our centre, we reviewed those studied for suspected NET based on the presence of either clinical signs/symptoms or imaging or raised biochemical markers or a combination of these conditions. PET/CT results were compared with clinical and imaging follow-up of at least 1 year or pathology.

RESULTS

Overall 131 suspected NET cases were included. The most common condition considered suspicious for NET was the increase of blood markers (66), followed by inconclusive findings at conventional imaging (CI, 41), clinical signs/symptoms (10), equivocal (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET (7) or somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS, 4), or a combination of the above (3). PET/CT results were true-positive in 17 cases, true-negative in 112 and false-negative in 2 (overall sensitivity 89.5 %, specificity 100 %). Interestingly, increased blood markers and clinical signs/symptoms were associated with the lowest frequency of true-positive findings (1/66 and 1/10, respectively), while CI findings were confirmed in one third of the cases (13/41). Overall, the incidence of NET in the studied population was 14.5 % (19/131).

CONCLUSION

Our data confirm the good accuracy (98 %) of (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT in NET lesion detection. However, our results also suggest that (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT may not be routinely recommended in patients with a suspicion of NET based on the mere detection of increased blood markers or clinical symptoms. Positive CI alone or in association with clinical/biochemical findings is on the contrary associated with a higher probability of true-positive findings.

Multivariate analysis including biomarkers in the phase III RADIANT-2 study of octreotide LAR plus everolimus (E+O) or placebo (P+O) among patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET)

157

Background: In this large phase III trial, median progression-free survival (PFS) improved by 5.1 mo with E+O compared to P+O in patients (pts) with NET associated with carcinoid syndrome. Randomization imbalances including WHO performance status (PS), and primary site favoring P+O confounded primary analysis. Chromogranin A (CgA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) are important biomarkers in NET. Analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors and adjust for randomization imbalances.

Methods: Pts were randomized to E+O (n=216) or P+O (n=213). Potential prognostic factors including baseline CgA (≤2×ULN vs >2×ULN), baseline 5-HIAA (≤median vs >median), age (<65 vs ≥65), gender, race, WHO PS (0 vs 1, 2), primary site (lung vs other), prior somatostatin analog use (yes vs no), duration from diagnosis (<6 mo, 6-24 mo, 2-5 yr, >5 yr), and organs involved (liver, bone) were assessed in univariate analysis using the log rank test and a stepwise regression using Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: Randomization resulted in significant imbalance in baseline CgA (median [ng/mL], 251 E+O vs 137 P+O). Median PFS (mo) was significantly longer for pts with nonelevated CgA (27 vs 11; P<.001) and nonelevated 5-HIAA (17 vs 11; P<.001). Analyses also indicated age (14 vs 12; P=.01), WHO PS (17 vs 11; P=.004), liver involvement (14 vs not reached; P=.02), bone metastases (8 vs 15; P<.001), and lung as primary site (11 vs 14; P=.06) as potentially prognostic. Multivariate analysis indicated that significant prognostic factors for PFS included baseline CgA (HR, 0.47; CI, 0.34-0.65; P<.001), WHO PS (HR, 0.69; CI, 0.52-0.90; P=.006), bone involvement (HR, 1.52; CI, 1.06-2.18; P=.02), and lung as primary site (HR, 1.55; CI, 1.01-2.36; P=.04). Adjusted for covariates, a 38% reduction in risk of progression was observed for E+O (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.51-0.87; P=.003).

Conclusions: In the phase III RADIANT-2 trial, baseline CgA levels, WHO PS, lung as primary site, and bone involvement were important prognostic factors. Exploratory analysis adjusted for these prognostic factors indicated significant benefit for everolimus therapy.

Synchronous Association of Two Neuroendocrine Gastroenteropancreatic Tumors, An Adenocarcinoma of the Cecum, and a Meckel's Diverticulum: A Case Report

Neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, with the primary tumors being located in the gastric mucosa, pancreas, and small and large intestine. The development of a second primary malignancy in patients with these tumors is a well-described phenomenon, and the reported incidence ranges from 12% to 46%. The most common site of associated noncarcinoid malignancies is the gastrointestinal tract, which involves from 30% to 60% of the tumors. We report a case of concurrent colon carcinoma and two neuroendocrine tumors of the duodenum.

Risk factors for disease progression in advanced jejunoileal neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of clinical course in advanced jejunoileal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is poor.

AIM

To investigate progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and possible predictors for disease progression (DP) in advanced jejunoileal NETs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We carried out a multicenter, retrospective analysis of incoming patients with sporadic advanced jejunoileal NETs. PFS and OS were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Risk factors for progression were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards method.

RESULTS

Of the 114 patients enrolled, 46.5% had functioning tumors, 93.9% had stage IV disease, and 57.3 and 42.7% were G1 and G2 tumors, respectively. During a median follow-up of 48 months (interquartile range 29-84 months), DP occurred in 61.4% of patients, after 19 months (interquartile range 10-41 months) from diagnosis. Median PFS was 36 months. The 2-year and 5-year PFS were 59 and 33%, respectively, while 5-year OS was 77.5%. Ki67 was the sole strong independent risk factor for unfavorable outcome according to multivariate analysis, being significantly associated with both PFS and OS.

CONCLUSIONS

DP occurred in the majority of patients with advanced jejunoileal NETs, with median PFS being 36 months. Ki67 was a significant predictor of DP and should be considered in determining appropriate treatments and planning follow-up for these patients.

Metastatic and locally advanced pancreatic endocrine carcinomas: analysis of factors associated with disease progression

PURPOSE

Knowledge of clinical course of pancreatic endocrine carcinomas (PECs) is poor. This study aimed to determine the time to progression of advanced PECs, and to identify predictors capable of selecting subgroups with higher risk of progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this multicenter retrospective analysis, patients with advanced PECs were enrolled. Staging was according to European Neuroendocrine Tumors Society guidelines. Grading was based on proliferation index using Ki67 immunohistochemistry. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), which was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox regression proportional hazard model was used to identify predictors for tumor progression.

RESULTS

Two hundred two patients with PECs were enrolled, including 172 with well-differentiated and 30 with poorly differentiated endocrine carcinomas. There were 34 patients with stage III and 168 with stage IV tumors. G1 tumors were present in 19.7% of patients, whereas 60.1% of patients had G2 tumors, and the remaining 20.2% had G3 tumors. Disease progression occurred in 166 patients (82.2%), at a median interval of 10 months (interquartile range, 5 to 22) from diagnosis. Median PFS was 14 months. Different PFS were observed depending on G grade (P < .001) and tumor differentiation (P < .001) and in patients who did not receive any antitumor treatment (P = .002). The major risk factor for progression was the proliferation index Ki67 (hazard ratio, 1.02 for each increasing unit; P < .001). Overall 5-year survival was 44.1%.

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of patients with advanced PECs undergo disease progression. The major risk factor for progression is Ki67 index, which should lead physicians dealing with PECs to plan appropriate follow-up programs and therapeutic strategies.

Everolimus for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND

Everolimus, an oral inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), has shown antitumor activity in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, in two phase 2 studies. We evaluated the agent in a prospective, randomized, phase 3 study.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 410 patients who had advanced, low-grade or intermediate-grade pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with radiologic progression within the previous 12 months to receive everolimus, at a dose of 10 mg once daily (207 patients), or placebo (203 patients), both in conjunction with best supportive care. The primary end point was progression-free survival in an intention-to-treat analysis. In the case of patients in whom radiologic progression occurred during the study, the treatment assignments could be revealed, and patients who had been randomly assigned to placebo were offered open-label everolimus.

RESULTS

The median progression-free survival was 11.0 months with everolimus as compared with 4.6 months with placebo (hazard ratio for disease progression or death from any cause with everolimus, 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.45; P<0.001), representing a 65% reduction in the estimated risk of progression or death. Estimates of the proportion of patients who were alive and progression-free at 18 months were 34% (95% CI, 26 to 43) with everolimus as compared with 9% (95% CI, 4 to 16) with placebo. Drug-related adverse events were mostly grade 1 or 2 and included stomatitis (in 64% of patients in the everolimus group vs. 17% in the placebo group), rash (49% vs. 10%), diarrhea (34% vs. 10%), fatigue (31% vs. 14%), and infections (23% vs. 6%), which were primarily upper respiratory. Grade 3 or 4 events that were more frequent with everolimus than with placebo included anemia (6% vs. 0%) and hyperglycemia (5% vs. 2%). The median exposure to everolimus was longer than exposure to placebo by a factor of 2.3 (38 weeks vs. 16 weeks).

CONCLUSIONS

Everolimus, as compared with placebo, significantly prolonged progression-free survival among patients with progressive advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and was associated with a low rate of severe adverse events. (Funded by Novartis Oncology; RADIANT-3 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00510068.).

PET/CT with 68Gallium-DOTA-peptides in NET: an overview

In the present review article we presented the major technical innovations regarding the diagnosis of NET with PET/CT 68Ga-DOTA-peptides compounds over conventional radiologic and scintigraphic imaging, discussing both the different types of radiopharmaceuticals commercially available, trying to making a comparison on the possible advantages and drawbacks of these radiopharmaceuticals, and providing also some technical recommendations to the radiologists and nuclear physicians for using these new methodology in an appropriate manner in the clinical setting.

Are there prognostic factors related to recurrence in pancreatic endocrine tumors?

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate, site, time of recurrence and prognostic factors related to the appearance of recurrences in patients affected by pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs).

METHODS

Data from 67 consecutive patients with PETs who underwent R0 resection were analyzed. The prognostic factors considered were: gender, age, type of tumor, presence of symptoms, size of tumor, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, WHO classification and adjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

The recurrence rate was 24.6%, with a mean time of 7.3 +/- 4.5 years. The majority were in the liver (75% of cases) and were rarely local (25%). Univariate analysis of the prognostic factors showed that the risk of recurrences is significantly higher in PETs in MEN-1 syndrome, in tumor size > or =4 cm, in the presence of liver metastases, in TNM stages III-IV and, finally, in PD-Cas and WD-Cas. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that only MEN-1 syndrome and the WHO classification were independent predictors of an increased risk of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Several prognostic factors were related to recurrences in PETs. MEN-1 syndrome and the WHO classification can be considered independent factors of an increased risk of recurrence. and IAP.

Management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor in clinical practice in Italy: a critical "event tree model" analysis of decision-making processes and outcomes

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Even though the standard treatment of patients affected by gastrointestinal stromal tumors has been well defined by clinical trials and clinical guidelines, in practice it may be different from those proposed in the literature. This paper reports and comments on a critical picture of the management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors who received at least one treatment before arriving at our GIST Study Group.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

Attention was focused on 60 patients from various hospitals. Retrospective clinical data were recorded and analyzed with the "event tree" model, which describes the algorithm of all treatment options that each patient received before. Responses from first to fourth line of therapy, time to progression, and survival analysis were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Starting from the diagnosis of disease, seven possible therapeutic event trees were identified: one for 7 unresectable patients and six different trees for 53 recurred patients who initially underwent surgery. The event trees describe the multitude of different treatments that patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors received during the course of their disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, the treatment of patients affected by gastrointestinal stromal tumor is still difficult, and the published recommendations often do not cover all therapeutic decisions for all clinical presentations of disease. Multidisciplinary dedicated teams are needed to offer the possibility to receive appropriate surgery and innovative medical therapies. The formation of formalized GIST Units is in progress in several parts of Italy. The GIST Units can be organized in a network to facilitate discussion and agreement for the wide variety of clinical presentation.

Standardized uptake values of (68)Ga-DOTANOC PET: a promising prognostic tool in neuroendocrine tumors

Despite the fact that several studies have been published regarding the prognostic factors of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), there are some cases in which available data are not sufficient to predict disease progression and to define a correct therapeutic approach. To our knowledge, the role of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as a prognostic factor has never been studied in NET patients. Therefore, we prospectively investigated whether (68)Ga-[1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid]-1-NaI3-octreotide ((68)Ga-DOTANOC) PET SUVmax could be used as an accurate noninvasive marker for disease prognosis.

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with NETs were studied with (68)Ga-DOTANOC PET. All patients underwent a baseline visit and laboratory and radiologic examinations. Follow-up was performed in all cases.

RESULTS

SUVmax was significantly higher in patients with pancreatic NET and in those with well-differentiated NETs. Moreover, SUVmax was significantly higher in patients with an elevated expression of 2A-somatostatin receptor. During the follow-up, the disease was stable or presented a partial response in 25 patients, and in 19 cases the disease progressed. The patients with stable disease or a partial response had an SUVmax significantly higher than did those in the progressive disease group, with the best cutoff ranging from 17.9 to 19.3. At univariate and multivariate analysis, the significant positive prognostic factors were well-differentiated NET, an SUVmax of 19.3 or more, and a combined treatment with long-acting somatostatin analogs and radiolabeled somatostatin analogs.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, that (68)Ga-DOTANOC PET SUVmax correlates with the clinical and pathologic features of NETs and is also an accurate prognostic index.

Imaging of NETs with PET radiopharmaceuticals

Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) diagnosis has represented a major challenge in the past decades. The introduction of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in the diagnostic work-up led to a significant improvement of accuracy. However with the advent of positron emission tomography (PET) that presents a higher spatial resolution as compared to the gamma camera and an array of different radiotracers, it is now possible to image NET with an even higher accuracy. In fact, PET imaging of NET is a rapidly evolving field closely connected to the development of novel beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. NET can be easily visualized on PET scans using an array of both metabolic and receptor-based tracers. [18F]DOPA and [68Ga]DOTA-peptides (DOTA-TOC, DOTA-NOC, DOTA-TATE) are very promising to image well differentiated NET and were reported to be superior to other imaging modalities (computed tomography [CT], somatostatin receptor scintigraphy). On the contrary, the role of [18F]FDG is limited in well differentiated NET, due to their low glucose metabolism and growth rate, while it still can provide valuable information in less differentiated tumours. On-going studies are investigating the potential role of new imaging agents (bombesin, GLP-1, CCK) that specifically bind to receptors expressed on NET cells.

(68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT in comparison with CT for the detection of bone metastasis in patients with neuroendocrine tumours

PURPOSE

To retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT and CT alone for the evaluation of bone metastasis in patients with neuroendocrine tumour (NET).

METHODS

From among patients with NET who underwent (68)Ga-DOTA-NOC PET/CT between April 2006 and November 2008 in our centre, 223 were included in the study. Criteria for inclusion were pathological confirmation of NET and a follow-up period of at least 10 months. PET and CT images were retrospectively reviewed by two nuclear medicine specialists and two radiologists, respectively, without knowledge of the patient history or the findings of other imaging modalities. PET data were compared with the CT findings. Interobserver agreement was evaluated in terms of the kappa score. Clinical and imaging follow-up were used as the standard of reference to evaluate the PET findings.

RESULTS

PET was performed for staging (49/223), unknown primary tumour detection (24/223), restaging (32/223), restaging before radioimmunotherapy (1/223), evaluation during therapy (12/223), equivocal findings on conventional imaging (4/223 at the bone level; 61/223 at sites other than bone), and follow-up (40/223). A very high interobserver agreement was observed. CT detected at least one bone lesion in only 35 of 44 patients with a positive PET scan. In particular, PET showed more lesions in 20/35 patients, a lower number of lesions in 8/35, and the same number in 7/35. The characteristics of the lesions (sclerotic, lytic, mixed) on the basis of the CT report did not influence PET reading. PET revealed the presence of at least one bone metastasis in nine patients with a negative CT scan. Considering patients with a negative PET scan (179), CT showed equivocal findings at the bone level in three (single small sclerotic abnormality in two at the spine level, and bilateral small sclerotic abnormalities in the humeri, femurs and scapula). Clinical follow-up confirmed the PET findings in all patients; thus there were no false-positive or false-negative findings. Considering all patients, PET detected more lesions than CT (246 vs. 194). As compared to CT, on a patient basis PET showed a higher sensitivity (100% vs. 80%), specificity (100% vs. 98%), positive predictive value (100% vs. 92%), and negative predictive value (100% vs. 95%).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, (68)Ga DOTA-NOC PET was more accurate than CT for the identification of bone lesions and led to a change in clinical management in nine patients with a negative CT scan.