Pediatric Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Tumors: Review of Diagnostic Imaging Findings and Recent Advances

Imaging of pediatric abdominal soft tissue tumors: A COG Diagnostic Imaging Committee/SPR Oncology Committee White Paper

This paper provides imaging recommendations for pediatric abdominal tumors that arise outside of the solid viscera. These tumors are rare in children and have been categorized in two groups: abdominal wall and peritoneal tumors (desmoid tumor and desmoplastic small round cell tumor) and tumors that arise from the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal stromal tumor and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumor). Authors offer consensus recommendations for imaging assessment of these tumors at diagnosis, during follow-up, and when off-therapy.

Bronchial Carcinoid Tumour as a Rare Cause of Cushing’s Syndrome in Children: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is rare in childhood and adolescence. The most common paediatric cause of CS is exogenous administration of glucocorticoids; either topical, inhaled or oral corticosteroids. Endogenous causes can be classified into adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) independent and ACTH dependent causes. Herein, we report our experience of managing a 12 year old girl who presented with features of CS and was found to have an ectopic, ACTH-secreting bronchial carcinoid tumour, which was resected surgically. Our patient was managed successfully by multidisciplinary approach and has recovered from hypertension and Cushing’s habitus. The English language literature was searched from 2019 back, using PubMed, Google and Google Scholar. Keywords used for the search were; “Ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) in children”, “bronchial carcinoid in children” and “Cushing’s Syndrome in children”. Children with bronchial carcinoid tumours causing EAS were identified. Case variables such as age, sex, type of carcinoid, investigations, surgery, recurrences and outcome were reviewed. Fourteen cases of paediatric bronchial carcinoid producing ACTH were found with a mean age of 15.8 years and female preponderance. Most of the patients had a right lung lesion and histological appearance was typical of carcinoid tumour. Bronchial carcinoid is extremely rare in children and only 4% are associated with CS. The postoperative treatment of CS is challenging with a high prevalence of hypertension, increased body mass index and visceral fat mass, impaired cognitive function and decreased quality of life. A careful follow up is indispensable for monitoring recurrence of carcinoid and complete remission of CS.

Demonstration of focal physiologic in-vivo somatostatin receptor expression in the caput epididymis of the testes on 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and 177Lu-DOTATATE post-therapy whole body scintigraphy

  We present the case of a 60-year-old man with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of the ileum following ileal resection, being evaluated for ¹⁷⁷Lu-based peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT showed focal increased tracer uptake in the scrotal region without any morphologic changes on the corresponding CT images. Similar increased tracer uptake was seen on post-therapy whole-body imaging following ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTATATE therapy. An USG guided FNA revealed no malignant cells on cytopathologic examination. This case illustrates that focal testicular tracer uptake, may not always be pathological and can represent a normal physiologic variant, similar to the diffuse testicular somatostatin receptor expression as previously reported in literature.

Solitary round pulmonary lesions in the pediatric population: a pictorial review

The purpose of this current pictorial review is to define the solitary round pulmonary lesion (SRPL), to familiarize with its prevalence in the pediatric population, and, moreover, to educate radiologists on its vast differential diagnosis and imaging manifestations. Furthermore, by highlighting valuable clues, it intends to assist radiologists efficiently partake in its diagnosis, work-up, and follow-up in order to narrow down the differential diagnosis by working alongside the clinician and combining clinical information, lab results, and radiological findings.

Uncommon malignant renal tumors and atypical presentation of common ones: a guide for radiologists

OBJECTIVE

While the typical imaging features of the more common RCC subtypes have previously been described, they can at times have unusual, but distinguishing features. Rarer renal tumors span a broad range of imaging features, but they may also have characteristic presentations. We review the key imaging features of atypical presentations of malignant renal tumors and uncommon malignant renal tumors.

CONCLUSION

Renal tumors have many different presentation patterns, but knowledge of the distinguishing MR and CT features can help identify both atypical presentation of common malignancies and uncommon renal tumors.

[68Ga]-Dota Peptide PET/CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Main Clinical Applications

Objective:

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) are generally defined as rare and heterogeneous tumors. The gastrointestinal system is the most frequent site of NENs localization, however they can be found in other anatomical regions, such as pancreas, lungs, ovaries, thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands. Neuroendocrine neoplasms have significant clinical manifestations depending on the production of active peptide.

Methods:

Imaging modalities play a fundamental role in initial diagnosis as well as in staging and treatment monitoring of NENs, in particular they vastly enhance the understanding of the physiopathology and diagnosis of NENs through the use of somatostatin analogue tracers labeled with appropriate radioisotopes. Additionally, the use of somatostatin analogues provides the ability to in-vivo measure the expression of somatostatin receptors on NEN cells, a process that might have important therapeutic implications.

Results:

A large body of evidences showed improved accuracy of molecular imaging based on PET/CT radiotracer with SST analogues (e.g. [68Ga]-DOTA peptide) for the detection of NEN lesions in comparison to morphological imaging modalities. So far, the role of imaging technologies in assessing treatment response is still under debate.

Conclusion:

This review offers the systems of classification and grading of NENs and summarizes the more useful recommendations based on data recently published for the management of patients with NENs, with special focus on the role of imaging modalities based on SST targeting with PET / CT radiotracers.