Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Somatostatin Receptor PET Imaging and Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy

PET Clin. 2023 Apr;18(2):223-231. doi: 10.1016/j.cpet.2022.11.005. Epub 2022 Dec 28.

Abstract

Recently, advancement of somatostatin receptor (SSTR) imaging and theragnostic approach using peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) have changed the paradigm of diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumor. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT can diagnose the lung carcinoids with high SSTR expression. With combination of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT, tumor heterogeneity of lung carcinoid can be identified, which may guide optimal patient selection for PRRT. PRRT may be an effective and safe treatment of advanced lung carcinoids during progression with first-line somatostatin analog therapy. This review provides updates on the diagnosis and management of lung carcinoids, focusing on SSTR imaging and PRRT.

Keywords: Lung carcinoid; Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy; Somatostatin receptor PET imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoid Tumor*
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors*
  • Organometallic Compounds*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radioisotopes
  • Receptors, Somatostatin / metabolism

Substances

  • gallium Ga 68 dotatate
  • Receptors, Somatostatin
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Radioisotopes