Gallium-68-dotatate PET/CT is better than CT in the management of somatostatin expressing tumors: First experience in Africa.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we aimed to present our experience on the use of Gallium-68-dotatate with positron emission tomography, computed tomography (68 Ga-dotatate PET/CT) in the management of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) and other somatostatin expressing tumors.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with histologically confirmed or biochemically suspected NET and other somatostatin expressing (SSTR) tumors imaged at our department with 68 Ga-dotatate PET/CT. We determined the performance of this imaging technique as well as its impact on patients management. A total of 203 patients were studied: 103 females, 100 males median age 52years.

RESULTS: The commonest tumor type was gastroenteropancreatic NET (41% of patients) and the commonest sites of distant metastases were lymph nodes and the liver 34.0% and 30.5% respectively. Positron emission tomography detected foci of disease in 19 patients where CT was falsely negative. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of 68 Ga-dotatate PET/CT imaging of NET and other SST expressing tumors were 94.16%, 91.89%, 95.55%, 89.47% and 96.55% respectively.

CONCLUSION: Gallium-68-dotatate PET/CT was better than CT in detecting primary sites of the disease and highly sensitive and specific for diagnosis and treatment of NET and other SSTR expressing tumors.