Octreotide scintigraphy for the detection of paragangliomas
Abstract
Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors located primarily in the head and neck region, but they can also occur at other sites. Confirming the preoperative diagnosis and detecting synchronous tumors may be difficult in some patients.
Octreotide is a somatostatin analog that, when coupled to a radioisotope, produces a scintigraphic image of tumors expressing somatostatin type 2 receptors. Paragangliomas, like many neuroendocrine tumors, have been found to have a high density of somatostatin type 2 receptors on the cell surface.
This study compared the results of preoperative octreotide scintigraphy with the histopathology in 21 patients who underwent surgery for presumed head and neck paragangliomas. Octreotide scan findings were positive in 16 patients with paragangliomas and negative in 3 patients with other pathology. One false-positive and 1 false-negative result were obtained. Thus, this test had an accuracy of 90%, a sensitivity of 94%, and a specificity of 75%. Previously unidentified synchronous tumors were identified in 5 patients.
On the basis of this series of patients, octreotide scintigraphy appears to be a reliable test to detect paragangliomas and may be quite helpful in preoperative planning.
See also:
- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;
- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Publication, 2018 Jul: Over-Expression of GH/GHR in Breast Cancer and Oncosuppressor Role of Somatostatin as a Physiological Inhibitor (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Aug: The Entrapment of Somatostatin in a Lipid Formulation: Retarded Release and Free Radical Reactivity (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of Somatostatin and Vitamin C on the Fatty Acid Profile of Breast Cancer Cell Membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of somatostatin, curcumin, and quercetin on the fatty acid profile of breast cancer cell membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2020 Sep: Two neuroendocrine G protein-coupled receptor molecules, somatostatin and melatonin: Physiology of signal transduction and therapeutic perspectives (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Bromocriptine and/or Cabergoline);
- Prolactin inhibitors in oncology - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Neuroblastoma: Complete objective response to biological treatment;
- Large B-cells Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage IV-AE: a Case Report;
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage III-B-E: a Case Report;
- Oesophageal squamocellular carcinoma: a complete and objective response;
- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: clinical records on 17 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;