Incidental finding of a breast carcinoma on Ga-68-DOTA-1-Nal3-octreotide positron emission tomography/computed tomography performed for the evaluation of a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: A case report

Abstract

RATIONALE: Functional imaging using radiolabeled somatostatin analogues plays an important role in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors, and it is a promising tool in the new era of theragnosis and personalized medicine.

PATIENTS CONCERNS: The authors present the case of a 63-year-old woman referred for evaluation of a suspected pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor by Ga-68-DOTA-1-Nal3-octreotide positron emission tomography/computed tomography (Ga-68-DOTA-NOC PET/CT).

DIAGNOSES: PET/CT confirmed increased uptake of Ga-68-DOTA-NOC in a pancreatic lesion compatible with hyperexpression of somatostatin receptors in a neuroendocrine tumor. Furthermore, PET/CT revealed increased uptake in a breast lesion and in lymphadenomegalies (less intense than in the pancreatic tumor), which conducted to the incidental diagnosis of a breast carcinoma with lymph node metastases

INTERVENTIONS: For the breast cancer, the patient underwentneoadjuvant chemotherapy and anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, after which she was submitted to surgery. Regarding thepancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, it was decided to maintain itunder surveillance.

OUTCOMES: Breast carcinomas are known to express somatostatin receptors and this is the first report of Ga-68-DOTA-NOC uptake in a breast tumor.

LESSONS: Ga-68-DOTA-NOC PET/CT could be useful for the management of breast cancer patients in the new era of theragnosis and personalized medicine.

 

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See also:

- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;

- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Somatostatin, Octreotide, Sandostatin LAR, analogues and/or derivatives);

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Cyclophosphamide and/or Hydroxyurea tablets, one or two per day);

- The Synergism of Somatostatin, Melatonin, Vitamins Prolactin and Estrogen Inhibitors Increased Survival, Objective Response and Performance Status In 297 Cases of Breast Cancer;

- Complete objective response, stable for 5 years, with the Di Bella Method, of multiple-metastatic carcinoma of the breast;

- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) improved survival, objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 122 cases of breast cancer;

- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;

- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: clinical records on 17 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;

- The Di Bella Method Increases by the 30% the survival rate for Pancreas tumors and for this reason should be proposed as first line therapy for this type of cancer.