Clinical value of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT for the diagnosis primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic value of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT in the detection of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Methods From September 2005 to November 2015, 19 patients (mean age 53.9 years, range 37–77; male 6, female 13) with sinonasal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) underwent whole-body 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT scan. Results All 19 primary lesions were detected by 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT. A total of 212 metastatic lesions were identified by organ-based analysis, and the sensitivity and specificity of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT were 90.5% and 92.3%, respectively. The application of 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC SPECT/CT resulted in the detection of a higher number of lesions in 11 patients (57.9%) and in the successful alteration of the treatment in 7 patients (36.8%) compared with the morphological imaging methods. Conclusion 99mTc-HYNIC-TOC scintigraphy is an effective method for the detection of the sinonasal SNEC.