Novel Functional Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Somatostatin receptor imaging constitutes an integral part in neuroendocrine tumor visualization and should, because of its vastly superior performance, use 68Ga-DOTA-somatostatin analogue-PET/computed tomography rather than scintigraphy; it is particularly valuable for detecting metastases to lymph nodes, bone, peritoneum, and liver, which may be missed by morphologic imaging. 18FDG-PET/computed tomography is better suited for G3 and high-G2 neuroendocrine tumors. 18FDG-PET/computed tomography provides prognostic information. Alternative available PET tracers are 18F-DOPA and 11C-5-hydroxytryptophan. To take full advantage of the technique PET/computed tomography should include diagnostic intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography. PET/MRI is currently mainly investigational.