Positron Emission Tomography for the Evaluation of Pancreatic Disease

Efficient techniques for native-labeling of amino acids have been combined successfully with emission tomography to yield significant improvements in pancreatic imaging. Carbon-11-labeled tryptophan appears to be the best agent available currently for imaging the pancreas. Optimum scanning times beg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSeminars in nuclear medicine Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 374 - 391
Main Authors Kirchner, Peter T., Ryan, James, Zalutsky, Michael, Harper, Paul V.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.1980
Subjects
Carbon Radioisotopes
Humans
Isotope Labeling
Pancreas - diagnostic imaging
Pancreatic Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Pancreatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Pancreatitis - diagnostic imaging
Radiation Dosage
Tomography, Emission-Computed
Tryptophan
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Summary:Efficient techniques for native-labeling of amino acids have been combined successfully with emission tomography to yield significant improvements in pancreatic imaging. Carbon-11-labeled tryptophan appears to be the best agent available currently for imaging the pancreas. Optimum scanning times begin 30 min after tracer administration. Positron emission tomography with 11C-tryptophan is capable of defining both morphological and functional alterations in the pancreas. Tumors as small as 2 cm in diameter can be detected, but reliable differentiation of pancreatic cancer from pancreatitis may not be possible even with this improved imaging technique. Longitudinal multiplane emission tomography in single-photon mode with the Pho/Con provides an efficient and satisfactory approach to pancreatic imaging with the positronemitting radiopharmaceuticals.
ISSN:0001-2998
1558-4623
DOI:10.1016/S0001-2998(80)80039-0