Clinical indications for Gallium-68 positron emission tomography imaging

• Published in: European journal of surgical oncology Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 561 - 567
• Main Authors: Khan, M.U., Khan, S., El-Refaie, S., Win, Z., Rubello, D., Al-Nahhas, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2009
• Subjects: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Digestive System Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Gallium Radioisotopes; Gallium-68; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Male; Meningeal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Meningioma - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Neuroendocrine Tumors - diagnostic imaging; Neuroendocrine tumours; Phaeochromocytoma; Pheochromocytoma - diagnostic imaging; Positron emission tomography; Positron-Emission Tomography - methods; Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Surgery; Neuroendocrine tumours; Gallium-68; Positron emission tomography; Phaeochromocytoma
• ISSN: 0748-7983; 1532-2157; 1532-2157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2009.01.007

68Ga-PET imaging is showing slow but steady progress when compared to 18F-FDG PET. The advantage of in-house preparation of 68Ga without necessity of a cyclotron, and the new generator configuration with future possibility of freeze-dried kits would make it a promising PET agent for the future. An exhaustive literature exploration was performed using the search engines High-Wire Press, Pubmed, Embase and library databases. Recent reviews on the subject and up-to-date studies on the topic were found that described the role of 68Ga-PET imaging. Clinical experiences, including our own are described. Recent resurgence in development of peptides labelled with radiometals, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, resulted in a new beginning for 68Ga-PET imaging. Pre-clinical experience employing animal models and investigation of tracer kinetics/tumour uptake measurements using dynamic 68Ga-PET have provided data regarding identification of Somatostatin receptors subtypes on many tumours. Present published experiences including our own support these and highlight current clinical utility of 68Ga-PET imaging. 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTANOC are the most prominent radiopharmaceuticals used nowadays. 68Ga-PET is employed in the management of neuroendocrine tumours and neural crest tumours (phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma) with diagnostic and therapeutic implications where it compliments present radiologic and scintigraphic procedures. Diagnosis and radiotherapy treatment planning for meningiomas in pertinent clinical setting is another potential use of 68Ga-PET. Limited studies have shown its utility in prostate cancer but further studies are contemplated. Therefore, current experience tends to open a new horizon for the clinical utility of 68Ga-PET imaging in future.