6-L-^sup 18^F-Fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine PET in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Basic Aspects and Emerging Clinical Applications

• Published in: The Journal of nuclear medicine (1978) Vol. 49; no. 4; p. 573
• Main Authors: Jager, Pieter L, Chirakal, Raman, Marriott, Christopher J, Brouwers, Adrienne H, Koopmans, Klaas Pieter, Gulenchyn, Karen Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Society of Nuclear Medicine 01.04.2008
• Subjects: Amino acids; English language; Hydrogen bonds; Medical imaging
• ISSN: 0161-5505; 1535-5667

In recent years, 6-L-^sup 18^F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (^sup 18^F-DOPA) PET has emerged as a new diagnostic tool for the imaging of neuroendocrine tumors. This application is based on the unique property of neuroendocrine tumors to produce and secrete various substances, a process that requires the uptake of metabolic precursors, which leads to the uptake of ^sup 18^F-DOPA. This nonsystematic review first describes basic aspects of ^sup 18^F-DOPA imaging, including radiosynthesis, factors involved in tracer uptake, and various aspects of metabolism and imaging. Subsequently, this review provides an overview of current clinical applications in neuroendocrine tumors, including carcinoid tumors, pancreatic islet cell tumors, pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, medullary thyroid cancer, hyperinsulinism, and various other clinical entities. The application of PET/CT in carcinoid tumors has unsurpassed sensitivity. In medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, and hyperinsulinism, results are also excellent and contribute significantly to clinical management. In the remaining conditions, the initial experience with ^sup 18^F-DOPA PET indicates that it seems to be less valuable, but further study is required. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]