New FDA Approved Diagnostic Agent for Detection of Neuroendocrine Tumors

 

 

University of Washington Medical Center Radiology is pleased to announce a new imaging service for detection and evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors.  Gallium 68 DOTATATE is a new FDA approved diagnostic agent available for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. UWMC is the first imaging facility in Puget Sound to provide this novel service!

 

Ga-DOTATATE PET scan can dramatically improve the spatial resolution and lesion detectability compared with alternative imaging.  Ga-DOTATATE represents a major advantage for patients as it can be completed in less than 2 hours with lower radiation exposure versus 2 days for traditional somatostatin imaging.  Ga-DOTATATE has been proven to have a high impact on management of neuroendocrine cancer patients.

 

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors that develop in hormone-producing cells of the body’s neuroendocrine system.  Those cells are found throughout various organs of the body such as the pancreas, adrenal glands, intestines, stomach and lungs. 

 

The use of advanced imaging techniques to detect neuroendocrine tumors at an early stage in patients is critical to determine the location and extent of the disease.  This information is vital for selecting the best therapy for each patient.  Repeat Ga68 DOTATATE PET/CT will enable individualization assessments of tumor response.

 

UWMC Radiology is pleased to be able to provide this state of the art service to our community.