Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC)

            Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma is an agressive tumor and the metastasis difficult to detect. As far as nuclear radiotracers, MIBG and Pentavalent DMSA have been employed, though with low sensitivity. In this regard the value of PET-CT and new agents has to be considered as promising techniques.

            Conry BG et al evaluated eighteen patients who had previously been operated on for MTC and presented with raised calcitonin levels and/or imaging evidence of recurrence underwent both (68)Ga-DOTATATE and (18)F-FDG PET/CT. (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging achieved disease detection in 13 of 18  and (18)F-FDG PET/CT in 14 of 18 patients.  (18)F-FDG revealed a total of 28 metastatic MTC regions and (68)Ga-DOTATATE 23 regions. (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT can be a useful imaging tool and may identify patients suitable for consideration of targeted radionuclide somatostatin analogue therapy.
 

References:
Conry BG, Papathanasiou ND, Prakash V, Kayani I, Caplin M, Mahmood S, Bomanji JB.Comparison of (68)Ga-DOTATATE and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT in the detection of recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2010 Jan;37(1):49-57.

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