Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT and F-18 FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of low and intermediate versus high-grade neuroendocrine tumors

Objective We investigated the role of Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT in comparison to F-18 FDG PET/CT in patients with low and intermediate versus high-grade neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Methods We identified 81 patients who underwent Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT at our institution between May 2017 and December 2018 and met inclusion criteria of biopsy-proven NET with known Ki-67 index, histologic grade, or differentiation. Patients were divided into two groups. Control group included Ki-67 <= 20%, grade 1 or 2, or well-differentiated tumors. Experimental group included Ki-67 >20%, grade 3, or poorly-differentiated tumors. Results Mean age was 57 years, with 36 males and 45 females. Most common primary sites were small bowel, pancreas, and lung. Most common distant metastatic sites were liver and bone. In the control group (n = 67), median Ki-67 was 4% (range 1-30%). 55/67 (82.1%) DOTATATE and 6/11 (54.5%) FDG scans were positive (P= 0.04). Positive scans showed >10 lesions in 25/55 (45.5%) DOTATATE and 1/6 (16.7%) FDG scans (P= 0.18). 40/55 (72.7%) positive DOTATATE and 3/6 (50%) FDG scans showed distant disease (P= 0.25). In the experimental group (n = 14), median Ki-67 was 68% (range 25-95%). All 14 DOTATATE and all nine FDG scans were positive. Positive scans showed >10 lesions in 4/14 (28.6%) DOTATATE and 5/9 (55.6%) FDG scans (P= 0.20). 10/14 (71.4%) positive DOTATATE and 7/9 (77.8%) FDG scans showed distant disease (P= 0.74). Conclusion All patients with high grade, poorly-differentiated NETs had positive DOTATATE PET/CTs. In these patients, DOTATATE PET/CT did not significantly differ from FDG PET/CT in identifying >10 lesions or distant disease.