Dotatate PET Scan for Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

What is a dotatate PET scan, and what is it used for?

This test is used to check your body for a type of cancer cell called neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cells. Neuroendocrine tumors come from neuroendocrine cells in the body. NETs can be found in many parts of the body, like the lungs, pancreas, and GI (gastrointestinal) tract.

Many NETs have receptors on their surface for a hormone called somatostatin. Octreotide is a protein that attaches to the somatostatin receptor. The radiotracer is a radioactive material that is attached to octreotide for the scan. This scan can help diagnose and plan treatment for NETs.

You will have this test in the PET scan or Nuclear Medicine department of your healthcare facility. Nuclear medicine is a type of radiology that uses radioactive materials to diagnose or treat diseases. This type of scan is very specialized and not available at every healthcare center.

How is this test done?

This test uses a radioactive tracer. There are two tracers used for NET tumors,

• Gallium-68 dotatate (Netspot™)
• Copper-64 dotatate (Detectnet™)

 An IV (intravenous, into a vein) is placed. The radioactive tracer will be given through your IV. The amount of radiation used is very small.  With the octreotide attached to the radiotracer, it enters the body and attaches to the somatostatin receptors on NET cells. A CT scan and then a PET scan are then done to see the areas where the radiotracer has been attached. The test takes about 2 hours.

A PET machine makes an image of your body on the screen. Any areas with a higher amount of radiotracer will show up as a bright spot on the image. Normal and abnormal (cancer sites) can appear as bright spots. An imaging specialist (radiologist or nuclear medicine physician) will review your scan to provide a summary of your imaging findings. 

It is important to review the report with your provider to understand it.

How do I get ready for the scan?

If you are on somatostatin therapy, you will need to plan your scan around your dosing schedule

• Short-acting somatostatin analogs (Octreotide)-24 after your last dose.
• Long-acting somatostatin analogs (Octreotide LAR/Lanreotide)- 4-6 weeks after your last dose.

Talk with your provider about how much water you should drink after the test to help flush the tracer out of your body. Tell your provider before your scan if you are or may be pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, you should pump and throw away your breast milk for 8 hours after the test.

Possible Side Effects

You may have

• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Flushing.
• Injection-related swelling and pain around where you had your IV. You can use warm or cold compresses if you need to.

After the Scan

 You can go back to your normal activities when you are ready.

 This scan is an important tool in diagnosing and treating NETs. Be sure to review your results with your provider. They can explain what the findings mean and how it may guide your care