Nuclear medicine scans for NETs
What are nuclear medicine scans?
A nuclear medicine scan is a test that uses a small amount of a radioactive substance called a tracer. The tracer shows up on scan pictures. There are different types of nuclear medicine scans that can be used to help diagnose a neuroendocrine tumour.
You may have this type of test to find where the cancer started – this is called the primary tumour. Or they may check for any spread of the disease. These are known are secondaries or metastases.
The dose of radioactivity from nuclear medicine scans is low. It is about the same amount you get from an x-ray. Almost all of it leaves your body within a week. The staff in the scanning department will tell you about any precautions you need to take after the scan. A nuclear medicine scan should not cause any side effects.
If you plan on travelling abroad within three months of the scan, tell the doctor in the scanning department. They can give you a letter to show that you had a radioactive scan. This is because ports and airports have sensitive machines that pick up tiny amounts of radioactivity.
Types of nuclear medicine scan
Octreotide scan
This test uses an injection of a drug called octreotide that has a radioactive tracer attached to it.
You have the injection of octreotide into a vein. The drug moves through your bloodstream and attaches to the neuroendocrine tumour cells. You then have scans to show areas of the body where the radioactivity collects.
You will have 2 or 3 scans. You may have one on the day of the injection. You will then have one after 24 hours. You may also have a third scan 48 hours after the injection. You will have to keep still while the scanner takes pictures. You can go home between the scans.
An octreotide scan is sometimes called an Octreoscan or somatostatin receptor scintigraphy.
Ga68 PET-CT scan
This is similar to an octreotide scan, but more sensitive. You will have an injection containing the radioactive tracer called either gallium-68 DOTATATE or gallium-68 DOTANOC. An hour later, you will have a PET/CT scan. The scan takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
PET-CT scan
A PET-CT scan is a combination of a CT scan, which takes a series of x-rays to build up a 3-dimensional picture, and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A PET scan uses a low dose of radiation to check the activity of cells in different parts of the body. This is used for higher-grade NETs.
About our information
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk
Esmo clinical practice guidelines: endocrine and neuroendocrine cancers. Available from: www.esmo.org/guidelines/endocrine-and-neuroendocrine-cancers (accessed May 2021). -
Reviewers
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Senior Medical Editor, Dr Paul Ross, Consultant Medical Oncologist.
Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information
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Reviewers
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Chief Medical Editor, Professor Tim Iveson, Consultant Medical Oncologist.
Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information.
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
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