Somatostatin receptor imaging, therapy and new strategies in patients with neuroendocrine tumours

Background: Somatostatin receptors have been found on a variety of neuroendocrine tumours, such as carcinoids and paragangliomas, as well as on most pancreatic endocrine and breast tumours. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with a radionuclide-labelled somatostatin analogue, [(111)Indium-diethylenetriaminopenta-acetic acid]octreotide, is a sensitive and specific technique for visualizing in vivo the presence of somatostatin receptors on various tumours. Methods: Material was identified from previous review articles, references cited in original papers and a Medline search of the literature. Additional material was obtained from recently published abstracts of meetings. Results and conclusion: Somatostatin receptor imaging of neuroendocrine tumours is essential in the diagnostic evaluation of most of these tumours. The expression of somatostatin receptors ia vivo not only predicts the outcome of somatostatin analogue treatment but also opens the possibility of new therapeutic strategies. Because better information about spread of the disease can be obtained, more justiable options for therapy can be proposed.