SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination numbers are globally increasing. Therefore, an increased chance exists that patients undergoing Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) or diagnostic radionuclide imaging for Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) may have recently received vaccination. We report the imaging findings of two NETs patients, A—following [
177
Lu] Lu-DOTATATE PRRT post therapy planar scintigraphy and single photon emission computed tomography with computed tomography (SPECT/CT), and B—following [
68
Ga]Ga-DOTA-NOC positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) respectively. Both studies were done few days after COVID-19 vaccination. Patient A showed a new focus of uptake in the left deltoid muscle; and Patient B showed uptake in the left deltoid and a left axillary lymph node. Nuclear Physicians need to be aware of pitfalls with somatostatin receptor radionuclide imaging post-vaccination to ensure accurate interpretation, as well as dosimetric considerations with vaccine-related post-therapy uptake.
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are not commonly diagnosed in children. Metastatic NETs tend to have poor outcomes, and this is seen in adult and pediatric populations. The role of somatostatin receptor imaging using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE for imaging and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in children is currently not well established. The guidelines for treating pediatric neuroendocrine tumors are still lacking. Extensive trials have been conducted in adult patients and have demonstrated improved survival in metastatic NETs with PRRT using [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE. We present two pediatric patients with metastatic NETs who were imaged with [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT and treated with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE therapy.
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