Synthetic somatostatin analogs have been posed as a potential source of error in somatostatin receptor imaging through interference with tumor detection; however, experimental models and clinical studies have shown a complex mechanism of the effect of octreotide on tumors. The aim of this study was to assess whether Ga-DOTATATE uptake before treatment with long-acting somatostatin analogs differs from that after treatment. Thirty patients (15 men; age [mean ± SD], 64.6 ± 13.4 y) who had intermediately differentiated to well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and who underwent Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT scanning before and after receiving long-acting repeatable octreotide (Sandostatin LAR) were included in the study. The SUV and SUV of healthy target organs, residual primary tumor, and up to 5 lesions with the highest SUV in each organ were compared before and after octreotide treatment. The mean time interval between the 2Ga-DOTATATE studies was 9.6 ± 7.2 mo, and the mean time gap between the last Sandostatin LAR injection and the second Ga-DOTATATE study was 25.1 ± 14.8 d. The pretreatment mean SUV and SUV were both significantly higher in the thyroid, liver, and spleen ( < 0.05) than the values measured after the administration of Sandostatin LAR. No significant differences were found among the uptake indices for residual primary tumor or any metastatic lesions in the liver, bone, lung, or lymph nodes before and after Sandostatin LAR administration ( > 0.05). Long-acting octreotide treatment diminishedGa-DOTATATE uptake in the liver, spleen, and thyroid but did not compromise tracer uptake in residual primary tumor and metastatic lesions. These findings have a direct impact on the interpretation of Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT scans.

Despite the successful application of sentinel node mapping in breast cancer patients, its use in patients with a history of previous excisional biopsy of the breast tumors is a matter of controversy. In the present study we evaluated the accuracy of sentinel node biopsy in this group of patients and compared the results with those in whom the diagnosis of breast cancer was established by core needle biopsy. Eighty patients with early stage breast carcinoma were included into our study. Forty patients had a history of previous excisional biopsy and the remainder 40 had undergone core needle biopsy. Intradermal injections of 99mTc-antimony sulfide colloid as well as patent blue were both used for sentinel node mapping. Sentinel nodes were harvested during surgery with the aid of surgical gamma probe. All patients underwent standard axillary lymph node dissection subsequently. Detection rate was 97.5 per cent for both groups of the study. Number of detected sentinel node during surgery was not significantly different between groups. False negative rate was 0 per cent for both groups of the study. In conclusion sentinel node biopsy is reliable in patients with previous history of excisional biopsy of the breast tumors and has a low false negative rate.

Objective: How long we have to follow the case of papillary carcinoma of thyroid gland. The present case report will reveal the late appearance of distant metastasis in a case of papillary carcinoma of thyroid gland. This was confirmed by frequent thyroglobulin(tg) assessment for a case of papillary carcinoma in the thyroid gland of a young lady, after fourteen years. When we noticed a substantial elevation of tg., a PET scan revealed a focus of abnormal uptake in right side of her neck. We performed a modified radical right neck dissection, preserving the sternocleidomastoid muscle and jugular vein and spinal accessory nerve as well. The permanent histopathological studies showed metastatic papillary carcinoma within five lymph nodes.