Other PET tracers for neuroendocrine tumors.

In this article the applicability of (124)I-MIBG and (11)C-5-HTP PET for the detection of abdominal gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is discussed. (124)I-MIBG is a positron-emitting variant of (123)I-MIBG and therefore suited for PET imaging. Due to the better intrinsic characteristics of PET, (124)I-MIBG PET has a higher spatial resolution than (123)I-MIBG and may therefore lead to better lesion detection in patients with neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. Research is ongoing to develop (18)F-labeled analogues and to assess its place in staging patients with gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors when compared with (18)F-FDOPA and (68)Ga-somatostatin PET analogues.