Somatostatin receptor imaging with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT (DOTATATE) is increasingly used for managing patients with neuroendocrine tumors. The objective of this study was to determine referring physicians' perspectives on the impact of DOTATATE on the management of neuroendocrine tumors.
Somatostatin receptor imaging with 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT (DOTATATE) is increasingly used for managing patients with neuroendocrine tumors. The objective of this study was to determine referring physicians' perspectives on the impact of DOTATATE on the management of neuroendocrine tumors. Methods: A set of 2 questionnaires (pre-PET and post-PET) was sent to the referring physicians of 100 consecutive patients with known or suspected neuroendocrine tumors, who were evaluated with DOTATATE. Questionnaires on 88 patients were returned (response rate, 88%). Referring physicians categorized the DOTATATE findings on the basis of the written PET reports as negative, positive, or equivocal for disease. The likelihood for metastatic disease was scored as low, moderate, or high. The intended management before and changes as a consequence of the PET study were indicated. Results: The indications for PET/CT were initial and subsequent treatment strategy assessments in 14% and 86% of patients, respectively. Referring physicians reported that DOTATATE led to a change in suspicion for metastatic disease in 21 patients (24%; increased and decreased suspicion in 9 \[10%\] and 12 \[14%\] patients, respectively). Intended management changes were reported in 53 of 88 (60%) patients. Twenty patients (23%) scheduled to undergo chemotherapy were switched to treatments without chemotherapy, and 6 (7%) were switched from watch-and-wait to other treatment strategies. Conversely, 5 patients (6%) were switched from their initial treatment strategy to watch-and-wait. Conclusion: This survey of referring physicians demonstrates a substantial impact of DOTATATE on the intended management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
100
68Ga-DOTATATE will be given in tracer doses and injected intravenously to image Neuroendocrine tumors by Positron Emission Tomography.
University of California Los Angeles, Nuclear Medicine Clinic of the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
Los Angeles, California, United States
Change in intended management of patients with NETs after PET/CT
The study will collect questionnaire data from referring physicians on intended patient management before and after PET/CT.
Time frame: Before the first scan and after the second scan and results reported
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