Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy: Its value in tumor localization in patients with cushing's syndrome caused by ectopic corticotropin or corticotropin-releasing hormone secretion

Wouter W. De Herder*, Eric P. Krenning, Carl D. Malchoff, Leo J. Hofland, Jean Claude Reubi, Dik J. Kwekkeboom, H. Yoe Oei, Huibert A.P. Pols, Hajo A. Bruining, Frank R.E. Nobels, Steven W.J. Lamberts

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

106 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

purpose: To assess the feasibility of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by tumors secreting ectopic corticotropin or corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). patients and methods: Ten patients with Cushing's syndrome, nine with ectopic corticotropin-secreting tumors and one with a CRH-secreting tumor, were consecutively studied. For comparison purposes, eight patients with corticotropin-secreting pituitary tumors and one patient with an autonomous adrenal adenoma were investigated. In vivo tumor localization was performed for all patients using a radionuclide-coupled somatostatin analog. The results obtained with this technique were compared with those obtained with conventional imaging techniques. For some patients, the clinical effects of octreotide therapy were evaluated. results: Somatostatin analog scintigraphy successfully identified the primary ectopic corticotropin-secreting and CRH-secreting tumors or their metastases, or both, in 8 of 10 patients; in 2 patients with corticotropin-secreting bronchial carcinoids, the tumors could not be visualized. Normal scans were obtained for the 8 patients with corticotropin-secreting pituitary tumors and the one patient with an adrenal adenoma. conclusion: Somatostatin analog scintigraphy can be included as a diagnostic step in the workup of Cushing's syndrome patients with a suspected ectopic corticotropin-secreting tumor or a CRH-secreting tumor.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)305-312
Number of pages8
JournalThe American Journal of Medicine
Volume96
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 1994

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