Role of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in a Case of SDHB-Related Pterygopalatine Fossa Paraganglioma Successfully Controlled with Octreotide

Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2020 Feb;54(1):48-52. doi: 10.1007/s13139-019-00629-3. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

Abstract

We describe an unusual case of a 42-year-old female with an unresectable succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB)-related pterygopalatine fossa paraganglioma. She underwent somatostatin receptor imaging with 68Ga-DOTA(0)-Tyr(3)-octreotate (68Ga-DOTATATE) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), which showed uptake in the above mentioned tumor. Hence, the patient was started on octreotide, a cold somatostatin analog, and responded with tumor stabilization and improvement of clinical symptoms for 36 months since initiation of octreotide therapy. This case demonstrates the role of 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in diagnostic localization and its subsequent role in treatment using cold somatostatin analog as a potential choice of therapy in the management of paraganglioma in an unusual location with limited therapeutic options.

Keywords: 177Lu-DOTATATE; 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT; Octreotide; PRRT; Paraganglioma; SDHB; SSTR; Somatostatin analog.

Publication types

  • Case Reports