Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, ENETS Center of Excellence, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
ENETS Center of Excellence for Neuroendocrine and Endocrine Tumors, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
Curr Oncol Rep. 2021 Nov 4;23(12):143. doi: 10.1007/s11912-021-01139-2.
Accurate imaging is crucial for correct diagnosis, staging, and therapy of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). The search for the optimal imaging technique has triggered rapid development in the field. This review aims at giving an overview on contemporary imaging methods and providing an outlook on current progresses.
The discovery of molecular targets due to the overexpression of specific peptide hormone receptors on the NEN's surface has triggered the development of multiple radionuclide imaging modalities. In addition to the established imaging technique of targeting somatostatin receptors, several alternative radioligands have been developed. Targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor by exendin-4 has a high sensitivity in localizing insulinomas. For dedifferentiated NENs, new molecular targets such as the C-X-C motif chemokine-receptor-4 have been evaluated. Other new targets involve the fibroblast activation protein and the cholecystokinin-2 receptors, where the ligand minigastrin opens new possibilities for the management of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Molecular imaging is an emerging field that improves the management of NENs.
准确的影像学检查对于神经内分泌肿瘤（NEN）的正确诊断、分期和治疗至关重要。寻找最佳的影像学技术引发了该领域的快速发展。本文旨在概述当代影像学方法，并展望当前的进展。
由于 NEN 表面特异性肽激素受体的过度表达，发现了多种分子靶点，从而引发了多种放射性核素成像方式的发展。除了靶向生长抑素受体的既定成像技术外，还开发了几种替代放射性配体。靶向胰高血糖素样肽-1 受体的 exendin-4 对胰岛素瘤具有较高的定位灵敏度。对于去分化的 NEN，已经评估了新的分子靶点，如 C-X-C 基序趋化因子受体-4。其他新的靶点包括成纤维细胞激活蛋白和胆囊收缩素-2 受体，其中配体 minigastrin 为管理甲状腺髓样癌开辟了新的可能性。分子影像学是一个新兴领域，可改善 NEN 的管理。
