Clinical Utility of <sup>68</sup>Ga-DOTATOC Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Evaluating Metastatic Lesions of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report.
Mine Y, Sakatani T, Koyasu S, Ogata T, Teramoto Y, Sakamoto A (+4 more)
Abstract
Introduction⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) targets somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and is an established molecular imaging modality for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Although SSTR expression has been reported in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), its clinical utility remains unclear.Case presentationA 76-year-old woman who had undergone open partial nephrectomy for clear cell RCC (grade 2, pT1bN0M0) 3 years before developed a sternal metastasis, which was surgically resected with negative margins. Nine months later, follow-up CT revealed a soft-tissue lesion posterior to the sternum. ⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT showed no uptake in this lesion but intense uptake at the Th8 vertebra, indicating metastasis. After stereotactic body radiation therapy (35 Gy in five fractions), persistent uptake was observed 8 months later, suggesting residual viable tumor, which was histopathologically confirmed after resection.Conclusion⁶⁸Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT was useful in evaluating the possibility of recurrence of the soft-tissue lesion, assessing post-radiation viability, and guiding treatment in RCC.