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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does An Octreotide Scan Need Doing Immediately?

They found a 1.1 cm white/bright spot on the ct scan of my husband's pancreas (head). They want to do an octeotride scan to determine if it's a neuroendocrine tumor. If it's not neuroendocrine, do the more severe tumors show up "bright" on CT scans? He also has a 1 cm gallstone and widespread abdominal pain. The octeotride scan is 3 weeks away. Is it wise to wait that long? (in terms of the gallbladder pain) Thank you for any help on this. He is 47, normal weight, nonsmoker, nondrinker, no history of cancer in his family.
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Fri, 3 Oct 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 6 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

It is important to wait for the octreotide scan and evaluate on the lines of a neuroendocrine tumor.

Technically Pancreatic neuroendocrinal tumors can be functional or nonfunctional: Functional tumors make extra amounts of hormones, such as gastrin, insulin, and glucagon, that cause signs and symptoms.
Nonfunctional tumors do not make extra amounts of hormones. Signs and symptoms are caused by the tumor as it spreads and grows. Most nonfunctional tumors are malignant (cancer).

Patients suspected of having a neuroendocrine tumor receive an injection of octreotide, a synthetic form of somatostatin that is attached to a radioactive substance. If the tumor absorbs octreotide then it can be treated with larger doses of the injection.
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Does An Octreotide Scan Need Doing Immediately?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. It is important to wait for the octreotide scan and evaluate on the lines of a neuroendocrine tumor. Technically Pancreatic neuroendocrinal tumors can be functional or nonfunctional: Functional tumors make extra amounts of hormones, such as gastrin, insulin, and glucagon, that cause signs and symptoms. Nonfunctional tumors do not make extra amounts of hormones. Signs and symptoms are caused by the tumor as it spreads and grows. Most nonfunctional tumors are malignant (cancer). Patients suspected of having a neuroendocrine tumor receive an injection of octreotide, a synthetic form of somatostatin that is attached to a radioactive substance. If the tumor absorbs octreotide then it can be treated with larger doses of the injection.