An octreotide scan uses a radioactive tracer to detect carcinoid tumors and gather information about them. It is safe and involves a technician injecting the tracer into the patient, who then undergoes imaging to track its movement through the body. The patient may be advised to drink water before the test, and pregnant or breastfeeding patients should consult with their doctor.
An octreotide scan is a medical imaging study done to look for signs of carcinoid tumors, tumors involving endocrine cells, in the body. In this test, a small amount of radioactive tracer material is injected into the patient and several sets of images are taken to follow the tracer through the body, using a radiation-sensitive camera. The images are read to determine if cancer is present and gather information about the cancer if it is. This information will be used in developing a treatment plan for the patient’s condition.
Carcinoid tumors are particularly dangerous because in addition to causing localized cancer symptoms, they can also release hormones into the body, causing a problem known as carcinoid syndrome. This occurs when the patient’s hormone levels are disrupted and the patient begins to experience a constellation of symptoms such as weight gain or loss, nausea, skin changes, and so on in response to the distorted levels of hormones.
In an octreotide scan, the patient presents to a nuclear medicine center for an injection by a technician. The technician usually reviews the patient’s medical history to check for any risk factors that could make the test unsafe. After the injection, patients can walk away or wait in the center until the tracer has had a chance to circulate so that the first set of images can be acquired. Up to two additional image sets can be acquired during an octreotide scan. A radiologist examines the images, looking for clusters suggestive of carcinoid cells.
The tracer used, radioactive octreotide, is designed to tag cancer cells in the body while leaving other cell types alone. Bright spots on the scan indicate the presence of the tracer, and using multiple sets of scans allows people to see how quickly the tracer has built up in different locations. They can also track the movement of the material through the body, looking for abnormalities in how it circulates and spreads through body tissues. The patient will be expressing the material through the kidneys and should have no complications as a result of the test.
Before an octreotide scan, patients may be advised to drink plenty of water. This will help them empty the tracer when the test is finished. Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should discuss safety with their obstetricians or paediatricians before proceeding with an octreotide scan. Generally, nursing mothers can breastfeed their babies before testing, express and discard milk once after testing to be safe, and then resume a regular feeding schedule.
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