Gallium 68 Scan (Ga68)

The Gallium 68 scan, used with functional PET imaging, is another nuclear medicine scan that relies on the over-expression of somatostatin receptors to visualize tumours. NETs typically express several somatostatin receptor subtypes in a unique pattern based on tumour type, origin and grade of differentiation. Ga68 scans offer the advantages of improved image resolution and higher sensitivity.

Tumours that may be visualized with a Ga68 scan include: gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tumours; pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, neuroblastoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma and others.

Prior to receiving a Ga68 scan ask your doctor whether or not you should discontinue somatostatin analog therapy. The radiopharmaceutical will be administered intravenously and the scan will be performed. The substances used to perform the Ga68 scan are rapidly cleared from the blood; therefore, no radioactivity is detectable in the blood or urine within four hours.

Clinical experience with Ga68 scans in NETs is rapidly expanding. Patients and physicians hope that this important diagnostic tool will be available in Canada in the near future.