Demonstration of non-small-cell lung carcinoma by indium-111 octreotide scintigraphy

Octreotide is a somatostatin analog applied in the scintigraphic imaging of neuroendocrine tumors and tumors exhibiting somatostatin receptors such as meningoma, breast, medullary thyroid, and small-cell lung carcinomas. Although non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) dose not have receptor characteristics of the two neoplastic categories just noted, its demonstration by octreotide has been reported. Reported here is a case of lung adenocarcinoma detected by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. The mechanism of octreotide uptake by NSCLC is briefly reviewed and discussed.