Somatostatin receptor based hybrid imaging in sarcoidosis

Riemer H. J. A. Slart, Klaas-Pieter Koopmans, Peter Paul van Geel, Henk Kramer, Harry J. M. Groen, C. Tji-Joong Gan, Niek H. J. Prakken, Andor W. J. M. Glaudemans, George D. Nossent

Several diagnostic imaging methodologies are available for the clinical evaluation of sarcoidosis, but all have their limitations. FDG PET/CT is frequently used, but this technique does not provide optimal results in all cases. Novel radiopharmaceuticals aimed at other disease targets may be helpful, particularly in cardiac sarcoidosis when FDG PET/CT has a low diagnostic accuracy, due to difficulties in preparing the patients who should use a specific diet combined with prolonged fasting. 68Ga-labeled somatostatin based receptor hybrid imaging is a potential alternative to FDG PET/CT. This short communication provides a rapid overview of initial findings concerning the application of 68Ga-labeled somatostatin based receptor hybrid imaging in the diagnosis of (cardiac) sarcoidosis activity.