Now Offering New PET/CT Scan with Detectnet™ for Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors
What is Detectnet?
Detectnet™ is a radioactive diagnostic agent used with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging specifically used for detecting, staging, and restaging somatostatin receptor positive neuroendocrine tumors. Detectnet replaces the octreotide scan with better imaging and quicker scan times. It is a newer diagnostic test and not every cancer center can do these scans.
Is the Detectnet Scan Covered by Insurance?
Currently this scan is FDA approved but is very new. Most insurance companies are authorizing payment on it if a physician orders it.
What is Needed to Prepare for the Detectnet Scan and How is it Performed?
For patients on long-acting somatostatin analogs, a wash-out period of 28 days is recommended prior to imaging and for those on short-acting somatostatin analogs, a washout period of 2 days is recommended prior to imaging.
Be hydrated for the scan.
An IV will be used to administer the radioactive isotope which is a copper cu 64 dotatate solution. The copper cu 64 will bind to the somatostatin receptors.
The patient will rest on-site for about an hour.
The scan will take an average of 30 minutes to capture the specific images the physician needs to help effectively detect and stage the tumor.
You can resume normal activities and diet following the procedure. Drink lots of fluids following to continue to flush your system of the radioactive diagnostic agent.
Who Do I Talk to About Getting a PET/CT Scan with Detectnet?
The June E. Nylen Cancer Center will accept referrals from any primary care or specialty physician for this specialized scan for neuroendocrine tumors, but there are specific criteria a patient must meet in order to qualify for it.
Once approved it, takes 3 days for the radioactive material to arrive. Before the scan, our staff would provide further instructions to you.
The June E. Nylen Cancer Center now offers a new PET/CT scan with Detectnet™ to detect, stage, and restage neuroendocrine tumors. The image on the right shows the greater detail this scan has for this type of cancer.