Which radiotracer is preferred over the other for detecting neuroendocrine tumors?

The preference for using 18F-DOPA as a radiotracer for detecting neuroendocrine tumors is based on its ability to target specific metabolic pathways associated with these tumors. Neuroendocrine tumors often express aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), which is crucial for the metabolism of L-DOPA. Since 18F-DOPA is a labelled precursor of dopamine, it is actively taken up by neuroendocrine cells, allowing for better visualization of tumors that might not be detected as effectively by other tracers.

While 11C-Methionine is a useful tracer in some contexts due to its role in protein synthesis and cell proliferation, it lacks the specific affinity for the metabolic activity seen in neuroendocrine tumors, making it less optimal compared to 18F-DOPA. F-18 FDG, despite its wide use in oncology for general metabolic imaging, is less sensitive in certain neuroendocrine tumors that do not exhibit significant glucose metabolism, therefore limiting its effectiveness in this specific context. 68Ga-DOTA, on the other hand, is used for targeting somatostatin receptor-expressing tumors but is not as universally applicable across all neuroendocrine tumors as 18