Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and somatostatin therapy in the evaluation and treatment of malignant thymoma

Purpose: This report illustrates the potential diagnostic and therapeutic u tility of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and therapy with somatostatin. Methods: In-ill pentetreotide (In-ll octreotide), a somatostatin analog, wa s used to define the receptor status and the extent of disease in a case of malignant thymoma, Results: Subsequent treatment with nonradioactive somatostatin inhibited tu mor growth, Conclusion: In-ill octreotide may be usfeul to define tumor receptor status and may provide prognostic information useful in determining subsequent th erapy.