UPTAKE OF IN-111 PENTETREOTIDE BY PLEURAL PLAQUES

Somatostatin receptor imaging with In-111 pentetreotide has been valid ated for the diagnosis and staging of chest tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation such as bronchial carcinoid and small cell lung cance r. In-111 pentetreotide uptake is not specific for neuroendocrine tumo rs because somatostatin receptors are also expressed by white blood ce lls, leading to the in vivo visualization sites of infection sites or active inflammation. Pleural plaques may be due to asbestos exposure o r tuberculosis. Presented here are three cases of In-111 pentetreotide uptake in pleural plaques. This uptake by benign lesions may be misle ading in the diagnostic work-up of patients with lung tumors.