A PET (positron emission tomography) scan combined with a CT scan is a specialised imaging test. It may take several hours to prepare for and complete a PET–CT scan. Before the scan you will be injected with a small amount of radioactive material to highlight tumours in the body.
The radioactive material may be either:
68-Gallium DOTATATE (GaTate)
For most pancreatic NETs, the radioactive material used in a PET scan is 68-Gallium DOTATATE. This scan can help show the exact position of pancreatic NETS and may show tumours that don’t appear on other scans. It may also be used to help work out whether a pancreatic NET has spread. For some pancreatic NETs, an FDG-PET is used instead of or as well as this test.
Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)
This substance is commonly used in PET scans. Some cancer cells may show up brighter on the scan because they take up more glucose solution than normal cells do. This scan can help doctors work out whether pancreatic NETs has spread or how it is responding to treatment.
| These specialised PET scans are not available in every hospital and may not be covered by Medicare, so talk to your medical team for more information. |
Listen to our podcasts on Making Treatment Decisions and Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis
Dr Lorraine Chantrill, Head of Department, Medical Oncology, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW; Marion Bamblett, Nurse Unit Manager, Cancer Centre, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Prof Katherine Clark, Clinical Director of Palliative Care, Northern Sydney Local Health District Cancer and Palliative Care Network, and Conjoint Professor, Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, NSW; Lynda Dunstone, Consumer; Kate Graham, Accredited Practising Dietitian – Upper GI Dietitian, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Gina Hesselberg, Radiation Oncologist, St George Hospital Cancer Centre, NSW; Dr Marni Nenke, Endocrinologist and Mary Overton Early Career Research Fellow, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; A/Prof Nicholas O’Rourke, Head of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Royal Brisbane Hospital and The University of Queensland, QLD; Rose Rocca, Senior Clinical Dietitian – Upper GI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Gail Smith, Consumer. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
Featured resource
Click below to download a PDF booklet on this topic.
Additional resources
Need to talk?
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Looking for transport, accommodation or home help?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment
Cancer information
Patient rights and responsibilities
What you can reasonably expect from your health care providers
Dealing with the diagnosis
Common reactions to a cancer diagnosis and how to find hope