Molecular Pituitary Imaging Using 18F-FET PET

Exploring the Potential for 18F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine (18F-FET) to Enable Wider Access to Molecular Imaging for Patients With Pituitary Adenomas (FET-pit-PET Study)

The goal of this single centre pilot study is to explore whether 18F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine PET (FET-PET) yields comparable findings to 11C-methionine PET (Met-PET) for the localisation of pituitary tumours.

Up to 20 patients with pituitary adenomas (PA) who have previously undergone 11C-methionine PET (Met-PET) as part of routine clinical care will undergo 18F-fluoroethyltyrosine PET (FET-PET). Patients with newly diagnosed PA or residual/recurrent pituitary tumours following previous treatment will be eligible for recruitment to the study.

Quantitative and qualitative analyses will be performed to assess whether MET-PET and FET-PET yield comparable findings in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent PA.

Inclusion criteria

• Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study
• Male or female, age 18 or above
• Presence of pituitary adenoma suspected on the basis of clinical/biochemical and/or radiological findings
• Previous 11C-Met-PET/CT

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to give informed consent
• Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
• Inability to lie supine for 30-60 minutes
• Patient body habitus above scanner dimensions
• Known allergy to intravenous radiographic contrast agents