anmu , alfrednucmed , alfrednucmed.com , alfred nuclear medicine , nuclear medicine in newtown

Procedure:

• You have been referred for an In-111 Octreotide Study in which imaging is done over 2 days.

• An In-111 Octreotide Study is sensitive in showing Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumours.

• It also shows sites with high concentrations of somatostatin receptors and where there is an inflammatory component to a disease.

• Some of these conditions may include: Embrionically derived neural crest tumours, Paragangliomas, Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, Neuroblastomas, Pheochromocytomas, Meningiomas, Mammary carcinomas, Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Sub-acute inflammations in lymphnodes, Sarcoidosis, Brucellosis, Viral infections, Radiation therapy, Post bleomycin treatment and Recent surgery.

• The test involves a small injection of  “tracer” (like having a blood test) and is given only on Tuesday's.

• The tracer we use is called In-111 Octreotide (Indium-111 pentetreotide or "Octreotide"). There are rarely any side effects with this injection.

• Occasionally, 1 in 1000 patients may experience some form of: Sweating, Hypotension (Blood Pressure may drop), Headache, Pain in Limbs, Fever, Flushes, Nausea, Stomach spasms, Weakness and or Dizziness. We minimise the occurrence of these reactions by injecting the tracer over 2 - 4 minutes.

• Once you have had your injection on Tuesday, you are free to leave and return for imaging on Wednesday afternoon (~2.30pm).

• You are also required to have additional imaging done on Thursday afternoon as well (~2.30pm).

• Images are done of your whole body using a Gamma Camera (1). This takes 45 minutes.

• We also require imaging a section of your body in 3D 'after' your whole body imaging. This is called SPECT/CT (2) imaging.

• With SPECT/CT imaging, the same Gamma Camera simply rotates around your body, taking images all the time. This can take 45 minutes.

• You receive a slight radiation dose by having an In-111 Octreotide Study with SPECT/CT ~ up to 5.3 times your yearly background radiation (3).

 

Patient Preparation:

• If you are pregnant, trying to fall pregnant or breast feeding, you must inform our staff.

• If you are on Sandostatin therapy (octreotide therapy), you must cease this 3 days prior to the administration of the isotope.

• If this is clinically not possible, cease the therapy at least 12 hours prior the administration of the isotope.

• You should try and remain off your treatment for another 24 hours after the administration of tracer.

• It is advisable to start a laxative regime 24 hours prior the administration of the isotope and continue for another 48 hours after the injection.

• You need to drink plenty of fluids prior to the injection and 2 days after the injection.

• Please notify us if you are:

  • Diabetic and Insulin dependant

  • have Insulinoma

  • have Impaired Renal function

  • are on Haemodialysis

• If you have had prior imaging e.g. PET, Nuclear Scan, CT, MRI, X-Ray, Ultrasound, etc... please bring these with you.

• Please also bring your referral and any blood results that you may have had done.

• If you are on any other medications (other than Sandostatin), please take these as normal.

• Wear comfortable clothing and minimise the amount of metal jewellery you have on (all metal objects will need to be removed prior to imaging).

• Important Note: You cannot have this test if you have had a PET or Nuclear Scan within 24 hours prior to this test. If you have had Iodine-131 therapy, allow 4-weeks before having this test. Please ring to discuss booking options.​

 

Breast-Feeding Mothers: Once you have been given the tracer, you need to stop breast-feeding for 20-days. During the first 3-days, you need to express and discard your breast milk as often as required. You will need to bottle-feed your child during this 20-day period. Before starting breast-feeding again, express and discard your breast milk one last time.

​

Payment:

• Due to the extreme radiopharmaceutical cost of In-111 Octreotide, there is an out-of-pocket expense. Medicare Item No. 61369.

• Total Cost of study: $3,800.00

• Medicare Rebate: $1,939.55 i.e. what Medicare will give you back.

• Out-of-Pocket Expense: $1,860.45

• Accurate as of 3-4-2014. This may change without notice.

​

Cancellation Rule:

• If you wish to cancel your appointment, we need to know before 10.00am Wednesday, prior the Tuesday administration date.

• Failure to do so will incur a $2,800.00 fee (the cost of the isotope).

• Your understanding concerning this issue is much appreciated.

 

⁽¹⁾ A Gamma Camera is a device that detects gamma-rays (gamma-rays are very similar to x-rays) and does not emit any radiation.

⁽²⁾ SPECT/CT imaging (Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography / Computer Tomography). CT does emit radiation

⁽³⁾ We all receive a yearly background radiation dose ~ 2.4mSv. In-111 Octreotide Study with SPECT/CT ~ 12.8mSv = 5.3 times yearly background dose.