Cardiac neuroendocrine tumour metastases

BACKGROUND: Most neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) metastasize to the liver, lymph nodes and, although less frequently, to the bone. The heart is a rare localization for NET metastases. METHODS: With the introduction of the Ga-DOTATATE PET/computed tomography (CT) in our hospital as a new diagnostic method for imaging neuroendocrine tumours, more rare metastatic localizations are being found. We present six cases of patients with cardiac NET metastases detected by Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT. Also, a review of literature is presented on case reports of cardiac NET metastases in patients detected by somatostatin receptor imaging, including In-Pentetreotide single photon emission computed tomography/CT, Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT, Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT or Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Most patients with cardiac NET metastases have extensive metastatic disease. The cardiac metastases are often asymptomatic.