(18)F-DOPA PET/CT seems to be the most useful imaging method for detecting recurrent MTC lesions in patients with elevated serum calcitonin levels, performing better than (18)F-FDG and (68)Ga-somatostatin analogue PET/CT. (18)F-FDG may complement (18)F-DOPA in patients with an aggressive tumour.

In our series, SSTR imaging provided positive results in more than half of the cases with radioiodine-negative DTC, and about one third of patients were eligible for PRRT. (68)Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT seems a reliable tool both for patient selection and evaluation of treatment response. In our experience, FV determination over time seems to represent a reliable parameter to determine tumor response to PRRT, although further investigations are needed to better define its role.

Overall diagnostic performance of PET/CT in detecting PC is optimal when integrating 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTA-peptide PET/CT findings. In the subgroup analysis, the SUV max ratio seems to be the most accurate index in predicting TC. Both methods should be performed when PC is suspected or when the histological subtype is undefined.

Editor-in-Chief: A. Giustina ▶ Covers leading topics in endocrinology ▶ Includes Hormones of reproduction, metabolism, growth, and ion balance ▶ Offers the latest on insulin and diabetes ▶ Presents newly-emerging endocrine-related topics ▶ 94% of authors who answered a survey reported that they would definitely publish or probably publish in the journal againWell-established as a major journal in today's rapidly advancing experimental and clinical research, Endocrine publishes full-length original articles devoted to basic (including molecular, cellular and physiological studies), translational and clinical (including proof of concept studies and clinical trials) research in all the different fields of endocrinology and metabolism. Endocrine covers the following leading topics in Endocrinology such as: Neuroendocrinology, Pituitary and hypothalamic peptides, thyroid physiological and clinical aspects, bone and mineral metabolism and osteoporosis, obesity, lipid and energy metabolism and food intake control, insulin, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hormones of male and female reproduction, and of HPA axis, pediatric and geriatric endocrinology, endocrine hypertension and endocrine oncology.

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) arise from bronchial mucosal cells known as enterochromaffin cells which are part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. The pathological spectrum of pNETs ranges from low-/intermediate-grade neoplasms such as bronchial carcinoids (BCs), also known as typical or atypical carcinoids, to high-grade neoplasms as large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer. The tumor biology of pNETs still represents a matter of open debate. The distinct features among the different pNETs include not only their pathologic characteristics but also their clinical behavior, epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis. In this sense, a correct pathological identification in the preoperative setting is a key element for planning the best strategy of care in pNETs and especially in BCs. Controversial results have been reported on the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET or PET/CT) in BCs. On the other hand, there is increasing evidence supporting the use of PET with somatostatin analogues (DOTA-TOC, DOTA-NOC, or DOTA-TATE) labeled with gallium-68 (Ga-68) in pNETs. Herein, we review the pertinent literature aiming to better define the current state of art of PET/CT in the detection and histological differentiation of pNETs with special emphasis on BCs.