Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42168767›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2026

68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT for insulinoma localization in patients with negative or inconclusive conventional imaging.

Julia G Fricke, Katharina Laubner, Manuela Schildmeijer, Lea Menz, Camilla Wojsa, Philipp T Meyer, Jochen Seufert, Damian Wild, Emanuel Christ, Martin T Freitag

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Julia G FrickeDivision of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0009-0008-0030-9565
Katharina LaubnerDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Manuela SchildmeijerDivision of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
Lea MenzDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Camilla WojsaDivision of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
Philipp T MeyerENETS Center of Excellence for Neuroendocrine and Endocrine Tumors, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Jochen SeufertDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Damian WildDivision of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-8135-5350
Emanuel ChristENETS Center of Excellence for Neuroendocrine and Endocrine Tumors, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-5604-4606
Martin T FreitagENETS Center of Excellence for Neuroendocrine and Endocrine Tumors, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

contextInsulinomas are the main cause of endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (EHH) in adults, with surgery as the only cure. Pancreas-preserving surgery is preferred, making precise preoperative localization crucial. GLP-1R-targeted imaging, such as [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT, outperforms other imaging procedures for insulinoma localization.

objectiveTo investigate the performance and clinical impact of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT for the detection of insulinomas in patients with EHH and prior negative or inconclusive conventional imaging.

methodsIn this retrospective, real-world, dual-center imaging study, 101 patients with biochemically proven EHH and/or a positive Whipple's triad underwent [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT at two tertiary centers between April 2017 and March 2024. Among these, 58 patients with prior negative or inconclusive conventional imaging constituted the primary analysis cohort. Endpoints: Insulinoma detection rate and sensitivity by [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT after negative or inconclusive conventional imaging and impact on clinical management.

resultsAmong the 58 patients with prior negative or inconclusive conventional imaging, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT was positive in 42 patients, corresponding to a detection rate of 72% (95% CI, 59-83%). Thirty patients subsequently underwent PET/CT-guided surgery. Overall, 32 patients had histological verification (including two PET/CT-negative cases), corresponding to a sensitivity of 93.8% (95% CI, 79-99%).

conclusionIn real-world clinical practice, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CT provides a high detection rate of 72% for localizing insulinomas, including one case of diffuse nesidioblastosis in patients with EHH and prior negative or inconclusive conventional imaging, thereby enabling PET/CT-guided surgical approaches. These findings underscore the substantial clinical impact of GLP-1R-targeted PET/CT on patient management and prognosis.

Indexed as

ExenatideInsulinomaPancreatic NeoplasmsPositron Emission Tomography Computed TomographyAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOrganometallic CompoundsRadiopharmaceuticalsRetrospective StudiesExenatideOrganometallic CompoundsRadiopharmaceuticals[68Ga]Ga-DOTA-exendin-4 PET/CTGLP-1 PET/CTGLP-1 receptorhyperinsulinisminsulinomamolecular imaging

Identifiers

PMID42168767
PMCPMC13671787

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.