Doctors treat life-threatening cancer recurrence in a 52-year-old woman using advanced nuclear technology
In what is being hailed as a breakthrough for nuclear medicine in India, doctors at Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, say they have successfully diagnosed and treated a highly elusive cancer recurrence using advanced nuclear imaging technology.
The case, involving a 52-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer, underscores the growing significance of nuclear medicine in not just identifying cancers but also charting precise, personalised treatment paths.
The patient, who had undergone a mastectomy and chemotherapy in 2015 for breast cancer, was declared disease-free after treatment. But nine years later, she returned with persistent pain in her right lower chest — a symptom that didn’t initially raise red flags. Routine tests, including ultrasound, MRI, and even a CT scan, showed no abnormalities.
What turned the tide was a Gallium 68 DOTATATE PET-CT scan — an advanced form of nuclear imaging. The Gallium 68 DOTATATE PET-CT Scan is a cutting-edge nuclear imaging technique used to detect neuroendocrine tumors. It works by injecting a radiotracer that binds to somatostatin receptors typically found in such tumors making them visible on the scan.
Unlike conventional scans, this technique lights up neuroendocrine tumors that often go undetected. The scan revealed the presence of a neuroendocrine tumor in her right rib — a highly unusual site for recurrence. Further, a biopsy confirmed it.
Doctors say this rare diagnostic feat is a testament to the transformative potential of nuclear medicine. “Neuroendocrine tumors are notoriously hard to catch. In this case, we weren’t just able to diagnose it early but also plan a highly targeted treatment,” said Dr Avinash Wankhede, Head of Nuclear Medicine at Hinduja Hospital.
The team recommended PRRT (Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy), a therapy that delivers radiation directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. The patient underwent four cycles of PRRT and responded remarkably well — her pain disappeared, and follow-up scans showed significant reduction in tumor activity.
What makes this story notable is not just the rarity of the recurrence site or tumor type, but also the use of a full nuclear medicine pipeline — from diagnosis to therapy.
“We need wider awareness among clinicians and patients. Many still see nuclear medicine as just imaging. But it can be curative, as we’ve seen here,” said Dr Wankhede.
While the patient remains under observation, her recovery has opened the door to conversations around expanding access to nuclear therapies and incorporating them earlier in treatment protocols.
Speaking to THE WEEK, the patient said she was advised a protein-rich diet and 'loads of brisk walking' to be an essential part of her daily regimen, as part of the recovery.
This kind of diagnostic and therapy based application of nuclear medicine was not available earlier, even in 2018, when actor Irrfan Khan was diagnosed with an endocrine tumor.
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