Exendin PET Scan in Delhi — Insulinoma Detection & GLP-1 Receptor Imaging | Neurad Diagnostics
Recurrent episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), particularly after fasting or exercise, can be debilitating and dangerous. When all conventional causes have been excluded, one important diagnosis to consider is an insulinoma — a rare tumor of the pancreatic beta cells. Finding these tiny tumors has historically been one of the most challenging tasks in medicine. The Exendin PET Scan, available at Neurad Diagnostics in Delhi, is now considered the most accurate imaging tool for insulinoma localization, with accuracy rates that far exceed all conventional imaging methods. This guide explains everything you need to know about the 68Ga-Exendin PET/CT scan. Leading research centers including those affiliated with the Endocrine Society have validated 68Ga-Exendin PET as the most accurate imaging modality for insulinoma localization, with studies in the Journal of the Endocrine Society confirming sensitivity rates exceeding 95%. Table of Contents What Is an Exendin PET Scan? Why Doctors Recommend the the procedure Diseases and Conditions Diagnosed by the Exendin scan Who Needs an Exendin PET Scan? Symptoms That May Lead to the procedure How the Exendin PET Scan Procedure Works Preparation Before the this imaging test Step-by-Step the Exendin scan Procedure at Neurad Diagnostics Advantages of this PET/CT Technology Accuracy and Clinical Benefits Safety Information Cost of Exendin PET Scan in Delhi NCR Why Choose Neurad Diagnostics for the Exendin scan in Delhi? Frequently Asked Questions About this PET/CT 1. What is an insulinoma? 2. Why is the procedure the best test for insulinoma? 3. Can Exendin PET find insulinomas that CT and MRI missed? 4. Is special preparation required for Exendin PET Scan? 5. Can Exendin PET detect malignant insulinomas? 6. Where can I get this scan in India? 7. How long does the Exendin PET Scan take? 8. Is the Exendin scan useful for children with congenital hyperinsulinism? 9. Does the Exendin PET Scan hurt? 10. What happens after an insulinoma is found on Exendin PET? Conclusion — Book Your this scan at Neurad Diagnostics Delhi What Is an Exendin PET Scan? The the Exendin scan, formally known as 68Ga-Exendin-4 PET/CT (or 68Ga-NOTA-Exendin-4 PET/CT), is a highly specialized nuclear medicine imaging procedure that uses a Gallium-68 labelled form of Exendin-4 — a GLP-1 (tracer-Like Peptide-1) receptor agonist peptide — to detect and localize tumors expressing GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R). These receptors are massively overexpressed (up to 460-fold) on insulinoma cells compared to normal pancreatic tissue, giving the this PET/CT extraordinary sensitivity for this notoriously difficult-to-find tumor. Insulinomas are the most common functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, but they are typically very small (90% are less than 2 cm) and solitary. Their small size makes them invisible or very hard to find on CT, MRI, or even intraoperative ultrasound in a significant proportion of cases. The Exendin PET Scan solves this problem by imaging GLP-1 receptor expression directly — lighting up insulinoma cells with exceptional contrast against the surrounding pancreatic tissue. At Neurad Diagnostics in Delhi, we offer this highly specialized imaging study, which is available at only a handful of centers across India. Why Doctors Recommend the the procedure Endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, and endocrine surgeons recommend this scan primarily for the preoperative localization of insulinomas in patients with confirmed endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. The clinical challenge is enormous: without precise preoperative localization, surgeons may need to perform extensive pancreatic exploration or even distal pancreatectomy based on intraoperative findings — increasing surgical risk and morbidity substantially. When the Exendin PET Scan localizes the tumor preoperatively, surgeons can plan a minimally invasive, targeted enucleation of the tumor, preserving maximum pancreatic tissue and dramatically reducing surgical risk. Beyond insulinoma localization, the this imaging test also has emerging applications in GLP-1R-expressing NETs and in post-bariatric hypoglycemia (where diffuse beta cell hyperplasia may be distinguished from focal insulinoma). It is also being investigated for beta cell mass measurement in diabetes research contexts. Diseases and Conditions Diagnosed by the Exendin scan Who Needs an Exendin PET Scan? Your endocrinologist or surgeon may refer you for an this PET/CT in Delhi if: Symptoms That May Lead to the procedure The clinical presentation of insulinoma is characterized by Whipple’s Triad — the combination of hypoglycemic symptoms, documented low blood glucose, and relief of symptoms with glucose. Specific symptoms include: How the Exendin PET Scan Procedure Works The this scan works by exploiting the extraordinarily high expression of GLP-1 receptors on insulinoma cells. Exendin-4 is a peptide that binds with extremely high affinity and selectivity to GLP-1R. When labelled with Gallium-68 and injected intravenously, it circulates through the blood and binds to GLP-1R-expressing cells — primarily insulinoma cells and normal beta cells of the pancreas. However, insulinoma cells express GLP-1R at levels far exceeding normal beta cells, creating a clearly detectable focal hotspot on the PET image that corresponds to the tumor location. A critical procedural consideration is that patients with insulinoma are at risk of hypoglycemia during the scan. To prevent this, a controlled glucose infusion is administered during the procedure. This requires careful medical supervision, which is one reason why this scan should only be performed at centers with expertise in both nuclear medicine and endocrine emergency management — such as Neurad Diagnostics in Delhi. Preparation Before the this imaging test Due to the risk of hypoglycemia, preparation for the Exendin PET Scan at Neurad Diagnostics in Delhi is more complex than standard PET scans: Step-by-Step the Exendin scan Procedure at Neurad Diagnostics Advantages of this PET/CT Technology Accuracy and Clinical Benefits The clinical evidence for Exendin PET Scan in insulinoma localization is compelling. Landmark studies from European centers of excellence have demonstrated sensitivity rates of 90–97% for insulinoma detection — performance that significantly exceeds CT (50–60%), MRI (60–70%), and even endoscopic ultrasound (70–80%). Crucially, Exendin PET is particularly superior for tumors smaller than 1 cm, which are common in insulinoma and precisely where conventional imaging fails most frequently. In a study of 30 patients with biochemically confirmed insulinoma but negative or equivocal conventional imaging, Exendin PET correctly localized the tumor in 28 of 30 patients — directly
