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Influence of PSA, PSA velocity and PSA doubling time on contrast-enhanced 18F-choline PET/CT detection rate in patients with rising PSA after radical prostatectomy

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced 18F-choline PET/CT in restaging patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy in relation to PSA, PSA velocity (PSAve) and PSA doubling time (PSAdt).

Methods

PET/CT was performed in 49 patients (age range 58–87 years) with rising PSA (mean 4.13 ng/ml) who were divided in four groups according to PSA level: ≤1 ng/ml, 1 to ≤2 ng/ml, 2 to ≤4 ng/ml, and >4 ng/ml. PSAve and PSAdt were measured. PET and CT scans were interpreted separately and then together.

Results

PET/CT diagnosed relapse in 33 of the 49 patients (67%). The detection rates were 20%, 55%, 80% and 87% in the PSA groups ≤1, 1 to ≤2, 2 to ≤4 and >4 ng/ml, respectively. PET/CT was positive in 7 of 18 patients (38.9%) with a PSA ≤2 ng/ml, and in 26 of 31 (83.9%) with a PSA >2 ng/ml. PET/CT was positive in 7 of 25 patients (84%) with PSAdt ≤6 months, and in 12 of 24 patients (50%) with PSAdt >6 months, and was positive in 26 of 30 patients (86%) with a PSAve >2 ng/ml per year, and in 7 of 19 patients (36.8%) with PSAve ≤2 ng/ml per year. PET alone was positive in 31 of 49 patients (63.3%), and of these 31 patients, CT was negative in 14 but diagnosed bone lesions in 2 patients in whom PET alone was negative. CT with the administration of intravenous contrast medium did not provide any further information.

Conclusion

Detection rate of 18F-choline imaging is closely related to PSA and PSA kinetics. In particular, 18F-choline PET/CT is recommended in patients with PSA >2 ng/ml, PSAdt ≤6 months and PSAve >2 ng/ml per year. CT is useful for detecting bone metastases that are not 18F-choline-avid. The use of intravenous contrast agent seems unnecessary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biopathology and Diagnostic Imaging, Interventional, University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Orazio Schillaci, Mario Tavolozza, Cristiana Ragano Caracciolo, Antonio Orlacchio, Roberta Danieli & Giovanni Simonetti

  2. Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy

    Orazio Schillaci & Ferdinando Calabria

  3. Department of Urology, University Hospital “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Enrico Finazzi Agrò & Roberto Miano

Authors
  1. Orazio Schillaci
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  2. Ferdinando Calabria
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  9. Giovanni Simonetti
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Correspondence to Ferdinando Calabria.

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Schillaci, O., Calabria, F., Tavolozza, M. et al. Influence of PSA, PSA velocity and PSA doubling time on contrast-enhanced 18F-choline PET/CT detection rate in patients with rising PSA after radical prostatectomy. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 39, 589–596 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-2030-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-011-2030-7

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