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Performance of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for Prostate Cancer Management at Initial Staging and Time of Biochemical Recurrence

  • New Imaging Techniques (S Rais-Bahrami and A George, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of the Review

Recently introduced Gallium-68 labeled PSMA-ligands such as HBED-CC (68Ga-PSMA) have shown promise for unmet diagnostic needs in prostate cancer.

Recent Findings

68Ga-PSMA has demonstrated improved detection rates and specificity for prostate cancer compared to standard imaging approaches. In the setting of primary disease, 68Ga-PSMA appears to preferentially identify treatment-relevant intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer. There is also a growing evidence that 68Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography (PET) outperforms alternative conventional imaging methods including choline-based radiotracers for the localization of disease sites at biochemical recurrence, particularly at lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (< 1 ng/mL). However, the majority of published work lacks rigorous verification of imaging results.

Summary

68Ga-PSMA offers significant promise for both, primary disease and biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. The evidence base to support 68Ga-PSMA is however still underdeveloped, and more rigorous studies substantiating efficacy are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Jason Bailey & Morand Piert

  2. Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, University Hospital B1G505C, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-0028, USA

    Morand Piert

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Jason Bailey and Morand Piert each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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Bailey, J., Piert, M. Performance of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for Prostate Cancer Management at Initial Staging and Time of Biochemical Recurrence. Curr Urol Rep 18, 84 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-017-0736-1

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