PSMA PET/CT

We want to talk about the newest method for diagnosing prostate cancer — PSMA PET/CT. This research method is one of the most accurate and informative in the world of medicine.

Who can use it?

This method is suitable for diagnosing prostate cancer at any stage of the disease. It is especially useful after biopsy, before planned resection or radiation therapy, and after primary therapy to confirm or rule out the presence of residual tumor. In addition, the information obtained from PET/CT can be used for precise radiotherapy treatment of tumor manifestations, such as small bone metastases or local recurrence.

The method determines the effectiveness of systemic therapy, such as antihormonal therapy, chemotherapy, etc., and plans further treatment. In addition, it may help determine whether a tumor is suitable for radioligand therapy with Lu-177-PSMA.

How is the procedure done?

Our patients do not need special preparation for the study. You will be given a small dose of a radioactive drug (68Ga-/64Cu-PSMA) and then allowed to rest for about one hour to allow the drug to distribute evenly throughout your body. Then the examination itself begins on the device, which lasts approximately 30 minutes. In general, the study takes about 2-3 hours.

The examination may require intravenous administration of a contrast agent, so before visiting our center it is recommended to conduct tests for TSH and creatinine levels.

Contraindications:

1. Pregnancy: Not recommended for pregnant women due to potential radiation exposure to the fetus. If there is a suspicion of pregnancy, this must be reported before the procedure.
2. Allergy to contrast agent: In the case of a known allergic reaction to the contrast agent that may be administered during PSMA PET/CT, the procedure may not be appropriate to perform. The physician should be aware of the patient’s previous allergic reactions.
3. Inappropriate Patient Condition: Some patients may have medical conditions that make the procedure undesirable or dangerous. These could be heart problems, poor kidney function, uncontrolled asthma, or other serious illnesses.
4. Infants and Infants: May be limited in young children due to higher risk of radiation exposure to developing organs. Physicians make decisions about necessity and appropriateness in these patients based on indications and benefits.
5. Expected low information content and low impact on treatment: In some cases may not provide enough useful information or have a low impact on patient treatment. The doctor may decide to refuse the procedure or use alternative testing methods.

It is important to note that specific contraindications may vary depending on the medical context and individual patient characteristics. The decision to proceed is always made by the physician based on an assessment of the patient and a discussion of the potential risks and benefits.

PSMA PET CT for prostate cancer

Advantages:

1. High sensitivity for metastasis detection:  detects very small occult metastatic sites of prostate cancer, even with low levels of tumor marker (prostate membrane surface antigen) in the blood. This allows you to more accurately determine the stage of the disease and take appropriate treatment measures.
2. Recurrence localization and early detection: PSMA PETCT helps in detecting recurrence of prostate cancer after radical treatment. Detects very low levels of cancer cells and helps in their precise localization. This is especially useful in planning further treatment and monitoring the effectiveness of therapy.
3. Individualization of treatment: PSMA PETCT can help determine the optimal treatment approach for patients with prostate cancer. It can help identify the presence of tumor mutations that may be targeted by specific drugs and determine who may be most likely to respond to certain therapies.
4. Assessing the effectiveness of treatment: PSMA PETCT can be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for prostate cancer. It allows you to visualize changes in the tumor and metastatic sites after therapy and evaluate the response to treatment. This may be helpful when deciding whether to continue or change a treatment protocol.

Overall, PSMA PETCT provides additional information about prostate cancer that can help more accurately stage the disease, localize recurrences, individualize treatment, and monitor the effectiveness of therapy. This could lead to earlier detection, more precise treatment and an improved prognosis for patients.

Advantages of the method compared to PET/CT:

The PSMA method and positron emission tomography/computed tomography are more accurate and informative than simple PET CT. It provides higher image quality and more accurate localization of areas of interest.

1. PSMA PET/CT gives higher localization accuracy — provides more precise localization of areas of interest, which allows more accurate determination of the location of malignant lesions.
2. Higher Resolution — Has higher resolution. PSMA PET/CT allows for more detailed images of tissues and structures, making the technique more sensitive to changes in tissue.
3. Lower Radiation Dose — Produces high-quality images with a lower dose of radiation, making PSMA PET CT indispensable for patients who require repeated examinations or for those who are sensitive to radiation.
4. Wider range of studies — PSMA PET CT is used for a wider range of studies, such as assessing blood flow and metabolism, differentiated diagnosis of tumors and determining the effectiveness of treatment.
5. More accurate diagnosis — due to the high sensitivity and accuracy of the method, it can provide more accurate diagnosis, which is especially important for the early detection of tumors.

Choose the quality of prostate cancer diagnostics at the highest level — contact us to conduct a study. Our qualified specialists will provide you with a high level of service

PSMA PETCT