Evaluation of PSMA PET/CT imaging using a 68Ga-HBED-CC ligand in patients with prostate cancer and the value of early pelvic imaging. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kabasakal, Levent; Demirci, Emre; Ocak, Meltem; Akyel, Reşit; Nematyazar, Jamal; Aygun, Aslan; Halac, Metin; Talat, Zubeyir; Araman, Ahmet
• Is Part Of: Nuclear medicine communications. Volume 36:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Nuclear medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07575
• DOI: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000000290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-3636

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Purpose</title> <p>The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand <sup>68</sup>Ga-HBED-CC (PSMA PET/CT) in patients with prostate cancer and evaluate the value of early imaging of the pelvis.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Materials and methods</title> <p>The files of 28 patients were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had a histopatological confirmation of prostate cancer. PSMA PET/CT images were obtained at 5 and 60 min after injection from all patients.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results</title> <p>Intense pathologic radiotracer uptake was observed in 23 patients (77%) at the site of primary tumour. Lymph node metastases were detected in 10 patients (36%) and bone metastases were detected in seven patients (25%). Bone scan (<italic>n</italic>=25) results revealed metastatic bone lesions in four patients, equivocal results in nine patients and normal results in 12 patients. PSMA PET/CT confirmed bone metastases in all four patients. Pathologic radiotracer uptake in PSMA PET/CT scans was observed only in one patient among those who had equivocal bone scans. PSMA PET/CT showed additional bone lesions in two patients who had a normal bone scan. When we compared early and late pelvic images we found no difference in the number of lesions detected. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV<sub>max</sub>) for primary tumour, lymph nodes and bone metastases was significantly higher in late images.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>PSMA PET/CT imaging seems to be a valuable imaging modality for evaluation of primary prostate cancer and it seems to have potential for the detection of lymph node and bone metastases. Early images 5 min p.i. can help to better distinguish between urinary bladder (before tracer accumulation occurs) and tumour lesions.</p> </sec> </abstract>