PET-CT PSMA: the investigation that localises tumour cells in advanced prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, pinpointing the exact location of the disease within the body can decisively influence how doctors establish a treatment plan. Modern imaging investigations are available that provide more information than a simple view of organ structure, revealing certain biological characteristics of tumour cells as well.

One such investigation is PET-CT PSMA, a nuclear medicine procedure that uses a substance (tracer) capable of binding to PSMA – a protein that prostate cancer cells often produce in greater quantities than normal. The investigation combines the functional information provided by PET with the anatomical detail offered by computed tomography, allowing lesions to be identified more readily, even when they are difficult to detect through other imaging methods.

The results of this investigation are used to stage the disease, to check for possible recurrence – particularly when PSA levels rise following treatment – and to assess whether a patient may benefit from certain targeted therapies. It is important for patients to know that the information obtained through PET-CT PSMA can guide very specific treatment decisions; however, it must always be analysed alongside the patient's medical history, PSA values, and previously administered treatments.

Article supported by SANADOR.