PET-CT PSMA: the investigation that can change treatment in prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, pinpointing the exact location of the disease is essential, both at the time of diagnosis and when recurrence is suspected. Some lesions can be detected based on their biological characteristics, not solely on their size.

The PSMA PET-CT scan involves administering a radiotracer that binds to PSMA, a protein found in large quantities on the surface of many prostate cancer cells. The PET component shows where the tracer concentrates in the body, whilst the CT component helps establish the precise anatomical location. In this way, affected areas can be detected within the prostate or the prostatic bed (following surgery), as well as in the lymph nodes, bones, or other organs.

This investigation is recommended particularly for assessing patients at risk of disease spread (metastasis) and for identifying persistent or recurrent disease in situations where PSA levels begin to rise following prior treatment. The results may influence clinicians' decisions regarding the type of treatment selected: surgery, radiotherapy, systemic treatment, or, in advanced cases, therapies targeting the same PSMA target.

Article supported by SANADOR. Further details at www.sanador.ro.