MDACC 2018: The Role of PET Imaging

Houston, TX (UroToday.com) Prostate cancer recurrence following definitive therapy is usually heralded by an elevated PSA but recent advances in PET imaging allow us to detect sites of recurrence at much lower levels than previously possible through traditional imaging modalities (i.e. bone scan, CT). Radiotracers tagged with metabolically active compounds (choline, fluciclovine, and PSMA) with differential uptake into malignant tissues based on the molecule to which they are attached. Rather than relying on anatomic characteristics (i.e. size) the use of tagged radiotracers allows for detection of previously subclinical metastasis.

Furthermore, the detection can now occur at far lower PSA levels given that tumor burden no longer needs to reach a level that can be detected by traditional techniques. Combined PET/MRI improves detection rates in the local surgical bed following prostatectomy by combining the spatial resolution of MRI with the high sensitivity of PET.

UroToday MDACC The Role of PET Imaging

UroToday MDACC The Role of PET Imaging 2

Presented by: Aradhana M. Venkatesan, MD, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

Written by Justin T. Matulay, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow and Ashish M. Kamat, MD (@UroDocAsh), Professor, Department of Urology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX at the 13th Update on the Management of Genitourinary Malignancies, The University of Texas (MDACC - MD Anderson Cancer Center) November 9-10, 2018, Dan L. Duncan Building, Houston, TX

Login