PSMA-PET Imaging

Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) is now offering a new diagnostic radiopharmaceutical to determine the presence or absence of metastatic and/or recurrent prostate cancer.

This injection is a radioactive diagnostic agent indicated for use with positron emission tomography (PET) of PSMA-positive lesions in men with:

• Suspected metastasis who are candidates for initial definitive therapy
• Suspected recurrence based on elevated PSA levels

Prior to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, studies showed that PSMA-PET imaging improves assessment of disease, thereby reducing the risk of undertreatment and the resulting spread of disease, as well as overtreatment, which can lead to unnecessary treatment toxicity or surgery. Also, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) Guidelines for Prostate Cancer do not consider conventional imaging, such as CT or MRI, as a needed prerequisite to PSMA-PET, due to the increased sensitivity and specificity of the tracers in detecting disease compared to conventional imaging.

Traditional Action: A CT and bone scan, which in most cases would not show the recurrent prostate cancer since PSA was so low and the cells were below the threshold of detection for those studies.

PSMA-PET Scan: Clearly shows site of cancer recurrence within right side of the prostate bed, correlating with the area of positive margin on initial pathology report.

Treatment Plan: We can now confidently utilize radiation therapy and direct it precisely to the region of abnormality shown on the PET scan to try to eradicate the recurrence.

Orlando Health ORMC is one of only a few in Florida to offer this advanced diagnostic tool that allows our physicians the ability to identify suspected metastatic or recurrent prostate cancer earlier, thus optimizing treatment planning.

For more information on PSMA-PET imaging, contact the Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center PET/CT Department at (321) 843-4125.