PET/CT Scans Deemed Useful Prostate Cancer Staging Tool

Recent studies have suggested that C-11 choline positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) scans can be utilized as a staging and potentially therapeutic tool in prostate cancer. The results of three studies, released recently during a medical meeting, confirmed findings in Europe to expand the potential use of C-11 choline PET scans.

The studies’ findings were presented at the North Central Section of the American Urological Association, held October 2011 in Rancho Mirage (CA, USA). One study found that C-11 choline PET/CT scans can be used as a staging tool rather than multiple X-rays, but is not necessarily better. Two additional studies support the favorable claims made in recent medical research about the use of PET scans to assess patients with recurrent prostate cancer. These findings are important because differentiating localized disease recurrence from systemic recurrence is an important step in optimizing treatment following primary treatment failure.

“Taken together, the three studies presented [on October 24, 2011,] represent an important validation of the C-11 choline PET/CT scan as a staging tool for patients with prostate cancer,” said R. Jeffrey Karnes, MD, from the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA), senior author of all three papers. “We believe the use of these scans can improve the staging and treatment of this common form of cancer, while potentially reducing the cost of delivering the best possible care.”

PET is an imaging technology that uses a small amount of radioactive material to reveal how tissues and organs are functioning. A C-11 choline PET scan involves the injection into a vein of a small amount of C-11 choline, a radioactive form of the vitamin choline. Clinicians then use a scanner and computer to make detailed pictures of areas where the C-11 choline collects. Since cancer cells take up more C-11 choline than normal cells, the images can be used to find cancer in the body.

The first study’s findings suggested that C11-choline PET is an accurate diagnostic tool when used as the initial staging tool prior to definitive treatment and could potentially eliminate the need for CT and/or bone scans.

The second study found that a C-11 choline PET scan is an effective diagnostic tool for detecting localized disease recurrences that, in select cases, are suitable for salvage surgical resection.

The final study revealed that the operational performance of C11-choline PET for assessing patients with recurrent prostate cancer supports the encouraging claims regarding this technology.

The use of C-11-choline PET considerably enhances the rate of prostate cancer lesion detection by about 30% beyond what can be acquired using traditional imaging modalities.

Related Links:
North Central Section of the American Urological Association
Mayo Clinic