[۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT for staging and patient management of high-risk prostate cancer: A single-center experience from Iran

Introduction: Accurate staging plays an important role in management of patients with prostate cancer especially in high-risk group. Today, [۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT should be considered as the preferred imaging tool for treatment planning and initial staging of the disease. Methods: A total number of ۶۲۸ patients with prostate cancer referred to Razavi hospital nuclear medicine department between March ۲۰۱۶ and December ۲۰۱۹. Among ۱۰۳ patients in initial staging category, ۲۳ cases met our inclusion criteria and entered the study. All patients performed CT scan or MRI accompanied with bone scintigraphy before [۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT. The scan results were compared with conventional imaging and their treatment plan determined before and after performing[۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT. Results: The detection rate of [۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT was superior to CT/MRI in local lymph node involvements (۵۶.۵% to ۲۱.۷%), as well as for distant metastases (۴۷.۸۳% to ۱۳%). The scan findings lead to upstaging in ۹ patients and down staging in ۴ patients.[۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT results changes the therapeutic plan in ۱۳ patients (۵۶.۵%). Conclusion: [۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CTis a promising imaging tool for initial staging of high-risk prostate cancer patients with significant higher detection rate in comparison to the conventional imaging. The study showed ۵۶.۵% changes in treatment planning following [۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ PET/CT study.

Keywords:

[۶۸Ga]Ga-PSMA-۱۱ , PET/CT , prostate cancer , High risk , Staging