Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men in the US, behind skin cancers. 11% of men will be diagnosed with it, and 2.5% will die from it. It’s also one of the most difficult disease states to identify in men due to the length of time it takes to manifest symptoms to treat.
That’s why early screening is critical for healthcare providers to help their patients. A new option, PSMA PET scans, stands above the rest as the most effective screening method. Read on to learn more in our PSMA prostate cancer scan guide.
How Does It Work?
One way to understand the scan is to break down its acronyms. What do PET and PSMA stand for? PET stands for positron emission tomography imaging, and it is the gold standard for cancer screening exams. PSMA stands for prostate-specific membrane antigen. This is a protein found on the surface of the prostate.
A PSMA PET scan uses a drug known as 68Ga-PSMA-11. The radioactive imaging agent binds to prostate cancer cells. This allows for better identification.
Who’s a Candidate?
PSMA PET scans are most commonly ordered for patients who meet two criteria. First, they have prostate cancer that has likely already spread to other parts of their body. Second, their cancer is potentially curable with treatments such as surgery or radiation.
The rise in prostate cancer levels means that those with recurring cases are candidates as well. These include patients with a risk for metastatic disease and or who were previously treated but still have high PSA levels.
What Happens Before, During, and After the Exam?
The scan will check your PSA levels and PSMA prostate membrane. Taking time to prepare and knowing what to expect won’t change your results, but it will make it easier to handle.
Before the Exam
Wear something comfortable on the day of your scan. You will have to fill out a patient questionnaire going over medication, allergies, and any medical history that is pertinent before the test.
You’ll have to follow a limited carbohydrate diet for 24 hours before the scan. Don’t drink or eat anything but water for six hours prior. Take any routine medications unless you’ve been instructed not to. You’ll get a contrast screening before the exam begins. You may also need additional certain lab tests.
During the Exam
Try to arrive 15-30 minutes before your appointment. You’ll change into a hospital gown when you arrive. The radiotracer drug, also known as Pylarify, will be injected into your veins via the IV. The doctor may also use one known as gallium 68 PSMA-11. You may have to wait up to an hour to make sure it gets absorbed throughout your body.
The technologist will bring you to the imaging machine. You’ll lie still for around 30 minutes as it scans you. The images are sent to the nuclear medicine physicians that same day. Your cancer doctor then reviews their report and the images. The length of a PSMA Prostrate scan varies, but it typically takes about two hours to complete the study.
After the Exam
You’ll need to drink plenty of water to flush the contrast and radiotracer out.
Please communicate to the staff if you are having any side effects. These could include:
- Nasal Congestion
- Itchy Eyes
- Hives
- Rashes
- Sneezing
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
What If It Detects Tumors?
A PSMA PET scan is not a prostate cancer treatment but rather a diagnostic tool for detecting tumors for prostate cancer.
If tumors are identified, your focus will shift to collaboration with healthcare professionals to determine an appropriate course of action. Tailored therapies targeting specific areas may be recommended, or if the cancer has spread, a systemic, comprehensive approach may be more suitable.
The optimal strategy for your situation might involve a combination of these approaches, emphasizing the importance of working closely with healthcare experts to navigate the next steps.
What Makes PSMA Prostate PET Imaging the Gold Standard for Detecting Prostate Cancer?
First, let’s look at the different imaging techniques used for diagnosing and treating prostate cancer.
SPECT, or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, provides anatomical and metabolic information as opposed to CT scans and MRIs. This provides a more complete picture and cost-effective package. Their radiotracers have a longer half-life than PET systems, which makes this popular test attractive.
PET systems can measure even more. Their radiotracers can monitor:
- Changes in Metabolic Processes
- Blood Flow
- Absorption
- Chemical Composition
They also have other benefits, such as higher spatial resolution and more accurate measurements. They’re faster than SPECT scans. New radiotracers are being developed with longer half-lives, combatting one of their only flaws.
Many of the characteristics of traditional PET scans are also true of PSMA PET scans.
What are The Benefits and Risks?
Using PET and PSMA for prostate cancer screening helps locate small metastatic tumors that other methods may miss. Using them along with CT or MRI scans is even better.
The tracer it uses specifically searches for PSMA. That makes it less likely to look at other areas of the body and mistake issues there for cancer. You’ll get definitive, reliable results that will help you decide what next steps to take. It even has lower radiation levels than other scans.
PSMA PET scans are more expensive. They can cost $4,350 to $6,526 compared to $1,729 to $2,593 for traditional imaging. The levels of radiation are low, but they do present a risk. Talk to your doctor to make sure the procedure is right for you.
Where Can I Get a PSMA PET Scan?
Looking at PSMA prostate membranes can help identify cancer cells. Combining it with a PET scan is even better. This is known as a PSMA PET scan. It’s one of the best ways to identify one of the most common cancers in men.
TTG Imaging Solutions is a national leader in diagnostic imaging equipment. We provide a wide range of equipment, and our team is devoted to finding the most effective, up-to-date options for healthcare providers. Get in touch with us about your clinic’s imaging needs today.
