PSMA PET is an innovative imaging technology used to detect and localise with great precision the presence of prostate cancer cells in the body. The patient is injected with a radioactive tracer that targets specifically the PSMA, a protein that is highly expressed on the membrane of prostatic cancer cells.
Before the examination : There is no particular preparation
During the examination
- You are seated in a chair in readiness for the intravenous injection of a radioactive tracer that targets the PSMA.
- After the injection it takes between 60 and 90 minutes for the tracer to attach itself to the cancer cells.
- You then lie down on a movable table that passes through the PET-CT scanner for the pictures to be taken
- Acquiring the images is painless and takes about 10 minutes.
Duration : 1.30 to 2 hours
After the examination
- The images are analysed by a specialist doctor and the results are transmitted to the urologist or oncologist to discuss possible treatment.
Any close or prolonged contact with children or pregnant women should be avoided for a few hours due to the low residual radiation.
Revealing the invisible
The use of PSMA PET marks significant progress in prostate cancer treatment, in particular thanks to its ability to provide a precise extension assessment of the disease. Traditionally, examinations such as the scan or bone scintigraphy were limited when it came to detecting small metastases or localised recurrence, especially in the lymph nodes or bones. These examinations are often not very sensitive and this can result in the extent of the cancer being under-estimated, thereby affecting treatment decisions.
At the Willy Grégoir Prostate Cancer Centre we were the first in Belgium and among the first worldwide to implement this revolutionary imaging and we have been actively involved in its dissemination
PET-MRI (a hybrid technology that combines in a single machine a PET scan and magnetic resonance imaging) represents promising progress in diagnosing prostate cancer, although its use is currently restricted to clinical trials. This combination of imaging makes it possible to benefit from the precision of PMSA PET and the high spatial resolution of MRI. In combining these two methods, the PSMA PET-MRI provides an extremely precise mapping of the prostate suspect zones, thereby permitting a more precise targeting of the biopsies and improved cancer detection
PSMA PET has paved the way for new and innovative treatment solutions, such as theranostics. This concept combines diagnostics and therapy by using targeted agents to detect and treat the cancer simultaneously. For example, Lutetium-177-PSMA is a treatment that uses a radionuclide (Lutetium-177) linked to a specific PSMA ligand that targets directly the prostate cancer cells. Thanks to PSMA PET imaging, doctors can precisely localise the tumours and administer a therapeutic dose of Lutetium-177 to radiate the cancer cells selectively. This approach makes it possible to treat prostate cancer cells at an advanced stage while minimising the impact on healthy tissue., thereby representing major progress in the targeted treatment of prostate cancer.
More information on Theranostics