Positron Emission Tomography (Pet): Diagnosis, Screening And Treatment In Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer–specific positron emission tomography (pcPET) has been shown to detectsites of disease recurrence at serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels that are lower than those levels detected by conventional imaging. Commonly used pcPET radiotracers in the setting of biochemical recurrence are reviewed including carbon 11/fludeoxy glucose 18 (F-18) choline, gallium 68/F-18 prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and F-18 fluciclovine. Review of the literature generally favors PSMA-based agents for the detection of recurrence as a function of low PSA levels. Positive gallium 68/F-18 PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans detected potential sites of recurrence. Sensitive pc PET imaging has provided new insight into the early patterns of disease spread, which has prompted judicious reconsideration of additional local therapy after either prostatectomy, definitive radiation therapy, or postprostatectomy radiation therapy. This review discusses the literature, clinical utility, availability, and fundamental understanding of pc PET imaging needed to improve clinical practice. Prostate cancer is the most frequent tumor found in men worldwide and in Mexico in particular. Age and family his-tory are the main risk factors. The diagnosis is made by prostate biopsy in patients with abnormalities detected in their prostate-specic antigen (PSA) levels or digital rectal exam (DRE). This article reviews screening and diagnostic methods as well as treatment options for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.