[Positron emission tomography with computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging for primary staging of prostate cancer].

Abstract

Clinical/methodological issue: Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Accurate imaging diagnosis and staging are crucial for patient management and treatment. The role of nuclear medicine in the diagnosis of prostate cancer has evolved rapidly in recent years due to the availability of hybrid imaging with radiopharmaceuticals targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA).

Standard radiological procedures: Hybrid imaging provides higher diagnostic accuracy compared to conventional imaging and has a significant impact on clinical management. Numerous radiotracers have been used in clinical applications, with PSMA ligands being the most commonly used.

Methodological innovations: Hybrid imaging provides higher diagnostic accuracy for lymph node and bone metastases compared to conventional imaging and has a significant impact on clinical management.

Performance: The high accuracy for primary staging in high-risk prostate cancer using PSMA ligands has led to the inclusion of PSMA positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the new German S3 guideline for primary staging of prostate cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the use of PET imaging in the primary diagnosis of prostate cancer, to present the most commonly used radiotracers, and to highlight the results of recent studies.