PET CT SCAN

[lewicki]

How accurate is this scan in detecting Pca compared to a PSMA Pet ?

[Derf4223]

I had trouble at first realizing there is only one "PSMA" scan whose full acronym is PSMA PET/CT. It is a combination of PET and CT scans where a mild (fast-decay) radioactive PSMA-attracting IV injection lights up tissues that take up PSMA under the PET scan. The PET scan is not high enough in resolution, so a CT scan is taken at the same time and the resulting imagery combines both. It can still miss tiny mets but its the current state of the art outside of research facilities. The real magic is in the injection, of which there are several types.

With that said, if your doctors want MRI, X-ray, and maybe CT scans, I recommend you get those. Your doctors need to get a detailed picture of other possible issues that might complicate PCa treatment.

You didn't mention ADT. Protocol requires 2 months of Firmagon before RT, and ADT during and after RT. I am not a doctor, but trust me you want to hit your PCa hard. Its a hydra monster of a disease.

[tango65]

PSMA PET is a PSMA PET/CT. The CT scan does not have the imagen definition of a diagnostic CT scan.

It is a low definition CT to indicate where the PSMA positive findings are located. It could also be used to measure the size of the mets.

The best situation is to request a PSMA PET/CT with diagnostic CT scan. The diagnostic CT scan has higher definition, measures and locations may be more precise etc.

[Jack54 in reply to tango65]

What are the requirements in order to get a PSMA PET/CT, for someone who has finished treatment. No metastasis detected before treatment. For example, me. Finished 45 EBRT and 18 months ADT December 2021. PSA s since then are: .01, .11, .11, .24 and last in March was .39.

[fireandice123 in reply to Jack54]

Blue Cross required that my PSA was at least 1.0 before they would approve my PSMA scan. That was after RT and an ADT vacation.

[Jack54 in reply to fireandice123]

Thanks fireandice123

[tango65 in reply to Jack54]

If you did not have distant mets, and had radiotherapy plus ADT, you don't need to worry until the PSA is 2 points above the nadir.

Your PSA will fluctuate and increase since you still have a prostate., and your testosterones is increasing because you stopped ADT and you are using testosterone.

[Jack54 in reply to tango65]

Thanks tango65

[tango65 in reply to Jack54]

Best of luck!!

[Concerned-wife in reply to tango65]

even with a pelvic met, my husband was advised by a leading center to wait to 2.0 . He is on vacation,too. Had radiation of the met and prostate and 2 years of aft and Abi.

[TeleGuy]

You are probably getting an FDG PET/CT scan. This uses what’s essentially radioactive sugar to light up anything that is hypermetabolic. If you have mutations that makes your PCa not express as much (or any) PSMA, the FDG PET will highlight it because it will be gobbling up sugar.

[RMontana]

There is some utility in PET and Bone scans according to this podcast...but PSMA PET is the new SOC that should be used; PET scans will go away in time. Check this out. Rick

healthunlocked.com/active-s...