Axumin vs PSMA-PET Scans: which performs better?

[janebob99]

I was curious which of these two scans perform better, in terms of Sensitivity and Specificity, for detecting prostate cancer.

Here are the scores (from ChatGPT).

Axumin

Sensitivity 60-80 %

Specificity 70-90%

PSMA-PET

Sensitivity 85-97%

Specificity 82-97%

[maley2711]

" PSMA PET also is being explored as a tool for primary PCa staging, particularly in patients with high-risk disease features. PSMA PET in this setting is much more specific and also more sensitive than conventional imaging, but it remains unclear whether using PSMA PET for primary staging affects patient outcomes. Based on what we know now, PSMA PET should be considered for evaluating newly diagnosed intermediate or higher-risk PCa, and its performance suggests that prior conventional imaging need not be a prerequisite for its use. PSMA PET has been found to be more sensitive for nodal staging than MRI, abdominal contrast-enhanced CT, or choline PET/CT, but it can miss small lymph node metastases.16,17 This is a great reminder that PSMA PET does not replace the microscope and should not be regarded as a substitute for pelvic node dissection—indeed, its sensitivity for detecting nodal metastases was only 40% in two recent studies where histopathology was the reference standard.18,19

[janebob99 in reply to maley2711]

Thanks.

[podsart]

I think that one benefit of say, choline PET is that it is a metabolic type scan, so can pick up mets that dont have PSMA

[janebob99]

That's true, it can pick up other cancers than prostate cancer.

[j-o-h-n]

More dynamite to test on my ex-wife.... Thanks

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n