Economic assessment of molecular imaging in the oncology treatment process.

The development towards targeted treatments in oncology has been accompanied by significant improvements in molecular imaging. Yet, broad application of novel imaging techniques has partly been slowed down due to economical considerations. Building on the broad positive evidence of its diagnostic accuracy, modelling of effects on long-term costs and effectiveness may help to foster a broader application and acceptance of comprehensive molecular imaging techniques, such as PET/MRI.

Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in Primary and Recurrent Prostate Carcinoma: Implications for Radiotherapeutic Management in 121 Patients.

The present study analyzed the impact of Gallium-68 (Ga)-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen-HBED-CC (Ga-PSMA-11) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) on radiotherapeutic management in a large cohort of men with primary or recurrent disease. This study investigated 121 men with carcinoma of the prostate who underwent Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT as well as conventional imaging. 50 patients were treatment naive, 11 had persistent prostate-specific antigen (PSA) soon after surgery and 60 presented with recurrent PSA following definitive therapy.

Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer: Initial Results with [F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT.

Biochemical recurrence (BCR) is a concern for prostate cancer patients after local treatment. Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligands have significantly improved prostate cancer imaging. However, several F-labeled ligands that were developed as fluorinated tracers might present advantages.

Integration of CT urography improves diagnostic confidence of Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in prostate cancer patients.

Background: To prove the feasibility of integrating CT urography (CTU) into Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and to analyze the impact of CTU on assigning focal tracer accumulation in the ureteric space to either ureteric excretion or metastatic disease concerning topographic attribution and diagnostic confidence.

Methods: Ten prostate cancer patients who underwent Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT including CTU because of biochemical relapse or known metastatic disease were retrospectively analyzed. CTU consisted of an excretory phase 10 min after injection of 80 mL iodinated contrast material.

[Significance and Value of PSMA Ligands in Prostate Cancer].

In recent years, PSMA-targeting PET tracers such as Ga-PSMA-11 have shown promising results, thus contributing to a better management of prostate cancer patients. At the present time, Ga-PSMA-11 is most frequently used for diagnostic evaluation in the setting of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. In this context, the Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT delivers superior detection rates compared to conventional imaging, especially for the detection of small, unsuspicious lesions or lesions in the presence of low PSA values.