Dr Mark Scholz – “The biggest breakthrough since PSA”
PET/CT PSMA Gallium-68 Scan
The name stands for Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography and this diagnostic device contains both technologies. It produces imagery that integrates the two scans that are taken simultaneously.
The concept was developed in Heidelberg in recent years and it is extremely sensitive to extra-prostatic spread. PSMA stands for Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen, a property that is found in Prostate Cancer cells. For the diagnosis procedure a radioactive nuclide Ga68 is attached to the PSMA molecule. After injection, the PSMA agent attaches predominately to prostate cancer cells, wherever they are, producing an accurate image of any cancer spread.
Thus spread to the Lymph Nodes, the Bones and any other part of the body can be detected and included in the disease staging. This allows an appropriate treatment regime to be prescribed.
The beauty of PET/CT PSMA is that it can also be used for targeted treatment of the metastatic disease – see the Theranostics treatment page.
This is a relatively new technology, so I have provided a page that describes its introduction. It’s a case of “The tide is turning”.
A PCRI video explaining the many positives of PET/CT PSMA
PCRI Video
This excellent Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) video discusses the diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer, using this technology, in addition to other methods.
For diagnosis, the radio nuclide used is Ga68. The technology can also be used for treatment by replacing the Ga68 with either Lu177 or Ac225. The term for this technology is “Theranostics”. See the Theranostics Treatment option.