Mark Scholz, MD discusses new PET scan technology and compares it with older but more common full-body scanning techniques.

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Dr. Scholz discusses the use of PET Technetium-99 bone scans, CT scans, and full body MRI scans in newly diagnosed patients and patients with advanced disease. Bone scans are useful for prostate cancer management since it is the primary place that prostate cancer will spread. CT and MRI are more suited for detecting metastatic prostate cancer in soft tissues such as the lymph nodes. However, these scans are not very sensitive and function best when the PSA is already high.

Existing body scans have limitations in terms of their sensitivity, a new FDA approved PET scan called Axumin (fluciclovine f-18) is available for prostate cancer patients. This scan provides useful information about the nature and extent of the disease with better resolution. This creates a new disease space known as oligometastatic disease, where the patient doesn't yet have widespread disease and still has a chance for cure. Additionally, other highly sensitive PET scan technology which although not yet FDA approved is readily available off-label and through clinical trials. These scans can detect early metastatic cancer, and quick intervention can lead to a cure.

To learn more visit www.pcri.org and download PCRI's staging guide.

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