PSMA: Advanced Diagnostic Imaging for Prostate Cancer
Advanced Imaging scans provide detailed views of the prostate and surrounding tissues and are an important part of modern prostate cancer diagnosis and staging. Advanced Imaging helps plan precise treatment and may reduce the need for more invasive procedures when results are clear and low risk.
Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence offers:
PSMA PET/CT:
PSMA
PET/CT combines a PET scan with a CT scan to produce very detailed images of
prostate cancer cells anywhere in the body. PSMA stands for prostate-specific membrane antigen, a protein found in higher amounts on prostate cancer
cells.
How it works:
- A small amount of radiotracer is injected into the vein.
- The tracer binds to PSMA proteins on prostate cancer cells "lighting up" areas where cancer is present.
- The PET and CT image are combined into a 3D picture that shows exactly where cancer may be located, inside and outside the prostate.
PSMA PET/CT is more precise than traditional imaging like MRI or CT alone, especially when looking for cancer that has moved beyond the prostate or has recurred.
Who is a Candidate for PSMA?
- Patients with a rising PSA
- Patients with recurring prostate cancer
- Patients with metastatic prostate cancer
- Patients seeking cancer treatment needs
Benefits of PSMA PET/CT:
- Early, precise detection of prostate cancer cells
- Ability to show whether cancer is localized or spread
- Better planning for treatment
- Potential to avoid unnecessary biopsies when imaging is clear