Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET is becoming the preferred imaging technique for prostate cancer (PCa) because of its superior sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional imaging methods.
This article evaluates the methodological and reporting quality of literature regarding the cost-effectiveness of PSMA-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) or MRI for detecting and staging PCa.
To describe the methodological and reporting quality of the published cost-effectiveness studies on PSMA-PET.
MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from inception to December 05, 2025. Two researchers independently screened all retrieved articles according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were appraised for methodological quality using the Quality of Health Economic Studies checklist and for reporting quality using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist.
A total of seven studies were examined, representing both private and public healthcare systems. Overall, these studies demonstrate high methodological and reporting quality. When compared to existing imaging technologies or standard care practices, PSMA-PET/CT or MRI is cost-effective within country-specific willingness-to-pay thresholds.
Cost-effectiveness evaluations may not be widely generalizable due to significant variability among geographical regions concerning resource availability, costs, morbidity and mortality, and standards of practice. As PSMA-PET/CT imaging technology becomes more widely available in additional countries in the coming years, we expect to generate more country-specific data.
Cost-effectiveness of PSMA PET Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET has emerged as the preferred imaging technique for prostate cancer (PCa) due to its superior sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional imaging methods. We reviewed full economic evaluation studies of PSMA PET/CT or MRI, searching MEDLINE and EMBASE from their inception until May 2025. Two researchers independently screened all retrieved articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. We assessed the methodological quality of the studies using the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) checklist and the reporting quality using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. In total, we examined seven studies that represented both private and public healthcare systems. Overall, these studies showed high methodological and reporting quality. When compared to existing imaging technologies or standard care practices, PSMA PET/CT or MRI is considered cost-effective within country-specific willingness-to-pay thresholds. However, the results of cost-effectiveness evaluations may not be universally applicable due to significant variations among geographical regions in terms of resource availability, costs, disease morbidity and mortality, and standards of practice. As PSMA PET/CT imaging technology becomes more widely available in additional countries in the coming years, we anticipate the generation of more country-specific data.
Therapeutic advances in urology. 2026 Mar 29*** epublish ***
Chiranjeev Sanyal, Ricardo Rendon
College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, 5968 College St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada., Department of Urology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.