Klinik für Urologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Deutschland.
The choline-positron emissiontomography / computed tomography (choline-PET / CT) is a widely used imaging method for prostate cancer. This -review concentrates on the relevance of choline-PET / CT for primary diagnosis, staging and re-staging of prostate cancer and highlights possible -applications in clinical practice. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature research via Pubmed and Medline database for original articles, reviews and editorials on choline-PET / CT and prostate cancer. Choline-PET / CT should not be routinely used for primary diagnosis of pros-tate cancer due to a lack of data. With regard to the definition of the local tumour extent (T-stag-ing) choline-PET / CT plays only a minor role, in contrast, for the evaluation of lymph node in-volvement it has a high positive predictive value and is equal to conventional scintigraphy in detecting bone metastases. Moreover, in cases of biochemical relapse following local therapy, choline-PET / CT seems to be appropriate for differentiating between local recurrence and systemic prostate cancer metastasis, particularly when patients are selected by defined criteria (PSA value > 1.0 ng / mL and / or PSAdt < 6 months and / or Gleason score > 7 and / or primary radiotherapy). The non-critical routine use of choline-PET / CT for patients with prostate cancer cannot be recommended, and this not only because of its high costs. It should be applied to definite clinical questions after thorough selection of appropriate patients.
Article in German.
Written by:
Zengerling F, Schrader AJ, Schrader M, Jentzmik F. Are you the author?
Reference: Aktuelle Urol. 2011 Jul 18. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1271553
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21769763
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section
