PSMA PET improves characterization of dural-based intracranial lesions in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Purpose: Theranostic approaches combining prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-PET/CT or PET/MRI with PSMA-targeted radionuclide therapy have improved clinical outcomes in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) especially metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. Dural metastases in PCa are rare but can pose a diagnostic challenge, as meningiomas, a more common dural based lesions have been shown to express PSMA. The aim of this study is to compare PSMA PET parameters between brain lesions classified as dural metastases and meningiomas in prostate cancer patients.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of PSMA PET/CT scans in patients with PCa and intracranial lesions was conducted. Brain lesions were categorized as dural metastases or meningiomas based on MRI characteristics, longitudinal follow-up, and histopathological characteristics. Standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of each brain lesion were measured, along with SUV ratio referencing parotid gland (SUVR). SUVs between lesions classified as metastases and meningiomas, respectively, were compared using Mann-Whitney-test. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using ROC analysis.
Results: 26 male patients (median age: 76.5 years, range: 59-96 years) met inclusion criteria. A total of 44 lesions (7 meningiomas and 37 metastases) were analyzed. Median SUVmax and SUVR were significantly lower in meningiomas compared to metastases (SUVmax: 2.7 vs. 11.5, p = 0.001; SUVR: 0.26 vs. 1.05, p < 0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated AUC 0.903; the optimal cut-off value for SUVR was 0.81 with 81.1 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity.
Conclusion: PSMA PET has the potential to differentiate meningiomas from dural-based metastases in patients with PCa, which can optimize clinical management and thus improve patient outcomes.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: 1. Investigator initiated trial grant, funding paid to institution (Weill Cornell Medicine) from Novartis Pharmaceuticals. 2. Investigator initiated trial grant, funding paid to institution (Weill Cornell Medicine) from GE Healthcare. 3. Investigator initiated trial grant, funding paid to institution (Weill Cornell Medicine) from Curium Pharma. Other authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.
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