First Case of F-FACBC PET/CT-Guided Salvage Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Disease Relapse after Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer and Negative 11C-Choline PET/CT: New Imaging Techniques May Expand Pioneering Approaches.

We present the first case of salvage retroperitoneal lymph node dissection based on the results of ¹⁸F-FACBC PET/CT performed for a prostate-specific antigen relapse after radical prostatectomy. The patients underwent ¹¹C-choline PET/CT, which turned out negative, while ¹⁸F-FACBC PET/CT visualized two lymph node metastases confirmed at pathological examination. Preliminary clinical reports showed an improvement in the detection rate of 20-40% for ¹⁸F-FACBC in comparison with ¹¹C-choline, rendering the ¹⁸F-FACBC the potential radiotracer of the future. Salvage surgery for prostate cancer is a fascinating but controversial approach. New diagnostic tools may improve its potential by increasing the assessment and the selection of the patients. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]