The added value of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in anatomical staging of prostatic carcinoma in correlation with the histopathological zonal staging.

Background: Prostate cancer is well known as the commonest cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. CT, MRI and bone scintigraphy are considered the commonly widely used imaging diagnostic tools for detection, staging and follow-up of prostate cancer. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a membrane glycoprotein, that can be concentrated in prostate cancer cells up to 100 times higher than in normal cells. PSMA-targeted imaging modalities have now proven their efficacy in diagnosis, staging and follow-up of prostate cancer. The use of ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET-CT has efficiently improved the detection of loco-regional and metastatic disease. ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET-CT also has an effective role in the primary diagnosis, staging, and detecting biochemical recurrence after curative treatment and in metastasis-targeted therapy. This work aims to review the role of ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET-CT in anatomical staging of prostate cancer in correlation with histopathological staging. Results: Zonal correlation between ⁶⁸Ga PSMA findings and biopsy results showed sensitivity ranging between 76.9 and 90.6% and specificity ranging from 85.7 to 100%. There was high significant correlation between the SUVmax uptake and the biopsy results, between the SUVmax uptake and the local staging as well as between the Gleason score and ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET/CT findings. Conclusions: ⁶⁸Ga PSMA PET/CT is a highly promising imaging modality with an effective role in detection of prostate cancer showing high sensitivity and specificity in prediction of zonal histopathological results and loco-regional Gleason score staging with significant positive correlation between the SUV uptake results, Gleason score and the PSA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]