Molecular Imaging and Prostate Cancer

Molecular imaging is a type of nuclear medicine. It shows a detailed physiologic picture at the cellular and molecular level. This permits the treatment team to precisely localize tumors and cancer cells, making for tailor-made medicine for each individual patient.

Furthermore, molecular imaging shows cellular changes much earlier than they would be detected by older imaging types. Molecular imaging also allows physicians to quickly determine the exact nature of a patient’s response to treatments like chemotherapy or brachytherapy.

These advanced imaging techniques are made possible by the injection of a radiotracer, a radioactive compound that will bind to certain substances in the body. The radiotracer acts as a kind of highlighter, showing the location of pertinent structures and physiologic processes.

68Ga-PSMA scans are particularly useful when checking for the recurrence of prostate cancer or to survey suspicious lesions, especially when traditional laboratory blood tests like PSA are normal. 68Ga-PSMA scans can also be utilized when the patient has had a prostatectomy or surgical removal of the prostate, and other testing methods cannot be used.

There are some risks with any nuclear medicine procedure since radiation is being used. However, the incidence of adverse effects is low, and the benefits of precise and early cancer detection outweigh the possible risks.

These scans are currently not available in the United States but have been offered at Sheba Medical Center for over two years now. During this time, the staff at Sheba has developed expertise while performing over 450 studies.

Furthermore, Sheba is Joint Commission International (JCI)-accredited, meaning we are certified by the foremost international healthcare accrediting authority. Sheba’s Nuclear Medicine Department also holds QUANUM (IAEA) accreditation. Furthermore, our PET-CT camera is constantly maintained in order to meet stringent EARL standards.

Contact Sheba Medical Center for a consultation about possible molecular imaging using 68Ga-PSMA today.