Prostate Cancer Series Part 3: Scanning and Advanced Imaging

This video is part three of a four-part series where we review helpful screening and diagnostic tools for prostate cancer. In this video, learn the details about PET and PSMA with Prostate Cancer as well as MRI and Bone Scans. #urologycarefoundation #aua #prostatehealth

To learn more about prostate cancer or to find a urologist near you, go to https://www.urologyhealth.org. The Urology Care Foundation is the official foundation of the American Urological Association. Patient resources made possible by the generous support of Lantheus.

Let’s take a deep dive into scanning and advanced imaging for prostate cancer. Scans and imaging may help in early cancer detection, staging and monitoring, as well as to help predict response to targeted therapies. Since there are options available to diagnose or watch the progress of prostate cancer, the type of scan used by your health care team may depend on risk factors or how far the cancer has advanced.

It’s time to take a deeper dive into PET and PSMA, designed for prostate cancer screening. This type of scan may help your health care team better see where and how much the cancer is growing.

A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan is especially useful for monitoring if your prostate cancer is localized or has advanced beyond the prostate. A special agent or enhancer called a tracer – sometimes called a radionuclide or molecular compound - is given through the vein, inhaled, or swallowed. Cells pick up the tracer as it passes through the body. The scan helps to pinpoint where and how much the cancer is growing.

A PSMA PET scan may be used for possible recurrence, people with medium to high risk factors, or those with advanced prostate cancer. This type of scan may help locate and detect the extent of the cancer and suspected metastases.

PSMA, which stands for prostate-specific membrane antigen, is a protein found in the prostate. It is present when cancer cells are present and can be found on the outer surface of most prostate cancer cells. The PSMA protein can help diagnose prostate cancer and detect suspected metastases. The ideal candidate for receiving this type of diagnostic scan is a person who has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is at medium to high risk for metastatic disease or someone who was previously treated for prostate cancer and currently has elevated PSA levels .

Other scanning and advanced imaging for prostate cancer may include the use of MRI or Bone Scans. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan is a diagnostic tool for viewing the prostate to detect signs of cancer. They are also useful for showing if the cancer has spread into the seminal vesicles or nearby tissue.

Most often, a contrast dye is injected into a vein, and a scan is performed to see a very clear image of the prostate. Instead of using X-rays, MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets.

A bone scan can help determine if cancer has spread to the bones. If prostate cancer spreads to distant sites, it often goes to the bones first. A radionuclide dye is injected into the body. Over a few hours, images are taken of the bones. The dye helps to make images of bone cancer show up clearly.

To further explore diagnostic tools and options, please consult your health care team.