11C-choline positron emission tomography in prostate cancer: primary staging and recurrent site staging

Urol Int. 2005;74(3):214-20. doi: 10.1159/000083551.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of 11C-choline positron emission tomography (PET) for primary staging and re-staging of prostate cancer.

Patients and methods: 11C-choline PET, a total of 22 scans, was performed on 13 patients with histologically proven prostate cancer in primary staging (n = 6) and recurrent site staging; following radical prostatectomy (n = 5) and following radiation therapy (n = 3). In 1 patient, 11C-choline PET was performed in both primary staging and re-staging. Also, 3 patients histologically proven to have no malignant prostate were included.

Results: Because urinary 11C-choline activity was low, it did not interfere with the visualization of pelvic structures. 11C-choline PET visualized normal prostate with a mean SUV of 2.99 (range 2.27-3.68) and primary prostate cancer as a hot spot in 5/6 scans with a mean SUV of 4.21 (range 2.99-6.2). In re-staging, 11C-choline PET was true positive in 9/16 scans and true negative in 2/16 scans. 5/16 scans in 2 patients were false negative with negative conventional imaging.

Conclusions: In primary staging, 11C-choline PET may not be of use because of no reliable differential 11C-choline uptake of BPH and prostate cancer. On the other hand, 11C-choline PET may be of value in recurrent site staging and monitoring for the prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carbon Radioisotopes* / administration & dosage
  • Choline* / administration & dosage
  • Drug Combinations
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Drug Combinations
  • Choline