[18F]fluorocholine PET/CT imaging for the detection of recurrent prostate cancer at PSA relapse: experience in 100 consecutive patients

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2006 Dec;33(12):1387-98. doi: 10.1007/s00259-006-0150-2. Epub 2006 Jul 25.

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the potential of PET/CT and [(18)F]fluoromethylcholine (FCH) in the assessment of suspected recurrence of prostate cancer after treatment.

Methods: One hundred consecutive prostate cancer patients with a persistent increase in serum PSA (>0.1 ng/ml) after radical prostatectomy (58 cases), radiotherapy (21 cases) or hormonal therapy alone (21 cases) were investigated. After injection of 3.7-4.07 MBq/kg of FCH, both early (at <15 min) and delayed (at >60 min) PET/CT scans were performed in 43 patients, delayed PET/CT scans in 53 patients and early PET/CT scans in four patients.

Results: Of the 100 patients, 54 (PSA 0.22-511.79 ng/ml) showed positive FCH PET/CT scans. Thirty-seven patients had bone and/or abdominal lymph node uptake, while 17 showed pelvic activity. Malignant disease was confirmed in all but one. Delayed SUV(max) of bone metastases was significantly higher (p<0.0001 by paired t test) than that measured at <15 min, whereas no differences were observed between early and delayed SUVs of malignant lymph nodes or pelvic disease. Forty-six patients (PSA 0.12-14.3 ng/ml) showed negative FCH PET/CT scans. Of the negative PET/CT scans, 89% were obtained in patients with serum PSA <4 ng/ml and 87% in patients with a Gleason score <8. In none of these cases could recurrent tumour be proven clinically during a follow-up of 6 months.

Conclusion: FCH PET/CT is not likely to have a significant impact on the care of prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence until PSA increases to above 4 ng/ml. However, in selected patients, FCH PET/CT helps to exclude distant metastases when salvage local treatment is intended.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Choline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / diagnostic imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Recurrence
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • fluorocholine
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Choline