Use of Radionuclide and hybrid imaging in the assessment of recurrent prostate cancer

This article analyzes the latest information on imaging tests used in checking for prostate cancer recurrence. Radionuclide imaging and hybrid imaging are among the imaging tests reviewed in this article.

Recurrent prostate cancer is a cancer that has come back after initial treatment. Most imaging tests have limited accuracy in the assessment of recurrent cancers. Checking for recurrent cancer using radionuclide imaging (use of radioactive materials), and hybrid imaging (combination of several imaging methods), combine both functional and morphological imaging. While normal morphological imaging checks how different tissues look, functional imaging checks how a tissue behaves. This includes blood flow and use of nutrients. The combination of morphological and functional imaging provides a more accurate assessment of whether or not a cancer has returned.

In this article, the latest medical trials and studies were reviewed. One of the studies showed that the Choline-PET-CT test managed to predict recurrence of local cancer in almost 50% of patients before any other test could. Another study used Hybrid PET–CT imaging to check for spread of the cancer to the bones. This method proved to be more accurate than others in detecting cancer metastasis to the bones.

In summary, this article agrees that the use of hybrid imaging is the preferred testing method for recurrences of prostate cancer.

This article did not adress whether early detection of recurrence with hybrid imaging could have any effect on overall survival. Hybrid imaging may also be unavailable in certain medical centers.

Consult with your doctor on the best imaging test to check for changes in your disease.