PSMA PET CT Scan for Prostate Cancer: Detection, Procedure & Benefits

PSMA is the short form of prostate specific membrane antigen and PSMA PET CT is the diagnostic tool for the detection of prostate cancer. Cells involved in prostate cancer release a specific type of called PSMA and radioactive tracer targets this specific antigen for diagnostic purpose. PSMA PET CT is safe test and is one of the most promising diagnostic tools for the detection of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be fatal, if left untreated for long. This cancer can spread to other parts of the body and can make the condition worse. Early detection of the cancer is important for the treatment of the cancer and also helps to limit the spread. PSMA PET CT is effective tool used for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is uncontrolled division of cells in prostate leading to tumors with the symptoms of blood with urine or semen, unintentional weight loss, back pain etc.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate is the part of male reproductive system, which produces fluid that is necessary for the keep the sperm healthy for conception and pregnancy. Prostate cancer is the condition of uncontrolled growth of cells leading to the formation of tumors. There is not exact cause of prostate cancer known but there are various risk factors like age, genetics, race etc. which can lead to this condition. 

What are the symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

There are various symptoms of prostate cancer like:

• Urgent and frequent urination 
• Weak urine flow with starts and stops in beginning
• Pain during peeing
• Loss of bladder control
• Loss of bowl control
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in semen and pee
• Constant pain in lower back, chest or hip

What are the causes of Prostate Cancer?

Various causes which can be related to the prostate cancer are:

• Age of the patient
• Family history of patient
• Race and ethnicity of patient
• Genetic mutation
• Smoking 
• Prostatitis
• STD diseases
• Exposure to certain chemical like agent orange

Which type of prostate cancers can be detected by PSMA PET CT?

PSMA PET CT can detect almost all types of prostate cancer like:

• Adenocarcinoma
• Small Cell Carcinoma
• Neuroendocrine Tumors
• Transitional Cell Carcinoma
• Sarcomas
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Lymphoma

What can PSMA PET CT detect in prostate cancer?

PSMA PET CT can detect various conditions of prostate and these include:

• It shows anatomy of cells in prostate and surrounding area
• It shows the primary cause of prostate cancer
• It helps to design a treatment for prostate cancer
• It can show the effect of treatment on prostate cancer
• It can show the type of prostate cancer
• It can show the spread of prostate cancer
• Detection of recurrence of prostate cancer

What type of cancers can be detected by PSMA PET CT scan?

PSMA PET CT is specific for the detection of prostate cancers. But in some rare cases it can also be used in different other cancers which can produce PSMA in small amounts. These cancers include:

• Liver Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Brain Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Lungs Cancer
• Salivary Gland Cancer
• Kidneys Cancer

What are the side effects of PSMA PET CT scan?

There are various side effects of PSMA PET CT, but these are temporary and can extinct after sometime. These side effects include:

• Fatigue (Feeling very tired)
• Headache
• Change in taste or sensory organs
• Mild allergic reactions etc.

How much time it takes for PSMA PET CT procedure?

Like all other procedures, PSMA PET CT uses radioactive tracer and follow the same procedure as the other PET CT scans. The scanning usually take 30 to 60 minutes but the whole procedure can take around 2 hours.

Conclusion

PSMA PET CT (prostate specific membrane antigen) is a specific diagnostic tool for the detection of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is  a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that requires early detection for effective treatment. Prostate is the part of male reproductive system which is responsible for the production of fluid needed for semen functionality. Any abnormality or mutation in cells can lead to the formation of tumors which can spread to other parts of the body. A PSMA PET CT scan serves as a highly reliable and advanced diagnostic tool tOvarian PET CT

PET CT for ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer diagnosis

Ovarian cancer symptoms

Ovarian tumor detection

PET scan for female reproductive cancer

PET CT scan procedure

PET CT scan cost

Early detection of ovarian cancer

Imaging test for ovarian cancerhat combines functional and anatomical imaging to detect tumors, assess their spread, and monitor treatment response. By using a radioactive tracer it identifies the cells producing the specific antigen. PSMA PET CT can also be used to detect various other cancers like kidney cancer, liver, thyroid, brain, breast etc. The procedure takes almost 2 hours to complete and scanning takes around 30-60 minutes. PSMA PET CT plays a crucial role in improving patient outcomes providing timely diagnosis, helps to design the treatment, helps to detect the spread and to look for the effect of treatment.