It is the most successful current imaging technology used to evaluate the spread of prostate cancer to other organs or tissues. The prostate-specific substance called PSMA is bound with the gallium 68 radioisotope and given intravenously to the patient, and imaging is performed with a PET/CT device. Gallium 68 PSMA binds to some unique molecules in the prostate cancer cell, allowing it to show cancerous tissues.

Gallium 68 PSMA What Are The Difference-Making Properties/Advantages?

Staging

It is applied at the initial stage of the disease, that is, immediately after the diagnosis, to evaluate the extent of the disease. It is not necessary to apply to all prostate cancer patients. When applied to the right patient, it can significantly change the stage of the disease and, therefore, the treatment approach. The presence of disease in tissues such as nearby lymph nodes and bones, where prostate cancer can often spread, can be revealed, and additional treatments can be applied.

Detection Of Relapse With Gallium 68 PSMA

It is performed to detect recurrence in cases where the PSA value in the blood starts to increase in the follow-up of patients with a complete response after treatment or in case of suspicious findings regarding the disease in other imaging tests. It is more successful than other imaging methods in determining whether the disease has relapsed, if it has relapsed, its prevalence, and treatment options.

Making A Radiation And Radioactive Treatment Plan

Radiation therapy guides planning, giving high doses to the biological target, and protecting normal tissues. It predicts the benefit of the treatment and appropriate patient selection by showing the disease activity before planning radioactive therapies such as targeted Radium-223, Lutetium 177 PSMA, and Actinium PSMA.

What Is The Gallium 68 PSMA Process?

There is no need to be hungry for the examination. You need to plan a day. That’s why we work by appointment. It would be helpful to bring the results of other investigations if any. 45-60 minutes after the drug is given intravenously. There is a waiting period. The shooting time inside the device is approximately 20 minutes. And it would help if you did not move during this time. In the Total Nuclear Medicine clinic, 2-3 hours may pass. It is recommended to drink plenty of water before and after the examination. Since the radiation will remain in the body for a while (6-12 hours) after the test, it is necessary to keep a distance, especially from pregnant women and children.

What Are The Application Areas Of Gallium 68 PSMA?

  • For staging purposes in selected cancer patients,
  • In the evaluation of systemic treatment response in prostate cancer,
  • In detecting recurrence,
  • In radiation therapy planning,
  • It is used to determine suitability for molecular radioactive treatments.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Gallium 68 PSMA?

The substance given is not a drug; it has no side effects, and the radiation from the gallium 68 radioactive substance is very low. There are no known proven side effects of radiation at the doses given for the examination. However, because it contains radiation, it should only be applied to appropriate and necessary patients.

 

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