11C–Choline PET / CT in the detection of prostate cancer relapse in patients with rising PSA

Objective. To evaluate the diagnostic impact of 11C–Choline PET / CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy and to assess the correlation between PSA levels and PET / CT detection rate of PCa relapse.

Subjects and methods. 85 patients with biochemical relapse (mean PSA 3.51 ± 3.87 ng / ml) after radical prostatectomy (n = 64) and radiotherapy (n = 21) underwent 11C–Choline PET / CT. According to PSA level, patients were divided into three groups:  2 ng / ml, 2 to 9 ng / ml and > 9 ng / ml.

Results. Overall, 11C–Choline PET / CT detected PCa relapse in 33 of 85 patients (39 %). The mean PSA value in PET-positive patients was 5.78 ± 4.95 (0.22–17.80) ng / ml, while in PET-negative patients – 1.43 ± 1.08 (0.28–4.57) ng / ml. Positive PET / CT results were obtained in 9 of 40 patients (22 %) with PSA of < 2 ng / ml, in 17 of 38 patients (45 %) with PSA of 2 to 9 ng / ml, and in 7 of 7 patients (100 %) with PSA of > 9 ng / ml. Local relapse was detected in 42 % (14 / 33) patients. Both local and distant metastases were diagnosed in 39 % (13 / 33) cases. Distant relapse
was identified in 19 % (6 / 33) cases. PET / CT allowed to assess the efficacy of treatment in 26 % (12 / 47) PET-negative patients under hormone therapy at the scan time. However, PET / CT wasn’t able to localize the site of PCa recurrence in these hormone-ensitive patients what might have affected the overall detection rate.

Conclusion. 1) 11C–Choline PET / CT was able to detect and correctly identify the site of PCa relapse in 39 % cases and therefore was useful in determining the further therapeutic approach. 2) Our data confirmed the strong correlation between PSA levels and 11C–Choline PET / CT detection rate of PCa relapse (r = 0.9; p < 0.001). 3) 11C–Choline PET / CT has limited utility in localizing the site of PCa recurrence in some patients under hormone therapy.