It is regarded as one of the most sensitive and specific tools available for detecting, staging, and restaging prostate cancer, including at very low levels of disease activity that may be undetectable with conventional CT or bone scan.

This scan is typically requested by your urologist, oncologist, or radiation oncologist to guide treatment decisions – whether that be surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, or targeted treatments such as Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy.

How It Works

The PSMA tracer is a radioactive molecule that binds specifically to PSMA – a protein that is overexpressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells. This targeted binding means the tracer accumulates at sites of prostate cancer throughout the body, producing highly detailed images of both primary disease and any spread to lymph nodes, bone, or distant organs.

Clinical Indications

Your specialist may refer you for a PSMA PET/CT scan for any of the following reasons:

• Initial staging of newly diagnosed intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer
• Biochemical recurrence – rising PSA following previous treatment
• Assessing eligibility for Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy
• Monitoring response to treatment

What to Expect

On arrival, a technologist will complete a short clinical questionnaire. A cannula (plastic tube) is placed in a vein in your arm, and you will be shown to a private uptake room with a recliner and television.

You will be connected to a saline drip, and the PSMA tracer will be administered. The tracer requires approximately 1 hour to circulate. After around 40 minutes, a technologist will administer an injection of CT contrast (iodine dye), if tolerated, to help distinguish the prostate from the bladder on imaging. You are encouraged to drink extra water and use the toilet as needed throughout the uptake period to reduce background signal in the urinary tract.

The scan takes between 15 and 25 minutes. Standard coverage is from the head to the mid-thigh. Most patients remain fully clothed, with the exception of large metal items.

Expect the entire procedure to take approximately 2 hours from arrival.

Scan Preparation

• 2-hour fast prior to your appointment.
• 500 mL of plain, unflavoured water in the hour leading up to your appointment.
• Wear comfortable clothing and avoid jewellery or large metal items.

Risks and Side Effects

There are no reported side effects from the PET tracer used with this procedure. Read more on potential side effects from the CT scan with contrast.

After the procedure, you can eat and drink as normal. The tracer will have cleared the body by itself within 24 hours. The radiation dose is equivalent to having a diagnostic CT scan, and it is safe to be around other people, including children, immediately after the scan.

Where Is PSMA PET/CT Available?

PSMA PET/CT is available at our Tennyson Centre – Kurralta Park and Southern Specialist Centre – Morphett Vale sites.