Advances in imaging modalities in prostate cancer

Purpose of review: Imaging plays an important role in the clinical management of prostate cancer (PCa). Thus, much effort has gone into improving imaging modalities in PCa. This review focuses on the recent advancements in transrectal ultrasound, MRI and PET during the past year. Recent findings: Contrast-enhanced transrectal ultrasound with microbubbles may be useful in PCa, but needs further evaluation before more widespread use. Multiparametric MRI has emerged as a valuable tool to assist clinical management of PCa, and great progress has been made in the past year. Several radionuclides for PET/computed tomography have been tested in clinical trials; most of the studies have used radiolabeled choline. However, new PET tracers such as 18F-1-amino-3-fluorine 18-fluorocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid and 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen ligands are demonstrating promising results. PET/MRI may further improve imaging in PCa, but this imaging modality needs to be evaluated further. Summary: Several advances in the imaging of PCa have been made during the past year. In particular, important clinical developments have been reported in multiparametric MRI, PET/computed tomography, and PET/MRI. The continuing development of imaging techniques in PCa has the potential to optimize treatment of PCa. However, the optimal imaging strategies for each of the major clinical scenarios in PCa have not yet been identified.
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: GENITOURINARY SYSTEM: Edited by Arif Hussain Source Type: research