UroToday - Use of [11C]choline PET/CT in prostate cancer (CaP) imaging has demonstrated mixed results. The usefulness of labeled choline in cancer imaging is based upon the fact that the rate limiting enzyme choline kinase and the specific choline transporter are upregulated to support increased cell proliferation and concomitant membrane forming with major components being various phospholipids. Dr. Ludwig Rinnab and associates reported their experience with [11C]choline PET/CT staging of CaP in the online edition of the World Journal of Urology.

A retrospective study of 41 patients without evidence of lymph node or distant metastasis was performed. Mean age was 64.9 years and all had a rising PSA after radical prostatectomy (RP). Nine had received adjuvant radiotherapy and were identified by 3 consecutive rises in the PSA level. All patients had PSA measured on the day of [11C]choline PET/CT imaging and the mean was 2.8ng/ml. Imaging assessment was performed in a blinded fashion. TRUS was also performed in all patients.

In patients with pathological [11C]choline PET/CT uptake, PSA was 3.1ng/ml, and in those with a negative scan it was 0.86ng/ml. In 6 of 12 men with a PSA