Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Iranian Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Comparing the diagnostic efficacy of [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-PSMA-11 SPECT/CT scanning after 75 minutes and 4 hours of radiotracer injection in men with prostate cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Azadeh Sahebkari 1
Salman Soltani 2
Hamidreza Ghorbani 2
Kamran Aryana 1
Mona Kabiri 3, 4
Kayvan Sadri 1
Mahdi Mottaghi 2
Atena Aghaee 1
1 Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Kidney Transplantation Complications Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4 Clinical Research Development Unit, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/irjnm.2023.129134.1545
Abstract
Introduction: Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in primary and metastatic prostate carcinoma (PCa) and could be targeted by a [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-PSMA-11 scan for detection of metastases. Despite extensive studies, data on the most appropriate interval between radiopharmaceutical injection and image acquisition is scarce. We compared the metastasis detection rates of the [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-PSMA-11 scan between 75-minute and 4-hour intervals of radiopharmaceutical injection.
Methods: From May 2021 to May 2022, we studied 30 consenting men with pathologically confirmed PCa who were referred to our department requesting  a PSMA scan for primary staging, biochemical recurrence, pre-177Lu-PSMA therapy, or surveillance. 75-minute and 4-hour [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-PSMA-11 SPECT/CT scan performed following injection of the radiopharmaceutical. The corresponding  metastasis detection rates were evaluated in 75-minute and 4-hour intervals.
Results: The mean age of patients was 68.43±9.61 years, with a median PSA of 4.19 ng/ml and a median Gleason Score of 8. Nine cases had negative [99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-PSMA-11 scans, while 21 had positive scans (8 cases with bone, 2 with lung, 4 with lymph node, and 7 with multiple organ metastases). All metastases were detected in both checkpoints, except for one patient, where 75-minute images detected three pelvic metastatic lymph nodes, while four were seen in the 4-hour scan. This small missed right external iliac lymph node did not change the patient’s management.
Conclusion: We found no significant difference in the detection rate of metastatic lesions in 75-minute and 4-hour time intervals. These findings could help to decrease  waiting time and  by more efficient scheduling improves patient’s satisfaction at nuclear medicine departments.
Keywords
[99mTc]Tc-HYNIC-PSMA -11
Prostate cancer
Scintigraphy
SPECT/CT
Metastasis
Subjects
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