Mednet Logo

How would you work up a patient with prostate cancer with bone scan suspicious for metastatic disease and a negative PSMA PET/CT?

Additional imaging of the potential lesions, biopsy or assume negative given normal PSMA PET/CT.
7 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology
Answered on

While some bone metastases are 99mTc-positive and PSMA-negative, this circumstance is quite rare (< 2%). Based on this alone, in cases like this, I typically conclude that the patient is clinically M0. However, I do consider 3 other factors: the prevalence of bone metastases within the patient’s par...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Answered on

The answer all depends on context. Roughly 10% of prostate cancer mets will be negative on PSMA but show up positive on FDG PET. I have seen clinical scenarios where Occam's Razor no longer applies. How positive is the bone scan/was there any equivocation? Consider that they may have other potential...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · Varian Medical Systems/Allegheny health network
Answered on

Based on clinical suspicion, would do an MRI of the bone in question and consider for bx based on MRI findings.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · UC San Diego
Answered on

I like the approach laid out by @Dr. First Last. If both MRI and PSMA are negative, I would probably assume the bone scan lesion was a false positive.

I am also generally in favor of biopsy for solitary bone lesions on imaging. I know we may not be convinced by a negative biopsy, but we would know w...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · Good Samaritan Hospital
Answered on

I appreciate everyone's response on this question. I think it is important to inform everyone on how the case turned out. A little more information on this case that spurred this question, and to answer Dr. @Dr. First Last's excellent questions. The patient was a newly diagnosed T1c, PSA 15.28, Glea...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · University of Florida
Answered on

RT for cure.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Medical Oncology · Mary Lanning Healthcare Morrison Cancer Center/University of Nebraska Medical Center Adjunct Faculty
Answered on

We need more information here. Is this a newly diagnosed case? If this is the initial diagnosis, what is the PSA and Gleason score? What is the risk stratification? If a bone scan is done, I assume this is at least unfavorable intermediate group? Or, if this is a patient with post-prostatectomy or r...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer