Pitfalls in bone density monitoring in prostate cancer during anti-resorptive treatment

Abstract

A 74-year-old man presented to the Andrology Clinic for management of potential complications of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. He had a rising prostate-specific antigen with a concurrent rise in alkaline phosphatase and bone remodeling markers. This was despite treatment with a radical prostatectomy, androgen deprivation, and anti-resorptive therapy. A follow-up dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan revealed a marked increase in his bone mineral density at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck. This increase, especially in the context of rising bone remodeling markers, was unlikely due to the effect of anti-resorptive therapy alone. Subsequent whole-body bone scintigraph..