PET in prostate and bladder tumors

Abstract

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the most common positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer used in prostate and bladder cancer evaluation, but its role is hampered by a generally low glucose metabolic rate in primary prostate carcinoma, and physiological excretion of FDG through the urinary system masking FDG uptake in primary bladder and prostate carcinoma. FDG-PET may have a role in selected patients for staging and restaging advanced prostate cancer, particularly in patients with an increasing prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) level. The use of diuresis strategies facilitates the identification of primary bladder cancer, and may be useful in staging extravesical spread of disease. FDG-..