The role of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan in biochemical recurrence after primary treatment for prostate cancer: a systematic review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrence after primary treatment of prostate cancer is one of the major challenges facing urologists. Biochemical recurrence is not rare and occurs in up to one third of the patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Management of biochemical recurrence is tailored according to the site and the burden of recurrence. Therefore, developing an imaging technique to early detect recurrent lesions represents an urgent need. Positron emission tomography (PET) of 68Ga-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA) is an emerging imaging modality that seems to be a promising tool with capability to localize recurrent prostate cancer. A systematic review of literature was done to evaluate the role of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan in patients with recurrent prostate cancer after primary radical treatment. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic and comprehensive review of literature was performed in September 2017 analyzing the MEDLINE and Cochrane Library following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The following key terms were used for the search "PSMA," "prostate-specific membrane antigen," "positron emission tomography," "PET," "recurrent," "prostate cancer," "prostate neoplasm," "prostate malignancy," and "68Ga." Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Thirty-seven articles met our inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis of this systematic review. Of the 37 articles selected for analysis only four studies were prospective. The overall detection rate of 68Ga-PSMA PET scan ranged from 47% up to 96.6%. The main advantage of this imaging technique is its relatively high detection rates at low serum PSA levels below 0.5 ng/mL (ranging from 11.1% to 75%). Higher serum PSA level was strongly associated with increased positivity on 68Ga-PSMA PET scan. 68Ga-PSMA PET scan was found superior to conventional imaging techniques (CT and MRI) in this setting of patients and even it seems to outperform choline-based PET scan. This technique provided significant changes in the therapeutic management of 28.6-87.1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: After biochemical recurrence, the primary goal is to locate the recurrent lesions' site. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT seems to be effective in identifying recurrence localization also for very low levels of PSA (<0.5 ng/mL) thus permitting to choose the best therapeutic strategy as early as possible. However, data available cannot be considered exhaustive and prospective randomized trials are needed.

Robotic Salvage Lymph Node Dissection After Radical Prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Radical prostatectomy is a first-line treatment for localized prostate cancer. However, in some cases, biochemical recurrence associated with imaging-detected nodal metastases may happen. Herein, we aim to present the surgical technique for salvage lymph node dissection after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 70 year-old asymptomatic man presented with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 7.45 ng/mL. Digital rectal examination was normal and trans-rectal prostate biopsy revealed a prostate adenocarcinoma Gleason 7 (3+4). Pre-operative computed tomography scan and bone scintigraphy showed no metastatic disease. In other service, the patient underwent a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy plus obturador lymphadenectomy. Pathologic examination showed a pT3aN0 tumor. After 6 months of follow-up, serum PSA was 1.45 ng/mL. Further investigation with 11C--Choline PET/CT revealed only a 2-cm lymph node close to the left internal iliac artery. The patient was counseled for salvage lymph node dissection. RESULTS: Salvage lymph node dissection was uneventfully performed. Operative time was 1.5 hour, blood loss was minimal, and there were no intra- or postoperative complications. The patient was discharged from hospital in the 1st postoperative day. After 12 months of follow-up, his PSA was undetectable with no other adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: Robotic salvage pelvic lymph node dissection is an effective option for treatment of patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy and only pelvic lymph node metastasis detected by C11-Choline PET/CT.

Transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia: how much should be resected?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the percent of resected tissue on the improvement of urinary symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included a prospective analysis of 88 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients were divided in three groups according to the percent of resected tissue: Group 1 < 30%; Group 2, 30% to 50%; and Group 3, > 50%. Each patient was re-evaluated 3 months after surgery. We assessed the international prostatic symptom score, nocturia and serum prostate specific antigen levels. RESULTS: All patients presented a significant decrease on mean International Prostate System Score (IPSS) (23 to 5.9), Quality of Life (QoL) (4.9 to 1.0) and nocturia (3.2 to 1.9). Variation in the IPSS was 16.7, 16.6 and 18.4 for patients from Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively (P = 0.504). Although the three groups presented a significant decrease in QoL, patients in Group 3 presented a significantly greater decrease when compared to Group 1. Variation in QoL was 3.1, 3.9 and 4.2 for patients from Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively (p = 0.046). There was no significant difference in nocturia variation according to the percent of resected tissue (p = 0.504). Median pre and postoperative PSA value was 3.7 and 1.9 ng/mL respectively. Patients from Group 1 did not show a significant variation (p = 0.694). Blood transfusions were not required in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of less than 30% of prostatic tissue seems to be sufficient to alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostate hyperplasia. However, these patients may not show a significant decrease in serum PSA level.

Transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia: how much should be resected?

Objective: To assess the impact of the percent of resected tissue on the improvement of urinary symptoms. Materials and methods: The study included a prospective analysis of 88 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients were divided in three groups according to the percent of resected tissue: Group 1 < 30 percent; Group 2, 30 percent to 50 percent; and Group 3, > 50 percent. Each patient was re-evaluated 3 months after surgery. We assessed the international prostatic symptom score, nocturia and serum prostate specific antigen levels. Results: All patients presented a significant decrease on mean International Prostate System Score (IPSS) (23 to 5.9), Quality of Life (QoL) (4.9 to 1.0) and nocturia (3.2 to 1.9). Variation in the IPSS was 16.7, 16.6 and 18.4 for patients from Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively (P = 0.504). Although the three groups presented a significant decrease in QoL, patients in Group 3 presented a significantly greater decrease when compared to Group 1. Variation in QoL was 3.1, 3.9 and 4.2 for patients from Group 1, 2 and 3 respectively (p = 0.046). There was no significant difference in nocturia variation according to the percent of resected tissue (p = 0.504). Median pre and postoperative PSA value was 3.7 and 1.9 ng/mL respectively. Patients from Group 1 did not show a significant variation (p = 0.694). Blood transfusions were not required in any group. Conclusions:Resection of less than 30 percent of prostatic tissue seems to be sufficient to alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostate hyperplasia. However, these patients may not show a significant decrease in serum PSA level.