The applying of PET imaging in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies in old men, positron emission tomography is very valuable in early diagnosing and accurately staging of prostate cancer. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG)PET is not sensitive in detection and reliable on staging of prostate cancer, but the uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG correlates with the stage of prostate cancer. ¹¹C-choline PET is accurate in diagnosis of prostate cancer, and it is superior to ¹⁸F-FDG PET in detection of metastases in lymph nodes and bone. But its short half-life limits the clinic applying in prostate cancer. The uptake of ¹⁸F-choline in prostate cancer is similar to ¹¹C-choline, but its excretion in urinary system is much higher than ¹¹C-choline. The other tracers such as ¹¹C-acetate, ¹¹C-methionine and 16β-¹⁸F-fluoro-5α-dihydrotestosterone are also valuable in diagnosing, staging and evaluating the effect of treatment of prostate cancer.