Clinical impact of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET on patient management and outcome, including all patients referred for an increase in PSA level during the first year after its clinical introduction

Purpose The fast-increasing use of positron emission tomography (PET) with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand for the imaging of prostate cancer (PCA) biochemical recurrence has led to a rapid change in treatment concepts. Since the superiority of 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET in detecting recurrent PCA is well established, the aim of our study was to assess its effect on management and outcome in all patients imaged during the first year after its introduction into clinical routine. Methods Of 327 patients imaged, 223 were referred for recurrent PCA and gave written informed consent for further analysis of their data for this retrospective consecutive cohort analysis. Twenty patients were lost to further follow-up. The rate of detection of recurrence by 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET was based on the clinical reports. Management before the availability of PET diagnostic information was assessed according to guidelines (therapy option without 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET). In the 203 patients with follow-up 6 months after 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET, the therapies effectively implemented as well as follow-up PSA levels were evaluated, with a PSA value of