The scan uses a normal positron emission tomography (PET) scanner with a new PET tracer – FCH – to scan for cancer. A compound that detects areas suggesting the presence of cancer is injected into your vein, and then doctors scan your pelvis and whole body for signs of wellness damage. The fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer is currently used, but preliminary research overseas suggests that FCH is more effective, albeit with large-scale comparisons yet to be done.
However, SGH have conducted their own clinical trial, and have come to the same conclusion. This is according to Dr Anthony Goh, the head and senior consultant of SGH’s department of nuclear medicine and PET, who said, ‘It is a well-known fact that the FDG PET scan has limited sensitivity to prostate cancer. A number of other PET tracers has been tested and FCH seems to be the most promising so far.’
Usually, the FDG tracer reveals cancer cells with an increased glucose metabolism. However, Dr Goh pointed out that prostate cancer cells do not consistently demonstrate this increase, and so more accurate technology is a welcome addition to the wellbeing of patients with the disease. FCH, is a different molecule from FDG, is involved in cell membrane metabolism and prostate and other types of cancer, such as cancers of the breast, brain and liver, seem to be better distinguished by this process.
The new scan is one option among other existing tests, such as the magnetic resonance imaging scan. However, for prostate cancer patients who have undergone treatment and have suspected recurrence, and newly diagnosed patients with a high risk of the disease spreading to other parts of the body, the new test is recommended. Dr Goh added that as the high radiation levels of the PET/CT scan makes it unsuitable as a screening test, it is recommended only for patients who are already confirmed to have prostate cancer, to assess the extent of the tumour spread, or to detect recurrence after treatment.