18F-FDG PET/CT 在宫颈癌诊断及分期中的临床价值

目的:探讨氟代脱氧葡萄糖(~(18)F-FDG)正电子发射断层显像/X线计算机体层成像仪(PET/CT)检查在局灶早期宫颈癌中的临床应用价值。方法:53例病理确诊为早期宫颈癌的患者行全身~(18)F-FDG PET/CT检查,并在检查结束10日内行广泛性全子宫切除术+双附件切除术+盆腔淋巴结清扫术,计算~(18)F-FDG PET/CT诊断宫颈原发部位肿瘤及盆腔淋巴结转移的敏感度,特异度与准确度。结果:~(18)F-FDG PET/CT检查诊断的宫颈原发部位肿瘤的敏感度为79.25%,特异度为86.79%,准确度为84.9%;以病人为单位诊断盆腔淋巴结转移的准确度为85.71%,特异度为97.87%;以淋巴结为单位诊断盆腔淋巴结转移的准确度为84.61%,特异度为99.00%。结论:PET/CT显像对宫颈癌诊断,分期诊断及盆腔淋巴结转移的检出具有重要临床意义。     

Prediction of Nodal Involvement in Primary Rectal Carcinoma without Invasion to Pelvic Structures: Accuracy of Preoperative CT,MR, and DWIBS Assessments Relative to Histopathologic Findings

Objective

To investigate the accuracy of preoperative computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) in the prediction of nodal involvement in primary rectal carcinoma patients in the absence of tumor invasion into pelvic structures.

Methods and Materials

Fifty-two subjects with primary rectal cancer were preoperatively assessed by CT and MRI at 1.5 T with a phased-array coil. Preoperative lymph node staging with imaging modalities (CT, MRI, and DWIBS) were compared with the final histological findings.

Results

The accuracy of CT, MRI, and DWIBS were 57.7%, 63.5%, and 40.4%. The accuracy of DWIBS with higher sensitivity and negative predictive value for evaluating primary rectal cancer patients was lower than that of CT and MRI. Nodal staging agreement between imaging and pathology was fairly strong for CT and MRI (Kappa value = 0.331 and 0.348, P<0.01) but was relatively weaker for DWIBS (Kappa value = 0.174, P<0.05). The accuracy was 57.7% and 59.6%, respectively, for CT and MRI when the lymph node border information was used as the criteria, and was 57.7% and 61.5%, respectively, for enhanced CT and MRI when the lymph node enhancement pattern was used as the criteria.

Conclusion

MRI is more accurate than CT in predicting nodal involvement in primary rectal carcinoma patients in the absence of tumor invasion into pelvic structures. DWIBS has a great diagnostic value in differentiating small malignant from benign lymph nodes.     

MRI与CT检查对卵巢癌病理分期及复发转移的诊断价值对比研究

摘要 目的：对比磁共振成像（MRI）与计算机断层扫描（CT）检查对卵巢癌病理分期及复发转移的诊断价值。方法：纳入2017年1月～2019年1月于我院接受诊治的卵巢癌患者100例进行研究。所有患者术前均进行MRI与CT检查,并以术后病理组织活检结果为金标准,对比MRI与CT诊断卵巢癌与卵巢癌病理分期的准确率。所有患者均于首次检查6个月后进行复诊,对比MRI与CT诊断卵巢癌复发转移的准确率。结果：MRI诊断卵巢癌的确诊率为94.00%（94/100）,高于CT诊断的81.00%（81/100）;漏诊率为2.00%（2/100）,低于CT诊断的10.00%（10/100）（均P＜0.05）。MRI诊断卵巢癌Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期、Ⅲ期的准确率分别为93.33%（14/15）、95.00%（19/20）、93.33%（28/30）,高于CT诊断的60.00%（9/15）、65.00%（13/20）、73.33%（22/30）（均P＜0.05）。MRI诊断肠管及周围、盆腔淋巴结、腹膜后淋巴结、肝脏等远处侵袭和转移中的准确率分别为100.00%（26/26）、88.89%（24/27）、75.00%（18/24）、95.00%（19/20）,高于CT诊断的76.92%（20/26）、48.15%（13/27）、41.67%（10/24）、45.00%（9/20）（均P＜0.05）。结论：相较于CT检查,MRI检查诊断卵巢癌的准确率更高,漏诊率更低,且在卵巢癌病理分期以及复发转移的诊断准确率更高,具有较好的临床应用价值。     

磁共振成像联合血清前列腺特异抗原、上皮钙黏蛋白、早期前列腺癌抗原-2诊断前列腺癌的临床价值探讨

摘要 目的：探究磁共振成像（MRI）联合血清前列腺特异抗原（PSA）、上皮钙黏蛋白（sE-cadherin）、早期前列腺癌抗原-2（EPCA-2）诊断前列腺癌的临床价值。方法：选取潍坊市人民医院2020年1月-2021年7月期间经病理证实的50例前列腺癌患者（前列腺组）以及50例前列腺增生患者（前列腺增生组）展开回顾性研究。100例研究对象均完善了MRI检查并测定血清PSA、EPCA-2、sE-cadherin水平,分析两组患者的MRI影像学特征,比较两组患者的PSA、EPCA-2、sE-cadherin水平以及各项检查方法的诊断准确性差异。结果：前列腺癌的MRI影像学特征为病灶主要位于外周带,外周带T2W呈低信号,病变侵及包膜、膀胱及周围组织具有T1加权消失或者不对称,具有信号异常、肌肉增厚的表现,盆腔淋巴结转移具有淋巴结部分融合或增大表现;前列腺增生的MRI影像学特征为边界清晰、包膜完整并且中央带增生、不均匀信号结节;前列腺癌、前列腺增生均存在不同程度的前列腺体积增大。相比于前列腺增生组,前列腺癌组患者的PSA、sE-cadherin、EPCA-2水平明显更高（P<0.05）。MRI、PSA、sE-cadherin、EPCA-2四项联合鉴别前列腺癌、前列腺增生的诊断符合率为96.00%,明显高于四项单独诊断的88.00%、79%、81%、82%（P<0.05）。结论：MRI联合PSA、sE-cadherin、EPCA-2鉴别诊断前列腺癌的准确性较高,具有作为临床前列腺癌早期诊断指导方案的潜力。     

Susceptibility Weighted Imaging: A New Tool in the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer and Detection of Prostatic Calcification

Background

Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a new MRI technique which has been proved very useful in the diagnosis of brain diseases, but few study was performed on its value in prostatic diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the value of SWI in distinguishing prostate cancer from benign prostatic hyperplasia and detecting prostatic calcification.

Methodology/Principal Findings

23 patients with prostate cancer and 53 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia proved by prostate biopsy were scanned on a 3.0T MR and a 16-row CT scanner. High-resolution SWI, conventional MRI and CT were performed on all patients. The MRI and CT findings, especially SWI, were analyzed and compared. The analyses revealed that 19 out of 23 patients with prostate cancer presented hemorrhage within tumor area on SWI. However, in 53 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, hemorrhage was detected only in 1 patient in prostate by SWI. When comparing SWI, conventional MRI and CT in detecting prostate cancer hemorrhage, out of the 19 patients with prostate cancer who had prostatic hemorrhage detected by SWI, the prostatic hemorrhage was detected in only 7 patients by using conventional MRI, and none was detected by CT. In addition, CT demonstrated calcifications in 22 patients which were all detected by SWI whereas only 3 were detected by conventional MRI. Compared to CT, SWI showed 100% in the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value(PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) in detecting calcifications in prostate but conventional MRI demonstrated 13.6% in sensitivity, 100% in specificity, 75% in accuracy, 100% in PPV and 74% in NPV.

Conclusions

More apparent prostate hemorrhages were detected on SWI than on conventional MRI or CT. SWI may provide valuable information for the differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and prostatic hyperplasia. Filtered phase images can identify prostatic calcifications as well as CT.     

上消化道造影和CT扫描诊断胃部肿瘤的应用价值比较

目的:比较上消化道造影和CT扫描诊断胃部肿瘤的临床应用价值。方法:选取我院胃外科收治的胃部肿瘤82例,随机分为两组,其中对照组41例,采用上消化道造影技术诊断;实验组41例,采用螺旋CT扫描,进行胃部肿瘤诊断。对比两组检查方式的诊断结果与病理诊断的符合率。结果:1进行螺旋CT扫描诊断与病理诊断符合率(95.12%,39/41)明显高于上消化道造影技术诊断符合率(80.49%,33/41),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);2淋巴结转移的敏感性和特异性比较中,螺旋CT明显高于上消化道造影技术,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:上消化道造影和CT扫描在诊断胃部肿瘤的临床应用中,上消化道造影技术是早期胃部肿瘤的首选检查方法,但是螺旋CT对胃部肿瘤正确诊断率要高,螺旋CT对淋巴结转移的敏感性和特异性较高,能够给确定胃部肿瘤分期提供依据,值得临床推广。     

Potentialities of ultrasound and computed tomography in the diagnosis of metastases of lung cancer in the mediastinal lymph nodes]

The results of routine roentgenotomography, CT and USI in the diagnosis of intrathoracic metastases of lung cancer were compared in 69 patients (central type--52, peripheral--17). These results were compared with operative findings in 45 patients. The sensitivity of USI in the diagnosis of enlarged paravasal lymph nodes exceeded that of roentgenotomography and was slightly inferior to CT. CT was informative for all mediastinal lymph nodes whereas tomography and USI were informative in certain areas only. The authors recommend to combine the use of routine and ultrasound tomography to assess the spreading of lung cancer to the mediastinum. The information obtained increases the accuracy of staging and specifying a process, slightly yielding CT results.     

Ki67与MRI在宫颈癌根治性手术后宫颈癌淋巴结转移中评价对比

摘要 目的：探究Ki67与MR在宫颈癌根治术后宫颈癌淋巴结转移中评估价值的对比。方法：选择2016年1月至2018年1月于我院接受宫颈癌根治术的151例宫颈癌患者,分别对其实施Ki67检测及MRI检测,以病理学检测结果为金标准,计算两种检测方式对宫颈癌淋巴结转移评估的准确度、敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值,并进行对比分析。结果：检测评估发现,MRI对宫颈癌淋巴结转移评估准确度为31.79 %,灵敏度为46.75 %,特异度为16.22 %,阳性预测值为36.73 %,阴性预测值为22.64 %。Ki67检测对宫颈癌淋巴结转移评估准确度为42.38 %,灵敏度为52.56 %,特异度为31.51 %,阳性预测值为45.05 %,阴性预测值为38.33 %。两种检测方式对比显示Ki67对宫颈癌淋巴结转移具有更高的诊断准确度。结论：3 相比于MRI检测,Ki67对宫颈癌淋巴结转移具有更高的诊断准确度、特异度和阴性预测值,分析其原因与MRI检测受个体因素影响更大有关。     

The Value of T2* in Differentiating Metastatic from Benign Axillary Lymph Nodes in Patients with Breast Cancer - A Preliminary In Vivo Study

Background

Accurate detection and determination of axillary lymph node metastasis are crucial for the clinical management of patients with breast cancer. Noninvasive imaging methods including ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), or conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not yet accurate enough. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of in vivo T2* in differentiating metastatic from benign axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this institutional review board approved study, 35 women with breast cancer underwent multi-echo T2* weighted imaging (T2*WI) of the axillary area on a 3.0 T clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system. T2* values of pathologically proven benign and metastatic axillary lymph nodes were calculated and compared. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic ability. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) and the confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed. In total, 56 metastatic and 65 benign axillary lymph nodes were identified in this study. For metastatic lymph nodes, the average T2* value (55.96±11.87 ms) was significantly longer than that of the benign lymph nodes (26.00±5.51 ms, P<0.05). The AUC of T2* in differentiating benign from metastatic lymph nodes was 0.993. The cut-off value of 37.5 milliseconds (ms) gave a sensitivity of 94.6%, a specificity of 98.5%, a positive predictive value of 98.17 and a negative predictive value 95.54.

Conclusions

In vivo T2* can differentiate benign from metastatic axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. The high sensitivity and specificity as well as the easiness suggest its high potential for use in clinical practice.     

Confirmation of histology of PET positive lymph nodes recovered by hand-video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery

PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography) is an advanced diagnostic imaging device that combines both PET and an X-ray CT. This study evaluates the effects of PET/CT on detecting primary tumors and metastases, and looks at the therapeutic effect of minimally invasive surgery on esophageal cancer patients. Eighty patients with esophageal cancer were enrolled in the study between January, 2004 and December, 2007, who were randomly divided into two groups of 40, one of which was treated with hand-video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (HVATS) esophagectomy and one of which was treated with conventional surgery. All patients underwent a PET/CT scan 2-3weeks before their operation, and their cervical, thoracic and upper abdominal lymph nodes were biopsied. All the primary esophageal lesions showed high FDG uptake. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) was 3.78-25.64 (11.73±5.32), while the mean SUV was 3.65=16.92 (9.12±4.37). Using 2.5 as the SUV standard, all esophageal lesions were detected by PET/CT image. Of the 80 patients, 53 had lymph nodal metastases, with a total of 142 metastatic lymph nodes, which showed high FDG uptake. The maximum SUV was 2.77-14.63 (7.98±3.25), and the mean SUV was 2.31-12.84 (5.34±3.19). The visual analysis from the PET/CT scan showed a sensitivity of 86.62%, a specificity of 95.85%, a positive predictive value of 93.89%, a negative predictive value of 90.69% and an accuracy of 91.94%. The PET/CT scan showed a high sensitivity and specificity in detecting primary esophageal cancer and lymph nodal metastases. The mean post-surgery life expectancies for patients undergoing HVATS and conventional surgery are 27.93months and 28.05months, respectively. The two groups showed no statistically significant difference. We thus conclude that PET/CT combined with HVATS is a new choice for esophageal carcinoma patients.     

PET/CT和超声弹性成像在乳腺癌诊断中的价值对比分析

目的:探讨PET/CT和超声弹性成像(UE)在乳腺癌诊断中的价值。方法:回顾性分析2011年1月至2012年5月在我院确诊的173例乳腺患者的临床资料,所有患者均行PET/CT和UE检查。依据病理组织活检和临床随访分别评价PET/CT和UE对乳腺癌诊断的灵敏性、特异性、准确性,并比较两者的结果。结果:PET/CT和UE诊断乳腺癌的灵敏性分别为98.8%和81.3%;特异性分别为84.3%和97.2%;准确性分别为90.7%和90.2%;两种方法联合检测诊断乳腺癌的灵敏性、特异性、准确性分别为98.8%、98.1%、98.4%,UE检测乳腺癌的敏感性明显低于PET/CT及PET/CT+UE,PET/CT检测乳腺癌的特异性明显低于UE及PET/CT+UE,PET/CT+UE诊断乳腺癌的准确性显著提高(P0.05)。结论:PET/CT和超声弹性成像在乳腺癌诊断中均有较高的应用价值,各有优缺点,二者联合检测可提高乳腺癌诊断的准确率。     

急性胰腺炎患者的CT、MRI影像学表现及其诊断价值对比研究

摘要 目的：比较急性胰腺炎患者的电子计算机断层扫描（CT）、磁共振成像（MRI）影像学表现及其诊断价值。方法：选择2018年1月-2019年12月我院收治并初步诊断为急性胰腺炎的患者124例，所有患者均同时行CT和MRI检查，并比较两种检查方式诊断急性胰腺炎的影像学表现，以临床最终诊断结果作为参考，比较两种检查方式诊断急性胰腺炎的价值。结果：124例患者，经临床最终诊断为急性胰腺炎96例，28例为非急性胰腺炎，以临床最终诊断结果为"金标准"，CT诊断急性胰腺炎的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确度分别为84.38%、75.00%、92.05%、58.33%、82.26%，MRI诊断急性胰腺炎的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确度分别为95.83%、78.57%、93.88%、84.62%、91.94%，MRI诊断急性胰腺炎的灵敏度、阴性预测值和准确度显著高于CT（P<0.05），两种检查方式诊断急性胰腺炎的特异度、阳性预测值比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：CT和MRI影像学表现有利于急性胰腺炎的诊断，两者对急性胰腺炎诊断均具有较高的灵敏度、特异度和准确度， 但MRI诊断急性胰腺炎的灵敏度、准确度优于CT。     

电视纵隔镜与CT 对胸部疾病诊断的运用研究

目的:探讨电视纵隔镜与CT对胸部疾病诊断中的运用.方法:对我院收治的59例胸部疑难疾病患者采用CT以及电视纵隔镜检查,并对两种方法对肺癌纵膈淋巴转移的诊断效果进行比较.结果:所有患者采用纵隔镜检查其确诊率为100％,CT诊断诊断符合率为525％;CT对肺癌纵隔淋巴结转移的灵敏度为55.26％、真实性为57.89％、特异度为60.53％、阳性预测值为44.74％以及阴性预测值为81.58％,而电视纵隔镜其分别为94.74％、97.37％、100.00％、100.00％、97.37％.电视纵隔镜在诊断肺癌纵膈淋巴结转移的各项指标中均优于CT.结论:电视纵隔镜对胸部疑难疾病具有较好的诊断效果,而且其具有并发症少等特点.     

Intraoperative cytologic diagnosis of sentinel node metastases in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the usefulness of imprint cytology for intraoperative investigations of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer, comparing the results with those of examinations using frozen and permanent sections. STUDY DESIGN: The material consisted of 303 sentinel lymph nodes from 124 cases of clinically node negative breast cancer. Touch imprint cytologic slides and frozen sections were obtained from the same cut surface of the sentinel nodes. Correlations with the final histopathologic results in paraffin sections were evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of imprint cytology were 70.3%, 99.6% and 96.0%, and those of frozen sections were 83.8%, 100%, 98.0%, respectively. The values were improved when the 2 methods were combined (89.2%, 99.6%, 98.3%), though the concordance between imprint cytology and frozen section was 91.9%. CONCLUSION: Both imprint cytology and frozen section are useful for evaluating sentinel lymph node status in breast cancer. However, the 2 techniques should be combined to improve the diagnostic sensitivity.     

Cytologic diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To compare imprint cytology with histology as a method for rapid intraoperative diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated imprint cytology, comparing it with histopathology. A sample of 635 axillary lymph nodes was studied by imprint cytology using both Giemsa stain and hematoxylin-eosin. The results were compared with each other and with those of histopathologic examination. RESULTS: The Giemsa stain method, as compared to histopathology, had 94% accuracy, 97% sensitivity, 90% specificity and 94% positive prognostic value. The hematoxylin-eosin stain method was less accurate than the Giemsa stain method as compared to histopathology (accuracy 91%, sensitivity 96%, specificity 83% and positive prognostic value 92%). CONCLUSION: These data confirm the value of imprint cytology as a rapid, reliable method of intraoperative assessment of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. It results in better staging of the disease. It can be used intraoperatively, as an alternative to frozen section, if a pathology laboratory is not available, to exclude stage I patients from further treatment.     

CT及MRI在直肠癌诊断和分期的应用价值研究

目的:探究在直肠癌的诊断以及分期方面,CT与MRI技术的应用价值。方法:选取我院近年来经过病理检测,确诊为直肠癌的患者160例,随机分为两个实验组,其中一组采取CT成像方法,另一组患者采取MRI成像。并记录在不同的分期中CT及MRI的应用价值。CT诊断包含了常规CT平扫以及CT增强扫描,MRI诊断包括轴位DWI、T2W1冠状位以及矢状位、轴位T1WI、轴位T2WI的图像。结果:在直肠癌的诊断中,CT诊断的T分期与病理性T分期差异不大,其准确率为70.0%。MRI诊断的T分期和病理性T分期差异极小,其准确率为85.0%。CT诊断的N分期与病理性N分期差异不大,准确率为72.5%;MRI诊断的N分期与病理性N分期差异较小,其准确率为87.5%。CT诊断的T分期以及N分期的准确率与MRI诊断的T分期以及N分期的准确率之间差异均存在统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:在直肠癌的术前诊断以及局部分期中,MRI诊断与CT诊断相比,有更高的诊断价值。     

Récidive biologique de cancer de la prostate : intérêt de la TEP/TDM à la fluorocholine (18F) du corps entier

Case reportA patient was referred to fluorocholine (18F) PET/CT to restage a biological recurrence of his prostate cancer. There was a doubt on local and lymph node recurrence on MRI.ResultPET/CT showed several pelvic foci evocative of local and lymph node recurrence, more extensive than the MRI anomaly without bone lesion; this recurrence was treated by hormone therapy. But FCH PET/CT also revealed a left cerebral focus. Cerebral MRI was therefore performed which confirmed an anomaly evocative of a grade II brain lesion.ConclusionThis observation illustrates the fact that, in case of prostate cancer, a whole-body imaging, including the skull, is useful, even when foci are detected in the pelvis. Several types of cancer take-up fluorocholine (18F): in case of a visceral distant focus in a patient with prostate cancer, the hypothesis of a second primary cancer should be considered.     

Magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis of lung metastases in the mediastinum and thorax

The results of MRI in 81 patients with morphologically verified lung cancer, mainly Stages IIIA and IIIB, were analyzed. They were compared with CT data in 37 cases and surgical findings in 28. MRI was performed by using Magnaview 0.04 T and Vectra 0.5 T apparatus in the T1- and T2-weighted SE and PC sequences as well in the fat-suppression mode. Thoracic metastases were evaluated from the direct signs tumor spread into the adjacent tissue and vessels. The criteria for the involvement of lymph nodes were their over 1-cm enlargement and characteristic changes in the intensity of signals from them. CT was found to yield less information on pleural, pericardial, and vascular invasion (66-75% sensitivity). MRI detected this type of cancer spread (88-94% sensitivity). Both techniques have nearly equal sensitivities in revealing intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. The interpretation of MRI data did not depend on the voltage of a magnetic field. It is recommended that MRI should be made after CT when there is a need for assessing large vessels or for making clear the data that remain open to question following CT.     

CT联合DR对早期周围型肺癌的诊断价值

目的:分析数字X线摄片(DR)、CT及其联合应用对周围型肺癌的诊断价值。方法:选择该院2012年2月~2016年3月收治早期周围型肺癌患者90例为研究对象,分别进行数字化X线摄影和CT检查,以手术切除或病理结果为最终诊断的金标准,计算两种检查方法及其联合对早期诊断周围型肺癌的敏感度、特异度和准确率阳性预测值以及阴性预测值。结果:胸部DR检出空泡征者7例(7.8%),分叶征47例(52.2%),边缘有细小毛刺征36例(40%),胸膜凹陷征9例(10%);CT见病变边缘分叶征71例(78.8%),长短毛刺征57例(63.3%),空洞征27例(30%),胸膜凹陷征32例(35.6%)。DR诊断周围型肺癌的敏感性、特异性及准确性分别为85%、81%、85.6%,而CT则为90%,87.6%,90.5%,均高于DR。DR与CT两者联合诊断周围型肺癌的敏感性为98.4%,显著高于DR(85%)和CT(90%)。结论:在早期周围型肺癌的影像学诊断中,CT的临床价值显著优于DR,而两者联合诊断的临床价值明显优于单独检测。     

Use of choline tracers in the prostate carcinoma management

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. This incidence has increased because of the introduction of screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the use of improved biopsy techniques. Choline PET/CT cannot be recommended as a first-line screening procedure for primary prostate cancer. PET/CT has a limited sensitivity due to its dependency on tumor configuration and size, and a limited specificity in differentiation between prostate cancer and benign pathologies. PET/CT could be useful in the detection of malignant lymph nodes in case of nodes greater than 5 mm in diameter. An application of choline PET/CT may be to increase the detection rate of clinically suspected prostate cancer with multiple negative prostate biopsies. Choline PET/CT has proved to be useful for restaging patients with prostate cancer with biochemical failure. Studies have shown that the positive detection rate of choline PET/CT increases with increasing PSA values. The definition of a PSA cut-off value to refer prostate carcinoma with biochemical recurrence would be helpful for the clinical management of these patients. Several PSA cut-off values have been proposed by literature. The routine use of choline PET/CT cannot be recommended only in patients with an absolute PSA value of < 1 ng/mL. Moreover, the sensitivity of ¹⁸F-Fluorocholine (FCH) PET/CT is significantly higher in patients with a PSA velocity > 2 ng/mL per year or a PSA-doubling time ≤ 6 months. In case of early bone metastases ¹⁸F-FCH could be superior to ¹⁸F-sodium fluoride due to the absence of bone reaction and remodelling.