Evaluation of online teaching modules for PSMA PET interpretation

The proliferation of US FDA-approved prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents as a means to evaluate prostate cancer patients, and the expanding knowledge of interpretive pitfalls, has led to the generation of multiple online training modules geared toward the reading of each individual agent, each taking different approaches to criteria for interpretation, which may contribute to the variability of reporting in clinical practice.

The websites of the marketers of each FDA-approved agent [⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 (Illuccix; Telix Pharmaceuticals), ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 (Locametz; Novartis Pharmaceuticals), ¹⁸F-rh-PSMA-7.3 (Posluma; Blue Earth Diagnostics)], and the website of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging [¹⁸F-DCFPyL (Pylarify)] were examined. All information pertaining to reader training, including videos, PDFs, and PowerPoint presentations, were reviewed.

Videos from each module covered interpretive approach and pitfalls and ranged in length from a total of 20 min up to 315 min. Each module provided a different approach to PSMA PET scan findings, and on a different number and breadth of interpretive tips and pitfalls (a total of approximately 12-30 in all).

Each of the four PSMA PET reader training modules covered important interpretive pitfalls. The lengths of the video portions of each module varied considerably, suggesting variable investments in time necessary to complete each module. The differences in the modules could contribute to inconsistency among readers depending on which module(s) they may have completed and which radiotracer(s) they are using.