Can ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT renal uptake parameters predict renal function impairment?

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiopharmacology
• Prostate Cancer Imaging

Background:

• 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT is crucial for prostate cancer staging.
• Assessing kidney function alongside PSMA imaging is important.
• Renal uptake parameters like SUVmax, SUVmean, MKV, and TKU reflect PSMA kidney uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between PSMA PET/CT renal parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, MKV, TKU) and kidney function tests (eGFR, BUN, creatinine).
• To evaluate the accuracy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT-derived renal parameters in reflecting kidney function.

Main Methods:

• 196 prostate cancer patients undergoing 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT were analyzed.
• Renal SUVmax, SUVmean, MKV, TKU, and CT-kidney volume (CT-KV) were calculated.
• Correlation with eGFR, BUN, and creatinine was assessed using Spearman and ANOVA tests.

Main Results:

• Significant correlations were found between eGFR and MKV (r=0.397), TKU (r=0.271), and CT-KV (r=0.216).
• Similar correlations were observed for BUN and creatinine.
• MKV was the most significant parameter differentiating groups based on eGFR levels.

Conclusions:

• 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT-derived renal parameters, especially MKV, correlate positively with renal function.
• MKV shows a significant decrease in patients with renal dysfunction.
• MKV is a valuable parameter for assessing kidney function in prostate cancer patients.