PSMA PET in Prostate Cancer: Clinical Value, Access Challenges, and Priorities for Implementation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) is crucial for prostate cancer (PCa) management.
• It offers superior diagnostic performance over conventional imaging for staging and recurrence detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the evolving role of PSMA PET in PCa.
• To highlight the clinical consequences of unequal access to PSMA PET.
• To identify priorities for facilitating PSMA PET implementation across Europe.

Main Methods:

• Expert perspective and discussion on current literature and clinical practice.
• Analysis of factors contributing to heterogeneous access to PSMA PET.
• Identification of barriers and facilitators for widespread PSMA PET adoption.

Main Results:

• PSMA PET significantly influences treatment planning, patient stratification, and decision-making.
• Heterogeneous access is limited by reimbursement, regulations, tracer availability, and expertise.
• Disparities in access affect staging accuracy, recurrence localization, and treatment selection.

Conclusions:

• Improving access to high-quality PSMA PET is a clinical priority for precise and equitable PCa care.
• Addressing implementation barriers is essential to translate molecular imaging advances into improved patient outcomes.
• Equitable access to PSMA PET is vital for ensuring timely and accurate prostate cancer management.