Prostate cancer: Specialized imaging could prevent unnecessary biopsies
· Medical Xpressby Medical University of Vienna
edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan
Gaby Clark
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Robert Egan
Senior Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
An elevated PSA level in the blood may indicate prostate cancer but does not allow for a definitive diagnosis. Where there is a corresponding suspicion, a tissue sample is usually taken from the prostate. A study by the Medical University of Vienna now shows that a specialized form of imaging—known as PSMA-PET/CT—could provide important additional information even before such a biopsy is carried out.
In an analysis of 194 patients, the method detected 91% of clinically relevant prostate cancers. The findings of the research team, led by Marcus Hacker, head of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, were published in the inaugural issue of the new journal The Lancet Medical Imaging & Theranostics.
PSMA-PET/CT combines two imaging techniques. In positron emission tomography (PET), a small amount of a radioactively labeled substance is administered, which binds specifically to the so-called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). This protein is particularly abundant on prostate cancer cells. This enables suspicious areas to be visualized. The computed tomography (CT) scan, carried out simultaneously, provides precise images of the body's structures and enables these areas to be anatomically localized.
High detection rate for clinically relevant prostate cancer
As part of a retrospective analysis of the randomized phase 3 RAPID trial, the research team led by Holger Einspieler and Sazan Rasul investigated the potential value of PSMA-PET/CT in patients with elevated PSA levels and suspected prostate cancer before a biopsy.
Of 77 patients with clinically significant prostate cancer confirmed by tissue examination, 70 were detected by PSMA-PET/CT. This corresponds to a detection rate of 91%. The test's predictive value was also high in cases where the scan result was normal: In 91% of these cases, no clinically significant tumor was present.
Furthermore, the researchers analyzed the subsequent course of the disease. Over a median follow-up period of 35 months, 23 of 24 patients who went on to develop an aggressive course of the disease had already been identified by PSMA-PET/CT.
Prospects for more targeted diagnosis
The results suggest that PSMA-PET/CT could also play a role in the initial investigation of suspected prostate cancer in the future. In particular, a normal scan result could help better assess which patients actually require a tissue sample. This could potentially avoid unnecessary biopsies. Whether and how the method can be integrated into routine diagnostics must be investigated in further studies.
"Our results show that PSMA-PET/CT may be able to provide valuable information at a very early stage of the diagnostic workup. The high diagnostic value of a normal result is particularly relevant here. In the future, this could help make better decisions about which patients actually require a biopsy," says study lead Hacker.
More information
Holger Einspieler et al, Prostate-specific membrane antigen PET–CT for diagnosis in patients with suspected prostate cancer: a post-hoc analysis of the randomised, controlled, phase 3 RAPID trial, The Lancet Medical Imaging & Theranostics (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmit.2026.100004
Key medical concepts
Clinical categories
UrologyDiagnostic radiologyMen's health Provided by Medical University of Vienna Who's behind this story?
Gaby Clark
MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →
Robert Egan
Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →
Citation: Prostate cancer: Specialized imaging could prevent unnecessary biopsies (2026, September 15) retrieved 16 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-prostate-cancer-specialized-imaging-unnecessary.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.