Optimization of PET protocol and interrater reliability of (18)F-PSMA-11 imaging of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Several scan parameters for PET imaging with (18)F-PSMA-11 such as dosage, acquisition time and scan duration were evaluated to determine the most appropriate scan protocol, as well as the effect of furosemide administration on lesion visualization. Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to a dosage group (2.0 ± 0.2 or 4.0 ± 0.4 MBq/kg (18)F-PSMA-11). All patients received a full-body PET/CT 1 h and 3 h after radiotracer injection with a scan duration of 3 min/bed position. For comparison of the scan duration, images were reconstructed for 1.5 and 3 min/bed position. Patients were intravenously administered 0.5 mg/kg furosemide with a maximum dose of 40 mg. To evaluate the furosemide effect, 22 additional patients were recruited and received one full-body PET/CT 1 h after administration of 2.0 ± 0.2 MBq/kg (18)F-PSMA-11 with a scan duration of 3 min/bed position. To this group, no furosemide was administered. Images were scored on image quality using a 7-point scale and each suspicious lesion was described. To assess interrater reliability, two nuclear physicians scored all scans independently and described all observed suspicious lesions. RESULTS: The 4 MBq/kg group received for all reconstructed images (60 min p.i., 1.5 and 3 min/bed position and 180 min p.i., 1.5 and 3 min/bed position) the highest median image quality score compared to the 2 MBq/kg group (p values < 0.01). When comparing all reconstructed images, the highest image quality score was given to images at 60 min p.i., 3 min/bed position for both dosage groups (score 5 and 6 for 2 and 4 MBq/kg, respectively). The addition of furosemide administration decreased the interference score with one point (p = 0.01106) and facilitated the evaluation of lesions in proximity to the ureters. The interrater reliability for the comparison of each lesion separately after more than 40 (18)F-PSMA-11 scan readings showed an increasing κ value from 0.78 (95% CI, 0.65–0.92) to 0.94 (95% CI, 0.87–1). CONCLUSION: Although the results indicate an administered activity of 4.0 ± 0.4 MBq/kg, preference will be given to 2.0 ± 0.2 MBq/kg due to the small difference in absolute score (max 1 point) and the ALARA principle. For evaluation of lesions in proximity to the ureters, the co-administration of a diuretic can be useful. The increase of the κ value from 0.78 to 0.94 suggests a learning curve in the interpretation of (18)F-PSMA-11 images. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03573011. Retrospectively registered 28 June 2018