Comparison of PET/CT and MRI in the Diagnosis of Bone Metastasis in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Network Analysis of Diagnostic Studies

Abstract

BackgroundAccurate diagnosis of bone metastasis status of prostate cancer (PCa) is becoming increasingly more important in guiding local and systemic treatment. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have increasingly been utilized globally to assess the bone metastases in PCa. Our meta-analysis was a high-volume series in which the utility of PET/CT with different radioligands was compared to MRI with different parameters in this setting.Materials and MethodsThree databases, including Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were searched to retrieve original trials from their inception to August 31, 2019 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed by two independent investigators utilizing Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed using an arm-based model. Absolute sensitivity and specificity, relative sensitivity and specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and superiority index, and their associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess the diagnostic value.ResultsForty-five studies with 2,843 patients and 4,263 lesions were identified. Network meta-analysis reveals that 68Ga-labeled prostate membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA) PET/CT has the highest superiority index (7.30) with the sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.99, followed by 18F-NaF, 11C-choline, 18F-choline, 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG), and 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT. The use of high magnetic field strength, multisequence, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and more imaging planes will increase the diagnostic value of MRI for the detection of bone metastasis in prostate cancer patients. Where available, 3.0-T high-quality MRI approaches 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was performed in the detection of bone metastasis on patient-based level (sensitivity, 0.94 vs. 0.91; specificity, 0.94 vs. 0.96; superiority index, 4.43 vs. 4.56).Conclusions68Ga-PSMA PET/CT is recommended for the diagnosis of bone metastasis in prostate cancer patients. Where available, 3.0-T high-quality MRI approaches 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT should be performed in the detection of bone metastasis.

Clinical advancement of precision theranostics in prostate cancer

“…To assess the diagnostic efficacy of PSMA imaging for PCa bone metastases, a network meta-analysis that involved 45 studies with a total of 2,843 patients and 4,263 lesions was completed by Liu et al. ( 12 ). It evinced that 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT had an incredible ability to visualize bone metastases, with a superiority index of 7.3, which is higher than 18 F-NaF, 11 C-choline, 18 F-choline, 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), and 18 F-fluciclovir PET/CT.…”

Imaging Recommendations for Theranostic PET-CT in Oncology

“…Supplementary Table S1 (in supplement) shows the comparison of CECT, FDG-PET-CT, MRI, and PSMA PET-CT for PC. 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 As shown in Table 1 , PSMA PET-CT is superior to the conventional imaging modalities for the localization of primary lesion, staging, and detection of relapse. Besides, PSMA PET-CT also gives lower radiation exposure when compared to CECT and FDG-PET-CT. Supplementary Table S2 (in supplement) shows the comparison of CECT, FDG-PET-CT, MRI, and 68 Ga- DOTATOC PET-CT for NET.…”

Hybrid magnetic resonance and PET imaging for prostate cancer recurrence

“…MR is more sensitive for bone metastases than CT but has traditionally been used for local imaging. A meta-analysis of 45 studies found 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT had sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.96, whereas, 3T MR had sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.94 on a per patient basis [43 ▪ ]. Thus, these methods can be confirmatory and may be complementary such as if there is a PSMA-negative metastasis.…”