The C11 Choline and Axumin scans are both FDA approved for recurrent PCa, thus they are covered by insurance. Mayo generally accepts you as a patient for their C11 Choline scan when your PSA reaches 1.5. That is higher than most radiology medical specialists will tell you to be successful with SRT to the prostate bed. Most will tell you for SRT to be successful your PSA should only be .3 to .5. That’s the dilemma, the higher the PSA, the greater the probability the scan will locate the recurrence. The Aximun scan does work better at lower PSAs, my radiologist want to scan when my PSA hits .4 using the Aximun scan here in Kansas City

One thing to consider is the experience of the personnel reading the scans. A medical center just starting up their program may not be the same as Mayo in Rochester who has extensive experience with the C11 Choline.

While overseas in Europe and Australia the PMSA scans are in widespread use, here in the US they are in clinical trials. They are definitely better than the C11 Choline and Aximun scans, especially at lower PSA levels.

I had 4 C11 Choline scans at Mayo, it was amazing to sit with my radiologist as she showed me the 3D IMRT treatment plan she built using the images from the C11 Choline scan...think smart versus dumb bombs.

There is no doubt newer imaging can be a factor in determining the treatment plan. It’s not inexpensive, about $1800 out of pocket for each C11 Choline scan. The question I asked and so should you, “will this change the treatment plan if it locates the recurrence...” for me the answer was yes.

Kevin