PSMA PET/CT: a calm walk-through before your scan
If one of our urologists has ordered a PSMA PET scan, you’re getting a tool that helps locate prostate cancer. Dr. Dev Mally of Advanced Urology explains what it is and what your appointment will be like.
Questions in this guide
- What does PSMA mean?
- Why would I need one?
- How do I prepare?
- What happens when I arrive?
- Will I feel closed in?
- Are there risks?
- How do I get my results?
What does PSMA mean?
Prostate-specific membrane antigen, a protein on the surface of most prostate cancer cells. A small amount of tracer that seeks out PSMA is injected and attaches to it. The tracer gives off a signal the PET camera can see, while a CT scan maps your anatomy. Together they help show where suspicious areas are, including some small spots older scans can miss.
Why would I need one?
There are three main reasons. When cancer is newly diagnosed and looks higher risk, we want to know whether it has spread beyond the prostate before choosing surgery or radiation. When PSA starts rising after surgery or radiation, the scan can often find where the cancer has come back, even when PSA is still low, so treatment can be targeted early. And in advanced prostate cancer, it shows whether you may be a candidate for newer treatments that use the same PSMA target to deliver therapy directly to cancer cells.
How do I prepare?
Follow our team’s instructions on eating, drinking and your usual medicines. Tell us about your medical conditions, medicines, allergies and any past reactions to contrast. Wear comfortable clothes without metal, and ask how much time to set aside. Advanced Urology has a new PET/CT scanner.
What happens when I arrive?
A team member places a small IV and injects the tracer. You then rest quietly, often for about an hour, while it travels through your body, and we’ll tell you when to empty your bladder. The scan itself often takes about 20 to 30 minutes, though timing varies by tracer and protocol.
Will I feel closed in?
The scanner is open, with a wide, doughnut-shaped ring. You lie on your back on a padded table that moves through the ring while pictures are taken. Breathe normally and stay still.
Are there risks?
PSMA PET is a well-established test. It involves radiation exposure, which carries risks. The injection can cause discomfort, and allergic reactions can occur. Follow our team’s instructions about fluids, bathroom use, close contact with others, driving and returning to usual activities; they depend on the tracer, your health and the protocol.
How do I get my results?
Your images are carefully reviewed, and our urologists go over the results with you at a follow-up visit. A spot on the scan doesn’t always mean cancer, because PSMA can show up in some normal tissues, so every finding is read alongside your PSA, biopsy and history. A negative scan cannot rule out microscopic disease. The goal is a clearer picture so we can make treatment decisions together.
Watch a short video
For a closer look before your scan, this Advanced Urology episode explains PSMA PET/CT.
This guide is educational, not medical advice. Every treatment and procedure has risks and benefits; your care team will review yours. More on this topic: Advanced Urology condition page.