Dr. Choyke on Combining Imaging Techniques in Prostate Cancer

Peter L. Choyke, MD, FACP, director, Molecular Imaging Program, head, Imaging Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, discusses the combination of imaging techniques in prostate cancer.

The specialty of imaging is no longer as compartmentalized as it once was, says Choyke. Now, whichever tool is deemed to be best fit to handle the patient’s current problem is used, often in combination. Although MRI is helpful for anatomy, there are limitations—particularly specificity. PET offers that specificity, but not a clear image of anatomy. By combining the anatomy from the MRI and the sensitivity of the PET, a more whole image of the disease can be constructed, Choyke explains.

Choyke says that imaging today is about getting a more complete picture of where a patient stands in their disease natural history. This will allow physicians to more accurately state where the patient is in their disease course, and then choose an appropriate therapy. Accurate imaging can match the right diagnosis to the right therapy, Choyke concludes.