Potential Applications of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PETCT in the Evaluation of Salivary Gland Uptake Function: Preliminary Observations and Comparison with 99mTcO4− Salivary Gland Scintigraphy

Abstract EN

Purpose.

To preliminarily evaluate the feasibility and potential of using 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in evaluating the function of salivary glands and lacrimal glands in comparison with 99mTc-pertechnetate (T99mcO4−) salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS).

Methods.

A retrospective study was performed in 15 patients with different degrees of xerostomia and suspected salivary gland dysfunction.

Each patient underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT first and SGS the next day, and the findings of both scans were compared.

Results.

The results of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and SGS were consistent in 12/15 patients (80%) and were inconsistent in the remaining patients (20%).

For 5 (33.3%) of 15 patients, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT provided more information than did SGS.

Additionally, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT corrected the misdiagnosis by SGS for 1 patient.

Conclusions.

68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT is a potentially useful imaging tool for evaluating the function of salivary glands and lacrimal glands.

68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT can be a promising supplement to SGS, and its clinical value deserves further study.