Imaging prostate cancer is a subject of controversy. The recommendations for imaging prior to therapeutic selection range from denial to strong advocacy. Considering the disagreement about prostate cancer detection and choice of treatment, the debate concerning imaging is not surprising. There is general agreement on the clinical use of imaging in assessing the risk of distant spread of prostate cancer. The radionuclide bone scan and CT supplement clinical and biochemical evaluation (prostate-specific antigen [PSA], prostatic acid phosphates) for suspected metastatic disease to bones and lymph nodes.<sup>78 Richie J.P. Management of patients with positive surgical margins following radical prostatectomy Urol Clin North Am 1994 ;  21 : 717

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Guidelines for the use of bone scans (in patients with PSA > 10 ng/mL) and CT (in patients with PSA > 20 ng/mL) have been reported and are in clinical use.<sup>31 Gleave M.E., Coupland D., Drachenberg D. , e al. Ability of serum prostate-specific antigen levels to predict normal bone scans in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer Urology 1996 ;  47 : 708  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 38 Huncharek M., Muscat J. Serum prostate-specific antigen as a predictor of staging abdominal/pelvic computed tomography in newly diagnosed prostate cancer Abdom Imaging 1996 ;  21 : 364  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> No such consensus exists at the current time on the use of imaging in evaluating local tumor extent in patients with prostate cancer.