Mayo Clinic's approach
Prostate cancer evaluation at Mayo Clinic
For details about requesting an appointment for a choline C-11 PET scan in conjunction with an evaluation for recurrent prostate cancer, please call 507-293-0933 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
Your records must be reviewed by the Department of Urology before being considered for a choline C-11 PET scan. After the review, a determination will be made regarding the appropriateness of the scan. If your doctor recommends the choline C-11 PET scan, a separate return visit will likely be required to conduct the scan. Access for this scan is limited by the ability to produce the choline C-11 imaging agent and appointment availability.
The local contractor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved coverage of this scan for the indications of recurrent prostate cancer and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer.
More information
Access the full prescribing information for Choline C-11 Injection at the U.S. Food and Drug website.
Experience you can trust
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was the first medical center in the United States to receive approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prepare and administer the imaging agent used in a choline C-11 PET scan.
Mayo Clinic radiologists have been using choline C-11 PET scans for prostate cancer for years. They also are studying the use of this test for other conditions. The experts at Mayo Clinic have found that this test helps to:
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Detect recurrent prostate cancer earlier. A choline C-11 PET scan can help doctors detect recurrent prostate cancer before it may be detected by more-conventional imaging tests.
In people with rising levels of prostate-specific antigen, also called PSA, this test may help detect sites of possible recurrent prostate cancer at PSA levels as low as 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Conventional tests may not detect a recurrence until PSA levels are greater than 20 ng/mL. This difference could mean that sites of cancer recurrence are detected months or years in advance.
- Detect recurrent prostate cancer after all forms of treatment. Previous treatment may leave scar tissue that can be confused with active cancer when viewed using conventional imaging. A choline C-11 PET scan can help doctors distinguish between scar tissue, inactive cancer cells, and active, recurrent prostate cancer.
- Locate parathyroid adenoma. Choline C-11 PET scans have shown promise in finding parathyroid adenomas before surgery. It may help when other imaging tests can't find an adenoma or when hyperparathyroidism persists after surgery.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic doctors are widely respected for their expertise in using advanced imaging tests, such as the choline C-11 PET scan, to detect recurrent prostate cancer and other conditions. When you seek care at Mayo Clinic, you can expect:
- Personalized care. At Mayo Clinic, an expert team of urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists, if needed, work together to give you exactly the care you need. Mayo Clinic specialists have extensive experience treating people with complex cases of recurrent prostate cancer.
- A full range of treatment options. If Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose recurrent prostate cancer, you have many treatment options. These options may include radiation therapy, including highly focused stereotactic body radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Other treatments include hormone therapy, immunotherapy, surgery, cryotherapy and chemotherapy.
- Nationally recognized expertise. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets the strict standards for a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. These standards recognize scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked as the top hospital in Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, is ranked as the top hospital in Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, is ranked the top hospital in Florida.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.