For Patients · PET/CT · PSMA
PSMA PET/CT
Precision imaging
for prostate cancer.
PSMA PET/CT uses a tracer that binds specifically to Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen, a protein expressed in high amounts on the surface of most prostate cancer cells. This scan is used to evaluate and stage prostate cancer and to investigate suspected biochemical recurrence.
Before arrival
Tracer uptake
Scan time
Total visit
In plain language
What the scan actually does.
A Gallium PSMA PET/CT looks at the prostate gland and the rest of the body for signs of prostate cancer. A small amount of a substance called Gallium PSMA is injected into a vein. It travels through the body and attaches itself to prostate cancer cells, which makes those cells show up clearly on the images. The scan combines two pictures: the PET part shows where the cancer cells are, and the CT part shows the anatomy around them. Together they give your physician a clearer picture of how the disease is behaving and whether it has spread.
Who it is for
When a PSMA scan is ordered.
Your physician may recommend a PSMA PET/CT at several points in the prostate cancer journey. Common reasons include:
Mapping where cancer is before deciding on treatment, especially in intermediate- and high-risk disease.
Locating recurrence when the PSA blood test climbs following surgery or radiation (biochemical recurrence).
Confirming that disease is PSMA-positive before radioligand therapy such as Lu-177 PSMA.
Seeing how disease has responded when your care team needs a clearer picture.
Am I a candidate
Is this scan right for me?
PSMA PET/CT is designed for prostate cancer specifically. It is most useful when your physician needs to know exactly where disease is — not simply whether it is present. Your referring doctor decides whether it is the right test for your situation.
Most scans need a requisition from your physician or nurse practitioner. Speak to them about a referral — and if it helps, bring the form with you.
01
You have a confirmed or strongly suspected prostate cancer diagnosis.
02
Your PSA has risen after surgery or radiation and your team wants to find the source.
03
You are being considered for PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy.
04
A conventional scan (bone scan, CT) was inconclusive.
How it works
A tracer that seeks its target.
PSMA imaging works by molecular recognition — the tracer is designed to attach to one specific protein found on prostate cancer cells.
A PSMA-targeted tracer is administered through an IV line.
The tracer attaches to the PSMA protein on the surface of prostate cancer cells.
The PET camera maps exactly where the tracer has bound.
A CT scan locates each signal against your anatomy, including the pelvic region.
✓Hydration helps clear unbound tracer for clearer images of the pelvis.
How to prepare
Before your appointment.
PSMA preparation is light. Continue living normally, with a couple of small adjustments your team will confirm at booking.
Strict fasting is typically not required. You may be asked to eat lightly before your arrival.
Drink plenty of water before your appointment. This helps clear tracer from the urinary tract and produces clearer images of the pelvic region.
Continue your prescribed medications unless explicitly told otherwise by our team.
What to expect
A calm, guided exam.
Your appointment proceeds much like the FDG protocol: IV placement, tracer administration, an uptake period of approximately 60 minutes in a private room, and a scan of 20 to 25 minutes.
Step 01
Check-in & IV line placement
Step 02
PSMA tracer administered via IV
Step 03
Quiet rest in a private uptake room
about 60 minutes
Step 04
Painless scan on a padded table
about 20–25 minutes
Plan for two to three hours total, from arrival to departure.
Results
When you get your results.
Your images are reviewed by our nuclear medicine specialist.
A full written report is prepared and sent to your referring physician.
Your physician discusses what the scan found and the next step in your care.
Aftercare
After your scan.
PSMA PET/CT is a diagnostic scan, not a treatment, so there is very little to do afterwards. The small amount of tracer clears from your body naturally within hours.
Drink plenty of water for the rest of the day to help clear the tracer through your urine.
You can eat, drive, and return to your usual activities right away.
As a courtesy, keep a little extra distance from pregnant people and infants for the rest of the day. Your team will confirm if any specific precaution applies to you.
Cost
What it costs.
$3,200
PSMA PET/CT
Prices are published up front, in Canadian dollars, with no hidden fees. A 50% deposit is taken at the time of booking and the balance is due on the day. Credit and debit are accepted, and instant financing is available through PayBright.
FAQ
PSMA PET/CT, answered.
Is a PSMA PET/CT painful?
No. The only physical part is a small injection through an IV line, similar to a routine blood test. The scan itself is painless — you simply lie still.
How is PSMA different from a regular PET scan?
A standard FDG PET scan follows the body’s sugar use. A PSMA scan uses a tracer built to attach to a protein found on most prostate cancer cells, which makes it far more specific for prostate cancer.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A PSMA PET/CT requires a requisition from your physician or nurse practitioner. You can download the form above and bring it to your appointment.
How long does the visit take?
Plan for about two hours in total. Most of that is the quiet uptake period after the injection; the scan itself takes roughly 20–25 minutes.
Is the radiation dose safe?
The tracer uses a small, carefully calculated amount of radioactivity, comparable to other nuclear-medicine scans. Your care team weighs this against the diagnostic benefit before recommending the scan.
Will my insurance or the public system cover it?
Initio is a private clinic, so the scan is paid directly. Many extended-health and international plans reimburse diagnostic imaging — we provide the documentation you need to claim.
Explore by tracer
Other PET/CT tracers.
Why Initio
Everything under one roof.
Your PSMA scan, its reading, and — if you go on to treatment — your radioligand therapy all happen in one place, with one team. Our tracers are produced in our own in-house radiopharmacy, and the specialists who read your scan are the same clinicians who plan what comes next. That means fewer hand-offs, faster answers, and a care team that already knows your case.
Your physician’s referral is all you need to begin. Our booking team handles preparation and scheduling.
Prefer to talk first? Call +1 (604) 678-9274, email info@initiomedical.ca, or send us a message.
Looking at other PET/CT options? Back to PET/CT overview.