Choline C 11

What is Choline C 11

Choline C 11 is an intravenous, radioactive, diagnostic agent approved for use with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to evaluate adult males for recurrent prostate cancer.

Choline C 11 PET imaging is indicated for patients with suspected prostate cancer recurrence (based on elevated prostate specific antigen [PSA]) and non-informative conventional imaging (bone scintigraphy, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging).

Large uptake of choline C 11 at sites suspected of prostate cancer, relative to neighboring tissues, is indicative of a positive PET scan; readers are instructed not to compare against the pancrease, liver, spleen, kidney, or colon as choline C 11 appears to accumulate in these tissues.

Positive choline C 11 PET imaging is not diagnostic, but may help to identify locations for histopathological evaluation. Imaging reliability is diminished in patients with PSA concentrations < 2 ng/mL, tissue inflammation, prostatic hyperplasia, or taking interacting medications.

Approval is based on data from four studies involving 110 patients with non-informative conventional imaging. In these studies, choline C 11 PET imaging was able to positively identify recurrent prostate cancer in more than half of the patients, as verified by histopathology.

Choline C 11 was approved by the FDA in September 2012

Indications

• positron emission tomography (PET) imaging

For use with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to assist in the diagnosis of recurrent prostate cancer in adult males with non-informative conventional imaging

Side Effects

Administration of choline C 11 has been associated with a mild injection site reaction.

The manufacturer also warns that, as with all injectable medications, allergic and anaphylactoid reactions may occur.

Health care professionals are advised to take precautions to prevent allergic reactions.

Epinephrine (1:1000) injection and other agents used in the treatment of severe anaphylaxis should be immediately available.

Monitoring Parameters

• laboratory monitoring not necessary

Contraindications

• accidental exposure
• breast-feeding
• children
• females
• infants
• inflammation
• neonates
• pregnancy
• prostatic hypertrophy
• radiation exposure
• requires an experienced clinician

Interactions

No information is available regarding drug interactions associated with Choline C 11