David M. Albala, MD, presented “Optimizing Utilization of PSMA PET into a Urological Practice” during the 35th International Prostate Cancer Update conference on February 9, 2025, in Vail, Colorado.
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How to cite: Albala, David M. “Optimizing Utilization of PSMA PET into a Urological Practice.” February 9, 2025. Accessed Oct 2026. https://grandroundsinurology.com/optimizing-utilization-of-psma-pet-into-a-urological-practice/
Optimizing Utilization of PSMA PET into a Urological Practice – Summary
David M. Albala, MD, Chief of Urology, Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, New York, discusses the integration of PSMA PET imaging into clinical practice. In this 16-minute presentation, Dr. Albala emphasizes the role of PSMA PET as a disruptive technology in prostate cancer management.
PSMA PET demonstrates significantly higher sensitivity than conventional imaging, proving highly effective for identifying metastatic disease in patients with biochemical recurrence. Dr. Albala references studies that confirm PSMA PET’s superiority for initial staging and its ability to detect high-risk features, particularly in larger nodes or higher PSA levels. Research highlights PSMA PET’s prognostic value, with higher uptake linked to poorer outcomes and stronger predictive accuracy than PSA alone.
Dr. Albala stresses that practices seeking to implement PSMA PET programs must consider regulatory requirements, staffing, and logistics, with successful operations typically requiring at least 25 scans per month to break even. As PSMA PET continues to shape prostate cancer care, ongoing trials aim to refine its role in optimizing treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.
About the 35th International Prostate Cancer Update:
The International Prostate Cancer Update (IPCU), is a multi-day, CME-accredited conference focused on new developments in prostate cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. IPCU 35 will feature lectures, interactive discussions, panel roundtables, debates, and case reports. This conference is led by expert physicians and is designed for urologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
The goal of this educational program is to equip healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer with the up-to-date clinical knowledge and tools they need to best treat their patients. The program will discuss the treatment of prostate cancer from diagnosis to treating advanced and metastatic disease. The conference aims to give physicians exposure to a comprehensive review of treating prostate cancer patients and to give them a chance to discuss the issues with peers and experts. You can learn more about the conference here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David M. Albala, MD, is a Chief of Urology at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Albala is considered a national and international authority in laparoscopic and robotic urological surgery. His clinical interests include minimally invasive treatments for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), the use of fibrin sealants in surgery, and robotic urologic surgery.
Dr. Albala earned his medical degree at Michigan State University in East Lansing. He completed a residency in Surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He then completed a fellowship in Endourology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Under the direction of Ralph V. Clayman, Dr. Albala was part of the team that performed the first laparoscopic nephrectomy in humans.
Dr. Albala is a past White House Fellow (1995-1996), who acted as a special assistant to Federico Peña, Secretary of Transportation, on classified and unclassified public health related issues. He has been a visiting professor at numerous institutions across the United States as well as overseas in countries such as India, China, Iceland, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and Singapore. He has done operative demonstrations in over 32 countries and 23 states. Dr. Albala has over 215 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored 3 textbooks in endourology and 4 books in general urology. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Robotic Surgery and serves on the editorial board for Current Opinions in Urology, Reviews in Urology, and Urology Index and Reviews. In addition, he serves as a reviewer for 8 other surgical journals. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA). Dr. Albala is also currently the Visiting Professor of Urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, College of Medicine. Dr. Albala has been identified (by a Stanford University-led study) as one of the top 2% of scientists in the world.
