Reduction of radiation accumulation in salivary glands through oral vitamin C during 68Ga-PSMA-11 total-body dynamic PET/CT imaging

Objective This study explored the utility of oral vitamin C in reducing radiation accumulation in the salivary glands during total-body dynamic PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging with 68 Ga labeled Prostate-specific membrane antigen ( 68 Ga-PSMA-11). Methods We enrolled 31 patients who underwent total-body dynamic PET/CT imaging with 68 Ga-PSMA-11, of which 11 were given oral vitamin C 30 min after starting the dynamic PET acquisition, whereas the others did not. The volume of interest was automatically segmented on the parotid and submandibular salivary glands once the PET acquisition was completed. The standard uptake value (SUV) mean and its slope during 30–60 min of the acquisition were compared between the trial and control groups. Results The SUV mean of the left and right parotid and submandibular glands in the trial group were 15.37 ± 3.07, 15.03 ± 2.64, 14.92 ± 4.38 and 15.38 ± 4.18, respectively. The respective values of the control group were 19.37 ± 3.82, 20.08 ± 3.55, 22.61 ± 5.62 and 22.73 ± 5.90. The SUV mean slope during 30–60 min of acquisition for the left and right parotid and submandibular glands in the trial group were 0.63 ± 0.13, 0.64 ± 0.14, 0.56 ± 0.25 and 0.62 ± 0.26, respectively. The respective values of the control group were 0.84 ± 0.21, 0.84 ± 0.17, 1.01 ± 0.34 and 1.02 ± 0.37. Conclusion Oral vitamin C could reduce the accumulation of radiation in the salivary glands during 68 Ga-PSMA-11 total-body dynamic PET/CT imaging.