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Ellis’ PET Truck Now Offers PSMA PET Imaging for Prostate Cancer

Friday, August 14, 2026

Expanded Access, Closer to Home
 

Editor’s Note: This story is part of Ellis in Motion, a new feature highlighting the meaningful work we do each day. From everyday moments to tech breakthroughs, Ellis in Motion celebrates the people and teams who make a difference.

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When patients are facing a cancer diagnosis, every step can feel overwhelming. That’s why Ellis Medicine is expanding access to one of the most advanced imaging tools available today. The mobile PET truck at Bellevue Woman’s Center now offers PSMA PET imaging — a highly specialized scan used to help stage prostate cancer and identify sites of recurrent or persistent disease.

This new capability means patients can receive cutting‑edge diagnostic care right here in our community, without the stress, travel, or delays often associated with specialty imaging.

Renee Jahn, Director of Oncology, says the impact is immediate and deeply meaningful:

“When patients are facing a possible cancer diagnosis, every step can feel overwhelming. Having access to advanced imaging closer to home means patients can spend less time worrying about where to go and more time focused on their care.”

She adds:

“This technology gives our care teams another important tool for understanding a patient’s disease and helping guide treatment decisions. For patients and families, that clarity can make an enormous difference.”

A Powerful Resource, Right on Campus

Bellevue Woman’s Center hosts Ellis’ mobile PET imaging truck every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., offering hospital‑grade diagnostic technology in a convenient, accessible setting.

PET imaging uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to visualize biological processes in the body. Different PET tracers are designed for different purposes. PSMA PET uses a targeted tracer that binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is commonly expressed at high levels in prostate cancer cells.

If you think a PET scan may be right for you, talk with your provider or doctor.

What PSMA PET Can Show

PSMA PET can help physicians determine where prostate cancer is located and whether it has spread, providing information that can guide treatment decisions.

• Initial staging — helps evaluate the extent of disease in appropriate patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer
• Suspected recurrence — can help locate disease when prostate cancer is suspected to have returned, including when PSA rises after treatment.
• Diagnostic workup and monitoring — provides valuable insight when patients are undergoing further testing or monitoring treatment response
   
• Whole-body disease assessment — can identify PSMA-positive disease in lymph nodes, bones, soft tissues, and other sites beyond the prostate

This more targeted view can give physicians important information about the location and extent of prostate cancer and help inform next steps in care.

Why Local Access to PET Matters

With the PET truck on campus, eligible patients can access advanced imaging closer to home. For patients undergoing prostate cancer staging or evaluation for suspected recurrence, local access can mean less travel and timely information to help guide care.

What Sets PSMA Apart from Standard FDG Tracers?

Many oncology PET scans use FDG, a tracer that reflects glucose metabolism and is useful for imaging many types of cancer. PSMA PET uses a different, targeted tracer designed to bind to PSMA, making it particularly useful for prostate cancer imaging.
 

FDG (metabolic tracer)

• Reflects glucose metabolism in tissues
• Used in PET imaging for many types of cancer
  PSMA (prostate cancer-targeted tracer)

• Targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), commonly expressed at high levels in prostate cancer cells
• Can identify sites of prostate cancer that may be difficult to detect with conventional imaging
• Supports staging and evaluation of suspected recurrent or persistent prostate cancer in appropriate patients

Jine Maroney, Director of Radiology, emphasizes the significance of this advancement:

“PSMA imaging allows us to identify sites of disease that may be difficult to detect with conventional imaging methods. The ability to offer that level of precision here at Ellis is a significant advancement for our community.”

She continues:

“Many people never think about the technology behind their care. What matters to patients is getting answers. This imaging helps provide those answers with a high level of accuracy.”

Bellevue Woman’s Center now offers PSMA PET imaging — expanding local access to highly specialized prostate cancer imaging and strengthening Ellis’ commitment to patient-centered innovation.
 

Ellis Medicine | Newsroom

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Ellis Medicine
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518.232.9288