Using MRI for prostate cancer diagnosis could cut biopsies by 28%, according to research results that could herald a change to current clinical practice.
The international study, published today, found that using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) at the beginning of the diagnosis process, instead of the currently used biopsy, leads to diagnosis of more of the harmful prostate cancers, and fewer harmless cancers being diagnosed. If MRI scans are implemented across Europe, over 250,000 men could avoid such invasive biopsies.
Biopsies are performed by taking 10-12 samples from the prostate using a probe with a special needle that is inserted anally. It involves estimating the location of the tumour and so some are often missed. The new MRI diagnostic procedure is able to better indicate the exact location of the tumour. Men who were allocated to MRI, as opposed to the more traditional biopsy, were more likely to have their harmful cancers detected.
The research team predict their findings could bring about a change to current clinical practice.
Dr Caroline Moore and Professor Mark Emberton, both Honorary Consultant Urologists at UCLH, led the trial. Professor Emberton who is BRC-supported said: “This study was the first to allow men to avoid a biopsy. If high quality MRI can be achieved across Europe, then over a quarter of the 1 million men who currently undergo a biopsy could safely avoid it.”
The researchers suggest that for MRI to become the new standard method, health services would need to increase the availability and capacity to perform prostate MRI scans, as well as providing clinicians with the skills to perform and interpret them.
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