NEXT GENERATION
PROSTATE CANCER DECTECTION IN ST. LOUIS
Urology of St. Louis utilizes the latest fusion prostate biopsy technology to improve prostate cancer detection.
A Better Image
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is an imaging test that gives a more detailed picture of the inside of the body. The MRI image of the prostate provides a more detailed view of the prostate gland than a traditional ultrasound image and allows doctors to see abnormal areas of the prostate that should be sampled with a biopsy. Typically, MRIs are used to visualize the prostate gland in men with known prostate cancer or men who have had a prior prostate biopsy with an increasing PSA.
A Better Biopsy
By using an MRI to identify abnormal areas of the prostate gland, your physician can specifically sample areas that may not be seen on a traditional prostate ultrasound image. The targeted biopsy results in improved cancer detection, especially of tumors consider “clinically-significant”, or those that may behave more aggressively than lower-risk tumors. The MRI offers patients less risk that a more aggressive tumor would be missed.
How It Works
First, an MRI of the prostate is ordered by your doctor. The MRI helps identify abnormal or suspicious areas in the prostate gland that need to be sampled with a biopsy. The MRI is then “fused” with an ultrasound image in real-time allowing the areas on the MRI to be identified during the prostate biopsy. The fusion biopsy is then completed in the outpatient procedure area using sedation. Your doctor is able to use the MRI and ultrasound to see exactly where the biopsy needle is traveling and sample the suspicious areas.
Make an Appointment
To see if you are a candidate for an MRI fusion prostate biopsy or have questions, make an appointment with one of our experts.