The role for MRI in prostate imaging for purposes of cancer detection has been steadily increasing. I have been doing this for most men with known prostate cancer who are on active surveillance and for men who have had a previous biopsy of the prostate that did not show cancer but who's PSA or prostate exam remains concerning. There has been also been a slowly increasing role for MRI before an initial biopsy. The trick is this - if the MRI sees a concerning spot... a "region of interest" or "ROI" how can we, as Urologists, make sure that we are able to get the spot the radiologist has seen and marked on the MRI? This is what we call MRI Fusion.
The world of MRI fusion biopsies is relatively new. However, it's been around long enough now to have gone through several variations and the technology continues to evolve. In my practice we recently obtained the new BK5000 ultrasound system. Unlike older systems, this new system has 2 distinct advantages. First, the image quality is unsurpassed. Second, the fusion of the ultrasound and MRI images happens directly on the ultrasound unit. Most other systems require an electrical connection to another computer monitor. This can prolong the length of the procedure, require more people to be in the room assisting, and may decrease the accuracy of the results. Fusion biopsies can be done either by the more common trans rectal approach or the increasingly popular trans perineal approach.
Why MRI fusion? Since prostate cancer can exist in either difficult to reach parts of the prostate or in very small sizes, knowing where to place the needle with a high degree of specificity greatly increases the odds of identifying prostate cancer if present. If you think you fall into a category discussed above, ask your Urologist if he/she thinks an MRI fusion biopsy is right for you.
The world of MRI fusion biopsies is relatively new. However, it's been around long enough now to have gone through several variations and the technology continues to evolve. In my practice we recently obtained the new BK5000 ultrasound system. Unlike older systems, this new system has 2 distinct advantages. First, the image quality is unsurpassed. Second, the fusion of the ultrasound and MRI images happens directly on the ultrasound unit. Most other systems require an electrical connection to another computer monitor. This can prolong the length of the procedure, require more people to be in the room assisting, and may decrease the accuracy of the results. Fusion biopsies can be done either by the more common trans rectal approach or the increasingly popular trans perineal approach.
Why MRI fusion? Since prostate cancer can exist in either difficult to reach parts of the prostate or in very small sizes, knowing where to place the needle with a high degree of specificity greatly increases the odds of identifying prostate cancer if present. If you think you fall into a category discussed above, ask your Urologist if he/she thinks an MRI fusion biopsy is right for you.
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