MRI increases detection of prostate cancers and reduces overdiagnosis, finds study

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide targeted biopsies increased the detection of clinically significant cancer by 12% when compared with standard transrectal ultrasonography guided biopsy, in the first large randomised trial to compare these two approaches in men with suspected prostate cancer.1 MRI revealed no sign of prostate cancer in more than one in four men, avoiding the need for unnecessary biopsy or treatment. “This is the first international multi-centre randomised trial to show the benefits of using MRI at the start of the prostate cancer diagnosis process,” said the lead author, Veeru Kasivisvanathan, from University College London, UK. He added, “In men who need to have investigation for prostate cancer for …