The scan that could spare men an invasive prostate cancer biopsy, study finds
- A new study by University College London Hospitals suggests some men could have prostate cancer diagnosed via an MRI scan alone, avoiding invasive biopsies.
- Researchers evaluated 880 men and found that when radiologists were 99 per cent certain of a tumour from an MRI scan, cancer was confirmed by biopsy in 100 per cent of cases.
- Diagnosing prostate cancer using MRI alone could allow patients to access treatment faster while reducing discomfort, risks of infection and strain on the NHS.
- Lead experts noted that while certain prostate tumours have a distinctive appearance on MRI, larger multi-centre studies are needed before treatment without biopsy can be introduced.
- Prostate Cancer UK welcomed the research as an exciting step towards safer care, though it stressed that biopsies currently remain essential for guiding treatment decisions.
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