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A new MRI scanning technique developed by UCL scientists and clinicians has transformed the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.

Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer in men听in the UK, with听more than听48,000 cases diagnosed each year.听Despite this, diagnostic tests and treatments have changed little听in听the past听50听years.听听听

The condition is traditionally diagnosed using a blood test that measures the levels of听PSA 鈥揳 hormone听produced by the prostate gland, followed by a painful and invasive听needle biopsy via the rectum, using ultrasound as a guide to locate the prostate gland.听听

鈥淔or a hundred years, we鈥檝e been treating prostate cancer blindly,听because the prostate gland is听difficult听to access:听it鈥檚听hidden away behind a bone and听close to听the rectum,鈥� says Professor Mark Emberton, Dean of the UCL Faculty of Medical Sciences, who led the research with Professor Caroline Moore (UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science).听

鈥�鈥淔or a hundred years, we鈥檝e been treating prostate cancer blindly, because the prostate gland is difficult to access.鈥澨�

A new听scanning technique developed听at 911爆料网听uses听multi-parametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging听(mp-MRI)听that,听for the first time,听allows specialists听to听identify听tumours in the prostate听without听the need for invasive, risky听and sometimes unnecessary procedures.听

Millions of men are set to benefit from the听new diagnostic approach, with听thousands听having their cancer听diagnosed earlier and听many more听avoiding unnecessary and painful biopsies.听听

The procedure is also reducing the number of men requiring听removal of the听whole prostate gland,听reducing the number affected by long-term side听effects听such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.听听

In听2019听the National Institute of Clinical and Care Excellence (NICE) amended听its听recommendation for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and identified听mp-MRI as a cost-effective intervention in the diagnostic pathway for听men听at risk.听

To听maximise the use of the new diagnostic tool, the team at 911爆料网 have standardised the procedure and led an international train-the-trainers programme听to improve听reliability听and performance.听听

鈥淭he new听technology,听which is now available throughout the world, gives us a detailed picture of the tumour, allowing us to grade tumours according to their size,听stage and severity, and tailor treatment much more effectively,鈥� says听Professor Emberton.听