Fusion (MRI guided) biopsy
Fusion (MRI guided) biopsy
An MRI fused ultrasound biopsy of the prostate is a procedure that combines MRI and ultrasound images to create a 3D model of the prostate, which helps doctors more precisely target suspicious areas for biopsy
First an MRI looks for suspicious lesions. This is followed by a targeted biopsy to examine the suspect lesions.
How it works
A doctor first obtains an MRI of the prostate to identify suspicious areas, then uses a special device to fuse the MRI images with real-time ultrasound images during the biopsy.
Benefits
Helps doctors avoid missing aggressive prostate cancer, and may help find cancer at an early stage
Procedure
Outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia that typically takes about 20 minutes
Risks
Possible side effects include difficulty urinating, bleeding, infection, pain, and allergic reaction
Compared to traditional core needle biopsies, which use random sampling, MRI fused ultrasound biopsies can help doctors avoid missing hard-to-find prostate cancer. The procedure can also help minimize the overdiagnosis of non-aggressive cancers.