New Delhi: An international clinical trial has found that high-resolution ultrasound, known as micro-ultrasound (microUS), is as effective as MRI for diagnosing prostate cancer. The findings, presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Madrid and published in the journal JAMA, highlight the potential of microUS as a faster, cheaper, and more accessible diagnostic tool.
The groundbreaking randomized trial involved 677 participants across 19 hospitals in Canada, the USA, and Europe. Participants were divided into three groups: half underwent MRI-guided biopsies, one-third had microUS-guided biopsies followed by MRI-guided biopsies, and the remainder received only microUS-guided biopsies.
Results demonstrated that microUS could detect prostate cancer as effectively as MRI-guided biopsies, with comparable detection rates across all groups. Even among participants who underwent both biopsy methods, microUS successfully identified most significant cancers, underscoring its accuracy and reliability.
MicroUS offers distinct practical advantages over MRI-guided biopsy, which typically requires multiple hospital visits. MRI biopsies involve an initial MRI scan, followed by an ultrasound-guided biopsy session. This two-step process necessitates specialized radiological expertise to interpret MRI images and align them accurately with ultrasound guidance.
In contrast, microUS technology, which operates at higher frequencies than conventional ultrasound, provides images with three times greater resolution. These high-quality images capture prostate tissue details similar to MRI scans, enabling precise targeting during biopsies. Another benefit is that urologists and oncologists familiar with conventional ultrasound can quickly be trained to utilize microUS technology effectively.
Professor Laurence Klotz from the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine emphasized the transformative potential of microUS. "MicroUS offers diagnostic accuracy comparable to MRI, and that's game-changing," he stated. "Patients can now experience a streamlined diagnostic pathway—being scanned and biopsied immediately, if necessary. It's non-toxic, inclusive, cost-effective, and significantly more accessible. Additionally, it liberates MRI resources for other essential medical uses, such as orthopedic procedures."
This advancement promises quicker prostate cancer diagnoses, fewer hospital visits, and improved resource allocation within healthcare facilities.